Time How many times Must I look into your eyes Before the emptyness melts away How many smiles Must you conceal inside Before you can find A brighter day He read the words over again, scanning the crumpled paper. Its edges were torn and tattered, worn out over the years. Yet somehow, he hadn't been able to bring himself to throw it out. "Ash, honey, are you coming?" A soft voice called from the kitchen. He stood, tucking the paper in the back pocket of his jeans, jogging down the stairs. "Sorry, I was just thinking...." he trailed off, as he often did. Marlee didn't need an explanation, and she had never asked for one. "That's okay. Let's get going." she grabbed her purse off of the kitchen table, and Ashley followed her to the red Ford Sport Trak sitting in the driveway. He climbed into the drivers seat, pushing away his thoughts as he pulled out of the driveway. The drive itself was short and they were there in a matter of minutes. Getting out, he frowned, looking at the tall building before him and anticipating the large number of family and friends soon to greet him. He was never really one for large social gatherings, and tonight would be plain torture. He adjusted the collar on his light blue shirt before making his way to the door, Marlee looping her arm through his. The room was stuffy and crowded, and at first he spotted only older people. All over fifty, he felt extremely out of place. "Mar, are you sure...." She didn't let him finish. "Yes. Ashley, please." she said, a pleading tone in her voice. "Sorry." he said quietly. They mingled with the guests for an hour before Ashley excused himself. He decided to wander around the hotel for a minute, to get some air. He found himself drawn to the second floor and once he found a small deserted lobby, he sat down and decided to pull out the paper once again. He read over the lyrics once more. Looking for a clue, looking for anything. Why did she leave? He wondered. I tried so hard to love her. He heard footsteps but he felt no urge to look up. She was gone. He grew angry with himself because after all these years, the thought still upset him. He should be happy with Marlee, after all, she was bearing his child. He was, most of the time, but lately he found himself growing more and more distant, thinking of the day almost five years ago when she left. He had no idea where she was now, who she was with. Each moment he wanted more and more to go back in time, and be with her to find out what had gone wrong. The footsteps grew closer as the tears flowed freely over his cheeks. He crumpled the paper once more, his frustration growing. "Why!" he cried out, oblivious to whomever could hear him. He didn't care, and at that moment all of his pent up anger was being released. The footsteps stopped. He looked up and his jaw dropped. Her straight brown hair cascaded over her shoulders, longer than it had once been, but still just as beautiful. Her skin was bronze and flawless. She was wearing a strapless red gown, which reached the floor. A hint of glitter danced on her bare shoulders. "Oh.... my.... God...." she breathed. Ashley didn't move, or speak, for fear of the vision before him disappearing. "Ashley." she said, crouching before him. "Eve." he whispered. "What... why...." "A wedding." she replied, simply. "My date's a jerk, though, so I came for some air." He laughed nervously. "How are you?" she said quietly. "I'm alright... and you?" "I'm okay. It's been a while." He exhaled sharply, all of the pain of those days coming back to him. Tears flooded his eyes once again, and they spilled over onto his cheeks. "I miss you." she whispered. "I miss you, too." he replied, wiping his cheeks. "Come for a walk with me." she said, taking his hand. They walked the halls of the second floor for a little while, before stopping. Ashley looked at the floor, the silence unbearable. "I have to ask you why?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. Eve exhaled, pausing before answering. "I don't think we were ready, Ash. I mean, I know you loved me, and I know I loved you. We were too young. But we're ready now." she smiled, looking for any reassurance in Ashley's eyes. She found none. "I... I still love you, Eve, it scares me." he said breathlessly. "I love you, too. We can be together now." she said, tears coming to her own eyes. "I wish it were that simple." he sighed, taking her hands in his. "My whole world fell apart when you left me, Evelyn. You were my sun, my day." He took a deep breath and she rested her forehead on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, I can't believe I hurt you." she sobbed. "Me too." he replied. "But it's complicated now, we can't go back." "Why not?" she asked, breathlessly, her heart breaking with every second. "I'm engaged." he whispered. A soft 'oh' was all that followed. "Do you love her?" Evelyn choked out a few minutes later. Ashley paused, scared of revealing his true feelings towards the situation. "I wasn't sure until now." he replied, enjoying the vagueness of his response. "So, you do." Evelyn stated, seeing the truth behind his words. "I do." She moved slowly towards him, pressing her lips to his gently, before backing away. "I'll miss you." she said gently, before turning to go. Ashley watched her walk away, out of his life one last time and he sighed. He sat alone for a long time, thinking, crying and finally feeling a weight lifted from his chest. A while later, he went back downstairs to join his fiancée and their unborn child. The End