Just a few edits on this one. If you’ve missed any of “The Night series,” you can catch them here.

Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I’m alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again

Love Song by The Cure

I wish I could tell you a fairytale between me and Prince Charming aka Dominic, one with godmothers and wands and beautiful but scratchy tulle dresses. Alas, reality does not sanction fairytales.

After our stupid fight about pizza and a making-up session, things were different.

Dominic worked nights while I worked days. The luster of lust tarnished. We scheduled a date for Friday. Our first in two weeks. He cancelled. No explanation, just an apology which sounded scripted.

Tina dragged me out with the girls. We all hadn’t been out together since that night when Dominic and I met. I determined that I would have fun or die trying. I accepted that he and I had run our course. The next time we were together would be the last.

We ended up at a bar where Tina’s workmate, Stella, bartended part-time. Tina ordered a round of SoCo shooters.

“One, two, three,” Tina said.

We swallowed the contents. I gasped as the heat burned my throat and blazed through my bloodstream.

“Dance with me,” a deep voice whispered in my ear, the heat of breath tickling.

I gazed into brandy brown eyes and felt myself melt all over again. He took my hand and nodded to the band. Mellow guitar chords plucked out the intro to Love Song.

“However, far away, I will always love you,” Dominic sang against my temple.

He held me close. I felt my heart go plop.

Sascha Darlington