A Modern Love

By Ryan Woldt

Ben, a talented jazz musician with a drinking problem navigates life with his partner Delilah, until a tragic accident tears them apart and he's forced to confront his life and relationship with his family while she moves on with hers. A timeless short story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ryan Woldt
• Release date: Dec 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781393968207

Ryan Woldt

Ryan Woldt writes words sometimes. He is based out of Southern California, and feels weird about writing these words in the third person. You can find more of his creative work online at: www.onewildlifeco.com

Book preview

July 2, 1999

Her blue eyes stare down at him. He meets her gaze, peering intently from underneath bushy black eyebrows. His hands begin to shake, and a solitary bead of sweat adorns his furrowed brow. A small, sad smile appears on her thin line of pink lips. She looks away first. She looks at the ground, at the grass. His shoulders crumple into his body. His chin drops chiseling a cave into his chest. He closes his eyes, reaches down with his right hand, and pushes himself up off of one knee.

Lila?

She doesn’t answer, but she looks back at him and searches him with her eyes.

Lila? I don’t understand. I thought this is what you wanted.

They stand facing each other. He reaches across his body and takes her right hand with his. He presses the cold metal of the ring into the flesh of her palm and squeezes tight. She smiles at him. Her face flushes when she feels the ring in hand. It is hard to breathe. His mouth opens, his tongue skimming out across his lips. He speaks again.

In the movies this is where you say, Yes," and jump into my arms kissing my lips, my neck. You hold me tight and I whisper to you that we will be forever and I’ll love you for always. This is where the world fades into the background; the camera zooms in and circles around us. Flower petals