We Broke-Up! (Super Saturday)

It was Christmas Eve. The air was cold yet brisk. There was a light snow fall covering the city streets. It was about 7pm and I thought I would surprise my girlfriend with a visit. We hadn't spoken in a few days. I figured  it was because of the stress of final exams and getting packed up to go home for Winter Break. Crystal was very studious, sophisticated for her age, down to earth, loving and beautiful as ever. She was studying to be a teacher. Her dream was to reform education in our city give youth an outlet, a platform to want more out of life. That's where our passions collided... I was taking up political science and urban planning at my school which is about a three and half hour drive from the university Crystal attended. If I could tell anything the distance was putting a strain on our relationship. 

I arrived at Crystal's house which decorated so nicely for the season. Their yard resembled those homes you see on Home & Garden television (HGTV). It was amazing. Her dad was a landscaper so I know it was all Mr. Steel's crafting. I walked up the walkway, gift in hand trying to figure out if I should hide it or not. Should I say, "Surprise"? Or just charm her as I've always done. I rang the doorbell and Mrs. Steel answered. She greeted me with so much hospitality. “Oh what a surprise Desmond! It is so nice to see you,” said Mrs. Steel. I replied with greetings and a hug. We chatted for a few minutes about classes, the start of basketball season, and my mom’s annual Winter Gala in their homes foyer. The Steel’s had a cookie swap every Christmas Eve with their neighbors, friends, and family members so I was sure to bring a tin of my grandmother’s secret recipe cranberry oatmeal cookies for them to share. I handed the tin of cookies to Mrs. Steel and she went to go retrieve Crystal for me.

I didn’t want to fully intrude on their festivities so I stood in the foyer waiting, even after Mrs. Steel suggested I stroll through their huge home in Indian Village with her to find my sweetheart. When Crystal finally came into the foyer she had a look of disgust on her face. I reached in for a hug but she had yielded away and asked what I was doing there. She said, “Don’t you know not to just show up at people’s homes without calling?” I was confused. I thought she would be happy to see me. It had been since Thanksgiving since we’ve seen one another and about four days since we last spoke. To come to think of it, she was very short with me when we were on the phone that day. Crystal walked to cloak and retrieved her coat and said we should go outside for a walk. I agreed but that walk was from her home to my car.

This is how our conversation commenced:

          Desmond: Crystal I missed you! I called you the other day, to wish you luck on      your sociology final but you never called or even texted me back.

          Crystal: Well D, I didn’t think I needed to…besides I had studying to do.

Desmond: That’s understandable baby but a simple text back would have made me feel a little better.

Crystal was silent for a minute so I decided to break the ice a little. After all I didn’t know why she was acting like this. I grabbed a good amount of snow and shaped it into a heart. I tried to hand it to her but she wouldn’t take it. I told her it was a heart for my heart.

         

          Desmond: Crystal, what’s wrong? Talk to me..

         

          Crystal: Des you really don’t know what’s wrong with me?

          Desmond: I’m no mind reader Crys, what’s up.

          Crystal: Did you really think that I wouldn’t find out you were at school       sleeping with Robin?

My mouth dropped. I mean, what could I say at that point. From the sound of things she already knew what she wanted to know.

          Crystal: You know Des I really liked you. I always have. It was getting to the         point where I thought I was even in love with you. But I see you are no       different than the rest of guys our age. You’re trifling, low down, and a       schemer. All this time you’ve been messing with her Des?! Seriously….I can’t      believe you. And you have the audacity to come to my home on Christmas Eve like nothing happened? Answer me Des!

The way she was going on I didn’t know if I should answer or not but I saw this play out in too many movies not to say anything so this is the explanation I conjured up…

         

          Desmond: Crystal, I can explain…it’s not what you think…really it’s not…It         was a mistake one that I regret and will regret for the remainder of my life. I          don’t want her, I swear to you I don’t. I love Crystal Reese Steel and no one        else but God and my family.

She cut me off…guess she didn’t believe me.

          Crystal: Stop! Stop it Des! Don’t bring God into this or anyone else for that matter. Robin already called me and confessed to what she did. Now you’re standing here trying to down play it like some little mistake. Just be honest with me. You slept with Robin because I won’t sleep with you didn’t you?

There was no need of lying now so I confessed.

          Desmond: You don’t understand Crystal. All of the peer pressure it is to be a          young man on a college campus, let alone an athlete. The guys on the team talked about me because they knew I was celibate and a few weeks ago after          this party Robin was there and I was inebriated, I was drunk and we had sex but            that was it. I don’t like her; I don’t want to be with her. I’m sorry for what I did        and I hope you can forgive me for it.

As the truth spilled from lips, tears welled up in Crystal’s eyes and streamed over like the Falls of Niagra. What have I done I thought. I had just broken her heart.

          Crystal: I guess it is true. Robin’s story and yours add up. You know, I’d never       imagined I would be saying this but Des we have to break up. I appreciate your honesty but I need some time to myself.

She kissed me on the cheek still crying and turned to walk away. I reached in my coat pocket and pulled out her gift hoping this would change things and at least make her stay out in the cold winter air with me just a little longer.

          Desmond: Crys wait! I got you a gift.

She came back retrieved it, thanked me and walked up the stairs of her home. I stood there on the sidewalk and watched her leave me. At 19 years old never did I imagine I would have a broken heart. That night I lay in my room playing a whack R&B song called, 'why you have to leave me on Christmas'. The next day my dad asked me if Crystal would be joining us for dinner and all I could say was, “We broke up”.