A Summer Night Boardwalk Stroll

It was a cool summer night. Ashley was sitting on the boardwalk pier wearing her favorite yellow sundress with an open bottle of wine by her side as she swung her feet off the ledge. She had just learned that her parents were about to divorce after twenty years of marriage.

As she stared at the horizon, a warm but gentle hand tapped her shoulder. She turned around; it was Dylan.

“Come with me, Ash; let’s take a stroll along the beach,” he said.

At first, she was reluctant as Dylan and her weren’t exactly on speaking terms. The last time they saw each other ended with her laughing in Dylan’s face after he confessed his love for her. Was this his way of getting his revenge?

Her brain said no, but her heart said yes. Ultimately, her heart won, thanks to some help from the Pinot Noir.

“Where are we going?” she inquired nervously as she took his right hand.

Dylan gave her a warm, reassuring smile and calmly stated, “It will all make sense soon, Ash, I promise.”

Dylan’s answer was vague, but his serene and sincere demeanor alleviated Ashley’s anxiety. As they began their stroll, an unusual calmness embodied her—almost as if it were magical. Nevertheless, her mind was still wandering about Dylan’s intentions.

“Why is he so calm? Does he hate me? Is this how my life is going to end?” she thought.

As they strolled down the boardwalk, Dylan asked about her family, particularly her brother, who had been deployed. Ashley assured him he was okay and doing his best to survive.

“Your brother is a brave soul; I miss him,” he added somberly.

Not wanting to dwell on his sadness, Dylan quickly changed the subject as they approached the sand.

“You seem down, Ash; what’s going on with you?” he asked, concernedly.

Ashley, like Dylan, was the type of person who refused to share her feelings. To her, vulnerability equaled weakness. But tonight, she felt different. Dylan had captivated her under his charming spell, and she couldn’t resist telling him the truth.

“My world is falling apart, Dyl. My parents are divorcing, I hate my job, and I am struggling to maintain an emotional connection with my husband. I feel stuck, unlike myself, and sometimes I question whether life is worth living anymore,” she stated as she lowered her head in despair.

Dylan listened but said nothing. The deafening silence triggered her anxiety and insecurities. She felt stupid and weak and wanted to dig herself into a pit in the sand.

“He probably thinks I am clinically insane; why did I just say that?” she thought as she internally scolded herself.

With a gentle touch, Dylan raised Ashley’s chin with his right hand and locked his bright blue eyes on her light hazel eyes—she felt her heart race. She had never seen this side of Dylan before. He had always been the timid and reserved ‘nice guy’ but never masculine and domineering.

Under the summer moon, a whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed her as the tension built.

Dylan briefly gazed at her lips, then at her eyes, and again at her lips. Deftly, he placed his left hand on her lower back and pulled her closer. He slowly caressed her face and gave her a long, heartfelt kiss. It was euphoric and magical, that is, until her logical brain betrayed her.

Suddenly, she shoved Dylan away and angrily yelled, “What are you doing, Dylan? I am married! You and I can never be a couple, and I thought I had made that clear by now!”

But internally, she was furious with herself for ruining such a magical moment and potentially pushing Dylan away forever.

“I know, Ash, this is my way of saying goodbye,” he replied in a soothing, masculine voice.

Instantly, her gaze transformed from anger to sadness. The California waves crashing against the sand were deafening as reality set in—Dylan was leaving. She had, in fact, pushed him away forever. This was all her fault. She could sense her eyes watering up as she stuttered, “What do you mean, goodbye?” She tried to hide her tears but was wildly unsuccessful.

With a graceful move, Dylan wiped her tears— he always knew exactly what to do when she was distressed. “I’m moving to Texas; I was offered a job there. I leave tomorrow morning,” he mentioned.

Ashley was inconsolable. Dylan had been the one person she could count on when her brother was deployed. He and his brother had been best friends since they were teenagers. However, she began to take him for granted— after all, she knew he secretly had a crush on her but wouldn’t act on it out of respect for her brother. Eventually, she began to take advantage of his kindness, and Dylan, upon realizing his role in her life, quietly distanced himself. To make things worse, she mocked him after he confessed his love for her. Years later, she tried to make amends by inviting him to her wedding, but Dylan never showed.

She broke out sobbing. “What do you mean? Why are you leaving me?” she wailed.

Dylan waited patiently before removing Ashley’s hair from her face. He could tell she was distraught. Ashley’s eyes were swollen with tears, which were the culprits for the mascara running across her cheeks. The sight of Ashley being so devastated practically broke his heart, but he knew he must put himself first this time.

“I am prioritizing myself this time, Ash. It’s time I start doing what I want to do,” he declared with a warm look.

“What do you mean?” she asked in a muffled tone. But deep down, Ashley knew exactly what he meant. Dylan had always prioritized others’ needs, including hers, over his own. He was valued for his availability and would inevitably take on others’ problems, which often led to burnout.

“It means it’s time for me to go, Ash,” he whispered as he locked his shining blue eyes on her again. His attention then turned to her lips. He kissed them passionately, but this time, he ended the kiss first. Then he turned around and walked away swiftly into the cool, breezy night. His silhouette faded with each step until he reached the dimly lit parking lot. He turned on his car, revved the engine as usual, and sped away.

Ashley trotted clumsily behind; the thick sand hindered her progress. “No, Dylan, wait!” she shouted.

Suddenly, Ashley woke in horror, a cold sweat running profusely down her forehead. Startled by her screams, her husband woke up frantically. “Ash, are you alright, sweetheart?” he muttered in a sleepy voice.

“It’s Dylan,” she gasped in a state of panic. Her husband inched towards her and lovingly embraced her. “Ash, your friend Dylan was killed by a drunk driver on his way home from the boardwalk five years ago. He’s gone, honey, let’s get some sleep,” he murmured.