Old Railroad Bridge
Melissa was a petite blonde with a captivating smile. She wore her favorite red dress, which perfectly hugged her figure. It was a Friday night, and the weather had been great for most of the week. The leaves on the trees still clung to the branches, reflecting the hope she had clung to for her friend’s affection.
The sun had already set, painting the sky with a slap of dimming fire. Street lamps flickered to life one by one, illuminating the dark corners of the streets. As Melissa walked toward the old railroad bridge, she took a deep breath filled with nostalgia. Back then, it was a hotspot for kids to drop watermelon, couples to make out, and teens to blast music as the trains rumbled past. Now, it was a creaky, retired old railroad bridge for Melissa to pass through during her jogs, if purely from nostalgia.
She remembered seven years ago, on a day of passing drizzles, when she and her best friend, Dan, would play together. Melissa was a naïve ten-year-old, telling Dan she wished to marry him. He was bitter to the idea as any boy his age would be. Two years following, Dan and Melissa carried drooping lips as Dan admitted he was moving away to the other side of the country.
Melissa reached the center of the bridge, where a figure stood. She was uncertain if it was even Dan. He was too handsome and tall, like a salesman waiting for her to be his next victim. He checked his phone, bashed his thumb against the screen, and sent his message. Melissa’s phone hummed loudly, causing him to peer over and grow a smooth, big grin.
“Hey!” he called, running over. “Guess my question was answered.”
The young woman noted how her childhood friend’s cocky stride had transformed into a commanding, confident presence, leaving her momentarily speechless. When their eyes finally met, her face flushed crimson with a mixture of surprise and trepidation as she questioned whether she approved this new version of Daniel at all.
“You got… older,” Melissa started stupidly.
“Yeah, guess I did.” Dan broke eye contact, scratching the back of his head. “You got pretty. Well, I mean aside from your ears, your nose, your eyes, your hair…” he quickly rattled off.
Melissa unclenched her body, noting he hadn’t changed at all. “I was going to say you’ve become handsome, but it seems you’re still an ass face.”
The two laughed and began having a casual conversation as they did as children, picking up where they left off under the watching stars. Talking about the trouble they’ve gotten in, the times they ate ice cream on this bridge, the time Melissa broke her arm and Dan carried all of her schoolbooks. Fragments of the past were merging once more.
“Are you seeing anyone?” Melissa bravely asked.
“You,” Dan replied absently.
“What?”
“Oh, you meant dating.” Dan rested his elbow on the bridge’s railing and put his hand on his chin, observing the city below. “Nah. Wasn’t really my thing. Especially after Mom died. I didn’t want any connection like that.”
“I can’t blame you. She was a kind woman. And mean sometimes.”
“Well, we did cause a lot of trouble. What about you?”
“Me? Uh. No, not at all. Not for dating either,” Melissa claimed. “Had to turn down many boys.”
“No, you didn’t,” Dan said, seeing through her lie.
“Still an ass,” Melissa sang.
“Remember when we were kids, and you wanted to marry me?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell.” Melissa bit her lower lip.
“It was a long time ago. Used to think about it, staring up at my ceiling at night. The what ifs and all. I did like you a bit. Puppy love.”
“Oh, really?” Melissa fixed her hair. “How about now?”
Dan’s face twisted a bit while pondering. “You know what? Why don’t we both find out this Saturday?”
“Bowling alley,” Melissa said instinctually.
“Ice cream after,” Dan added.
“Nachos,” Melissa added even further.
They laughed. “I missed this,” Dan said. “It used to be so—”
Melissa threw her arms around a surprised Dan before running off without another word. Dan was left dumbfounded as her heart banged in rhythm with her feet hitting the clattering diverse gravel. Silver beams kissed her cheek raised by a stupid grin.
She had rekindled a friendship transcending distance and time, and even if the path ahead was uncertain, she knew she could draw from this wonderful moment. And maybe one day, they might become more than just childhood friends. Something much, much more.
