A Lifelong Love

YOU'RE UNFORGETTABLE

I couldn't forget you.

Does love really ever show up on time?

Or, like the hands of time, does it strike by design?

And yet somehow, when you least expect it,

those gentle hands that grab you and take you dancing, those

hands that build a whole new world with you,

those hands that strike you like lightning,

electrify you, leave you lit up and glowing in such a way

even the sun burns with envy.

When you left me, darling...

A sun that will never go down.

It was your love that I missed.

You shattered my dreams all my life it seems.

I've tried both night and day.

That's beautiful, sweetheart.

I really love your poems.

You like it?

Yeah.

I posted it to the Capturing Romance page yesterday

and it's gotten a lot of shares.

I just... I'm actually considering

adding it to the pitch today.

I don't know.

Is that crazy?

It's beautiful.

It'll blow that publisher's socks off.

This publisher's a big wig, Anita Jones.

She's run the company for like 25 years.

Well, I'm sure she'll know what's good when it hits her.

I hope so.

It's just hard.

I've been working on these poems for the better

part of a decade.

But in some ways, this kind of feels

like my life's defining moment.

It's but one moment of many.

If Anita doesn't want to publish your book, someone else will.

Look at The Beatles, took them forever to get signed.

I do love when you compare me to the Beatles.

Well, you do look exactly like Ringo.

Hey!

I'm not the one who rocked a handlebar

mustache in the 1970s.

Your grandma loved it.

What I would give to see you and Grandma back in the day.

I'm sure you were the cutest high school sweethearts ever.

Well, honey, your grandma and I weren't

high school sweethearts.

You know that, right?

What?

I thought you and Grandma dated in high school.

No, no, no.

I knew her in high school, but she was

going steady with someone else.

We didn't start seeing each other

until I got back from the service.

Grandpa!

Who is this other woman?

Come with me.

Her name was Ruth.

She was a cheerleader and she liked to read, like you.

She's the one who got me into books in the first place.

A cheerleader and a nerd.

Grandpa, you scored.

Why did you never tell me about her?

She's adorable.

I knew how close you were with your grandmother

and she was my soul mate.

But I believe a person can have more

than one soulmate in this life.

Don't you?

I definitely do.

In fact, I think that's a lovely idea.

When's the last time you two spoke?

Not since I congratulated her on her wedding in '65.

I left back in '61 and when I got back,

she was already married.

Oh, Grandpa.

That must have been really hard.

Well, I was gone for four years.

I ran into an old high school friend

about 10 years ago who told me her husband had passed,

but we didn't exchange information.

Well, do you know where she is?

Maybe you could reach out.

Have you ever tried?

Oh, many times.

Grandpa, I could have helped you with this.

I make a living doing online poetry.

That means I'm notoriously good at the internet.

I don't think she's listed on the internet.

Well, we will find another way.

Why don't you two meet up?

I'm sure she would flip to hear from you again.

Unlikely.

I have a hunch her cheerleading days are behind her.

You know what I mean.

Oh, I've got to get to this pitch.

Let's bookmark this for later, yeah?

I'm so proud of you, sweetheart.

You're more than ready for this.

Go blow 'em away.

Thanks, Grandpa.

Love you!

Love you, too.

Ryan, you're going to be late.

Thanks for the news update, El.

Let's retrace your steps.

The last place you had your photography portfolio was?

When I was shooting in Botswana.

OK, that is profoundly unhelpful.

Botswana, the airport.

Did you check your suitcase?

No.

You're a detective genius, El!

Yes!

Actually, I just possess standard deductive reasoning

abilities like they do in the Golden Glass mystery novels.

Oh, well, I'm glad someone in the family got those.

Now you'll be OK while I'm gone?

Wow.

You're the easiest 12-year-old in the world to look after.

I feel like you're looking after me half the time.

OK, I'll see you later.

Ryan?

Love you!

Oh, and tonight, we're getting takeout.

As opposed to all the other nights when we've cooked.

OK, Rory Clark, the in-house publisher.

So you're the poet.

Anita told me all about your stuff.

Will Anita be joining us?

Oh, no, no, no.

Unfortunately not.

She, uh... she had a big old project come up and had

to take off to London, so.

But in the meantime, I'm your guy.

So let's talk poetry, shall we?

Sure.

So you've got a great social media following,

a ton of people loving your stuff.

What is it, like, 25,000 followers?

Yeah.

It's called Capturing Romance.

And I write poems based on love stories that inspire me

and I upload them to the page.

OK.

So that's basically what this book would be?

No, actually.

The book would be a collection of poetry

that I've written over the past 10 years or so.

OK, so what's the hook?

There's no hook.

It would essentially be my anthology

to branch out as a writer.

I see.

Well, an anthology isn't exactly marketable, so.

It's poetry, not a Super Bowl ad.

True, true.

Very, very true.

But it is how the world is working now.

Sad, isn't it?

Look, my manager spoke with Anita,

and she seemed to really like my stuff.

Oh, and a lot of people are really

going to like your stuff.

Problem is if they don't open the book.

But hey, Annika...

Ahn-ika.

Right.

I actually have another meeting to prep for,

so if you have any other questions,

happy to answer them.

Thanks so much for coming in.

Hey.

Oh, my gosh, Kevin!

Oh gosh, I haven't seen you since those flood pants.

How is Shel?

Oh, great!

Perfect.

Awesome.

Today rocks.

Sorry.

Annika?

Um, Brian.

Wow, this is crazy.

I don't think I've seen you since...

You left me on one knee back in college?

So, uh, what are you doing here?

Oh, I have a meeting.

For a book?

You know, the surprise in your voice is deeply affirming.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I just...

Had to help me through British Lit in college?

And if you hadn't edited my essays,

I would have unquestionably flunked?

Well, yeah.

It's for my street photography.