The S.A.M. Story Part XIV

PART XIV

Although she didn't have much in the way of belongings, packing was unpleasant as trying to condense everything in the way of recollections, pleasures and feelings of the last 24 hours into her compacted, heart-shaped "suitcase" was challenging.  She refused to leave anything behind, filling empty gaps with emotional souvenirs and mementos she would later cherish as her 'land-line' back to him.

She came out of her room to find him waiting for her with a packed lunch, once again gaining "points" and making it even harder to walk away.  Looking deep into each others eyes as they had when singing to each other, they could see through to the deep-seated passion and pain, wordlessly bonding their hearts.  Making their desire for each other unbearable and on the verge of uncontrollable.

They silently held each other close, not wanting "space" to once again come between them but knowing at least at that moment, at this time in their lives, they would have to let go.  She had told herself not to cry, but her eyes didn't get the memo. Tears, like a river, carried heartbreak and unspoken words downstream, down her face.  Oh, how she wished for that fairy tale magic wand that solves all of life's problems with just a wave.  She wanted to stay.  She wanted it to be her new life; the one she actually woke up to and went to bed to everyday and night. The one that she had yearned for most of her life. She wanted him.

He too wanted her.  When something wasn't working, his M.O. was to not stop until he "fixed it".  This however, was something even as a mechanic he could not find the answer to through a book or computer or even through a seasoned expert.  This was something that would take meticulous consideration.  This was their hearts, something that had never been broken into so many interchangeable pieces making it hard to separate the two.  This was love, something never covered in his training. 

He took her hand leading her to the door.  The same door that she had felt unease approaching just 24 hours ago, was now a place she dreaded leaving.  Going down the steps, her words of self-encouragement were now for her hopeful return someday and to console the tears on the brink of cresting. It was hard to say goodbye wanting to keep the other as their own personal, human, hand-held devise.  He firmly but lovingly embraced her for the last time, placing his lips over hers, and like with their first "cyber kiss", every vital sign in her body testified he was real!

She drove away looking in her rear-view mirror wondering why or how she had ever felt unease and apprehension, as this had turned out to be the best "space" she had evverr been in!  

The Mechanic and The Broken Heart

Another short story:

Chance meeting is how she would come to get to know the mechanic.
She initially had no clue what he even did for a living.
She had just come along for the ride with a friend.

Had she known her heart would later encounter him she may have been more aware of it all.
She may have paid more attention.
All she remembered was his welcoming manner and ease in conversation and laughter that he brought.
Something that stood out to her and she would later recall with favor.

The fortuitous encounter would open experiences that would not of happened otherwise.
As she would come to learn more about him through S.A.M.s - a game of Something About Me she came to see him in a feeling way.
Not as the "nice stranger", but as someone who was becoming real as the pieces fit together.
Pieces that were composing, no longer just an image but, a caring person.

So one day she decided to carefully place the treasured broken heart that she had guarded in safe keeping for years in herself, and bring it to the mechanic. 
It presented itself unsuspectingly.
Caught him off guard.
Not just the vulnerability, as he too was composing pieces of her into someone he valued and had hoped to someday encounter too, but the extent of the work needed.

It was out of his element.
Although he was intelligent and amazing at the work he did, this was a new challenge he had in front of him.
Not that he hadn't seen broken hearts before, but that the responsibility of such a cherished and even sacred piece was not something he was equipped to fix.
Although he had given it his best effort, in all his years of training and experience he had never completely restored a broken heart.

Because broken hearts take The Master Craftsman, something he wasn't.
Something she in her vulnerable exposure had omitted to ask or to see.
Supposing he was capable because she believed it, wanted it, needed it.
Something that in the end would not be fair to either of them.

And although he yearned to be able to help and was gentle in the handling of the pieces, he could not make the needed repairs.
Not even for himself nor his own heart.
As there is no human that possesses that ability.

As she came to accept this, she carefully picked up what lay in front of her and handed it to him.
And with tears in her eyes she peered deep into his, into his soul, inaudibly speaking words of gratitude, sadness and love as he would gently place the pieces of her heart tenderly back where they had come from.
And as he did, another piece broke and a tear fell from his eye.

Walking to the door, she glanced back one last time at him, gently and very slowly pulling the door shut behind her as she knew the loneliness that would await, for she now no longer saw a mechanic, but a compassionate man. 


"God can heal a broken heart, but He has to have all the pieces."  ~Author Unknown