The knight in shining armor

He would bring her fresh flowers every day, that was the whole point of taking such great care of the garden his late mother used to spend hours working in. So he would have flowers to pick each morning and put them on the table in the kitchen, before she came down to make pancakes. She would smile and her eyes would look at him in wonder, tinged with regret - How could I have been so blind? Why did I waste so much time being miserable when I could have had all this, with you?
But it won’t matter anymore, as they’d be together, like he’d always known they were meant to be.
Ever since that wonderful night when he danced with her and she was so happy. That night when they ended up listening to music on his car stereo and she let him put his arm around her, resting her head in the nook of his shoulder. The night that wiped away all the years of yearning, all the angry thoughts, all the cruel jokes they made that he won’t ever get laid. Charlene was there with him, even though he did not get laid. But he wasn’t like them, he respected that girl, the most beautiful girl in the world, like the song says. She’ll be his when the time is right, he thought and he waited.
He’s still waiting even after all those years, for that was a mistake, her falling for that stupid guy and getting married fresh out of high-school.
Sometimes he wondered if she had done it just to spite him, although he was sure he’ done nothing wrong. Maybe she just was afraid his love was too great and she could not handle it.
When they met in the street, he could see it in her eyes that she was not happy, but she smiled every time. She never stopped to talk, of course, that wouldn’t do - the whole town knew they have history together. A few years back, he’d taken up jogging so he could have a chance to meet her in the park where they could chat in some secluded alley. He’d wait for her, running in place, like an athlete warming up before going on the field, like a knight in shinning armor waiting to be called to rescue. But she never stopped and after a while she gave up running.

When the call did come he was there, though. And he was prepared. He wasn’t so stupid as to barge into her life the moment her husband left her. He bid his time, just happening to be in her way when she came back from work and only after many friendly smiles and nods did he stop to talk to her. Simple pleasantries, no mention of the absent Hank and her divorce. It was in his power to wipe away all her troubles, like she’d done for him all those years ago. She knew she was sad and lonely, people in the neighborhood said she’d aged ten years after Hank split. And then, one day, she invited him in for coffee and they listened to music and they were back in high-school. When they did make love, for this time they did, it wasn’t anything like his dreams. Not the white satin sheets that had been patiently yellowing in his dresser waiting for their special night. It wasn’t event night properly and the sheets on her bed were faded and he couldn’t shake the feeling that Hank had slept in them, too. Just slept, that’s all, he could not allow his imagination to go any further. To him, it was the same Charlene as the one at the school dance. What he did not expect and could not accept was that he’d be to her the same old Billy from high-school. The one time only kind of guy and that if she was in a bad mood. She did not say as much, but it was clear from her embarrassed look when she put her clothes back on and her anxiousness to see him out the door.
Something snapped in him - all those years dreaming of her, watching her from afar and waiting. All for what? A lousy half an hour in another guy’s bed? She could not do this to him!
‘Please, go away’.
Once again something snapped. Her neck.

Story written for @mariannewest's freewrite challenge, today's prompt was: running in place! Check out her blog and join our freewrite community.

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