Fiction – “so we beat on”

Life for Nick would continue to tick on, not missing a beat in light of Gatsby’s quick passing. He knew he had to move on and try to find some happiness for himself but he wasn’t sure where to look. A year passed, never forgetting a day without the reminder of what had been for Nick previously but then one day it hit him, like the bullet that pierced through Gatsby’s body. Though so many hours had gone by he knew he’d never forget her, her smile, her hair and her wan smile that he now realized had made him go weak in the knees. The light turned red and he opened the door to his car to allow her to climb in and suddenly their eyes locked. Gatsby’s voice popped into his head at that moment, “Of course you can repeat the past, a new chance to do over what didn’t turn out quite right the first time.” It was in this instant that he knew exactly what Gatsby had been trying to teach him even though he was blind to realize it before. He knew he loved her, that he had always loved her and would continue to love her till the day he breathed no more. What had kept him from knowing this and acting on this? Was it a fear of commitment or was it a fear of being like him and spending a good part of his life chasing after some woman? He thought he had honored Gatsby as a fine, young man but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he didn’t want to end up like he did falling in love and wasting the rest of his life or … did he? He whispered her name, “Jordan” and leaned in to kiss her… the light turned green.

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Sarah Tackett