kh_drabble | (no subject)

Challenge; [1o8] Belle
Title; When She Loved Me
Word Count; 311
Rating; G
Notes; One-sided Pence/Olette, Hayner/Olette. Pence's POV. Based on Jordan Pruitt's version of "When She Loved Me". If you haven't heard it, you should. She has a beautiful voice.

So vividly can I remember when her eyes were only fixated on me. So vividly can I remember when her lips were mine, and I could share them with no one. So vividly can I remember when she loved me, and so it was that she fell for another. It was the only time of our times together that I don’t remember so well.

It was to be expected, right? She was beautiful, gentle, with a voice that could outdo the most melodic of all birds, and he was handsome, strong, and could protect her. He made her smile. He made her laugh. He made her feel safe, and I couldn’t do any of it. I was awkward, quiet, too smart for my own good in everything but love.

Days, months, years passed without us talking. Right up until her marriage to him. She was just as I had remembered, if not more lovely dressed all in white. She turned to greet all who came before spotting me. She smiled at me and hugged me, and, in that instant, I felt like we were fourteen again. I felt like we were happy together again, and I could hear her ghost whispering the same words she used to when we were in love.

I will always love you.

When I didn’t hear it, I opened my eyes. It wasn’t ten years ago. It wasn’t high school, but I loved it when she loved me so much that I couldn’t let it go. I couldn’t let those memories go, but, as I watched her beaming face as she shared her dance with Hayner, I finally let Olette go.

It’s been forty years, and I still remember when she used to giggle when we slept on the sofa. I still remember when she held me tight and wouldn’t let me go.

I still remember when she loved me.