By
HUDA Ansari
"I'm sorry!" he cried, tears flowing down his hot cheeks. "Please say something?"
She continued staring at the floor quietly. She wasn't crying. She was just quiet.
"I don't know what got into me. I felt attracted to her and just went with it. It's the stupidest thing I've ever done. Please forgive me. Please?"
She continued looking at the floor. The checkered floor reminded her of the game of chess she had played against her high school crush. Her skills had crushed the poor boy's ego - and her chances are ever being his prom date.
"She doesn't have anything you don't. It's almost as if making that mistake made me realise what I have here. No I'm not justifying anything. Just please give me another chance. I love you," he squeezed her hand as he knelt in front of her.
It was a shock to many that she did not go on to become a professional chess player. Her skills at the game used to scare her opponents witless. She had the gift of foresight: she knew exactly what her opponent would do even before they knew what move they'd play.
"Don't give me the silent treatment please! I beg of you, look at me?" he pleaded as his slowly dropped his head into her lap. She didn't push him away. She just continued being quiet.
"You have been the best girlfriend and best companion. Please! Elise, please say something? Anything!?!"
She picked a career in Law over the countless games of chess she could have almost effortlessly won. She knew life wasn't a game of chess. On a chessboard there are only so many pieces and so many rules. But life is different. It's more complicated.
"I forgive you," she stammered while staring at the floor.
"What?" he whispered as he raised his head from her lap. He was sure he had misheard her.
She slowly raised her head to meet his stooping figure and repeated, "I forgive you."
He was shocked albeit pleasantly so. He had just gotten a second chance in life to be happy with the only person who mattered to him.
"Oh Elise! My darling Elise! I promise I'll never let you down," he gasped as he kissed her clammy hands repeating her name over and over in gratitude of her kindness.
She looked at his sorry figure as he ardently lavished kisses on her hands. She wasn't sure what had just passed. Her brows slightly knitted in confusion as she continued to ponder over her decision. She had just willingly forgiven the man who had turned her world upside down. She had given this man, who broke her heart, another chance without even the slightest retribution. She knew you mustn't let anyone cause you pain and not have to pay its price.
But then again how can you not forgive the love of your life?
-----------------------------------------------------
In front of all his family and friends, he got down on one knee.
"Elise Marybeth James, you are the best person I've ever known. Your heart is bigger than life itself. Your capacity to love is unmeasurable. A year ago today I made the worst, most terrible mistake of my life but YOU accepted me and forgave me and have given me a chance to be a better man. Without your love, I'm nothing. And I know that now better than ever. I absolutely love you Elise. Will you please marry me?"
There was silence in the room. The eager man and his potential bride-to-be formed the cynosure of all eyes. She took the ring from his hand and smiled.
"No Richard, I will not marry you," she calmly replied as she got up to leave the room, setting the ring on the white satin tablecloth behind.
---------------------------------------------------------
"I don't understand Elise!" he cried. "I love you."
"I know. And I have loved you for as long as I've known you," she replied.
"Then why are you doing this? I thought everything was fine. I thought we were happy..."
"YOU were happy Richard. You killed my happiness the day you cheated on me," she calmly responded.
"I thought you forgave me?"
"I did."
"Then?"
"I just wanted to get even."
"I don't get it, Elise. Please say it's a joke," he was baffled.
She smiled.
"I needed you to fall as desperately in love with me as I was with you the time you went around breaking my heart. Now you know how that feels."
He was confused, shocked, and hurt all at once. "Where does it leave us Elise?" he asked in desperation.
"My poor darling Richard. You know, life is like chess. You caught me off guard when you cheated on me, and for the first time I realised that you were capable of throwing me off my game. So I just had to use your tricks to get my edge back."
"Don't play with me love. I really love you and I can't live without you."
"Exactly! You are out of moves. That's what I call checkmate," she replied as she reached for the door.
He just looked at her helplessly in shock. "Are you crazy, Elise?"
She looked at him as she closed the door behind her. There was no victory twinkle in her eyes. There was just pain.
"I was...," she stammered leaning against the shut door, "... about you," finally letting her long overdue tears to flow from her hazel brown eyes.
