Lubita Love Stories

Melted Chocolate

He cleared his throat, and looked at her hard, but avoided her eyes. He massaged his chin with the roughness of his fingertips. His watering eyes scanned the plain white ceiling, looking for an answer inside the cracks and chipped paint in the corners. He met her eyes at last.

“Wh…what did you call it?” He asked.

“A lesbian, Dad. I’m a lesbian.” She replied. She played with her fingertips and took a deep breath. Tara knew that her father would take this hard. He wasn’t the religious type, but he wasn’t liberal either. She dreaded telling him, but things with Samantha had gotten serious. It was hard to continue lying to him with the things she felt and constantly thought about.

He looked down at the table, holding back the threatening water in his eyes.

“My daughter’s a lesbian.” He muttered under his breath, but Tara had heard it. It didn’t surprise her.

“It’s not that bad, Dad.” She said, trying to comfort him.

“Not that bad?!” He yelled, slamming his fist on the table. The liquid in his eyes began spilling over, but his eyes only showed rage, not sorrow.

“I raised a whore!” he screamed.

“I’m not a whore, Daddy…I just don’t like boys.” Tara said, her voice shaking. He got up from the table, and threw the chair on the ground.

“Dad…wait!” She shouted as he made his way toward the vacant doorway. He stopped in his tracks when he heard her yell. He whipped himself around and planted his right palm on the table, leaning close to her.

“Get out of my house.” He muttered. His left hand pointed toward the door. Tara’s eyes started to water too, now. She didn’t reply.

“I said get out!” He screamed again. Tara shuddered, then ran out the door crying. Her father shut the door behind her.

Barefoot, Tara ran down the street until she found a rocky, dirt path that led into the backwoods. She trudged her bruised feet through the path until she was met with a thin, brunette woman sitting in the dirt, drawing shapes into the ground with a broken twig. She wore a haltered purple dress with a yellow ribbon tied around the middle, and her matching violet eyes met with Tara’s emerald ones. The girl swallowed.

“I take it it didn’t go well.” She said, softly. 

“No.” Tara replied, desperately trying to keep her composure. She failed. Her voice shook as she said the word, and she was bawling within seconds. Samantha got up and wrapped her arms around Tara’s waist.

It’s okay. She whispered, over and over again in Tara’s ear. It’s going to be okay.

They stayed like that for a while. Tara lifted her head from Samantha’s soaking shoulder, and ran her fingers through her brown waves. She smiled as she looked into her eyes.

“I’m going to miss you.” She said. Samantha’s brow twitched. She forcefully pulled Tara’s hand out of her hair.

“No.” She said. “No. You promised this wouldn’t be the end of us.”

“He’s my father…”

“No.” Tara looked down, but only long enough for Samantha to pull her head up to face her again. She smiled, hoping Tara would return it. She did.

“Tomorrow’s Saturday.” Samantha said. Tara’s smile grew wider.

“I know.” She replied. They smiled in silence for a minute.

“It’s your turn to pick where we go.” Tara reminded.

“I know. I’ve already chosen it.” Samantha said.

“Where, then?”

“The beach.”

——

Tara stuck her toes in the sand, playing with the feeling it gave them. She flung her head back and gazed at the sun through her tinted glasses. She exhaled in sync with the waves crashing onto the wet sand. She heard a pair of sandals slide next to her.

“Sorry I’m late. I had to stop somewhere on the way.”

“You’re never late.” Tara didn’t look at Samantha. She locked her gaze on the sun.

“Yeah, but it was important.”

“What’s so important? You’re never late.” Tara snapped. Samantha looked down at the paper bag in her hand. She let the silence linger for a moment before saying something again.

“I bought you some chocolate.” She hopefully said.

“I’m not hungry.” 

“Tara, stop.” Tara looked down and played with her fingertips. It was a nervous habit of hers, anytime she was scared of a reaction.

“What if it isn’t worth it?” She asked. Samantha’s hands went to Tara’s eyes before they could overflow with tears again. She smiled, and Tara returned it. Tara always told Samantha that she had a contagious smile.

“I want to ask you some things.” Samantha said. Tara took a deep breath and told her okay.

“Three questions.” Tara gave her the okay again.

“Question one: Do you love me? Truly and undoubtedly? With the marrow of your bones?” Tara chuckled.

“That’s more than one question…but yes, Samantha, I do.” Samantha smiled.

“Okay, question two: how long do you want to be with me?” 

“Forever.” Samantha could feel her knuckles shaking.

“Final question: Are you sure?”

“Yes…why?” Tara asked, confused. Samantha just smiled.

“Follow me.” She grabbed Tara’s hand, and the paper bag with her free hand. They walked through the sand in the scorching sun. Tara’s mind was racing. She didn’t know what to think, what to say, or what was happening. Samantha simply wore a big smile on her face as they reached the boardwalk next to the water. A cruise ship sailed by in the distance. Samantha stopped. She watched as Tara took in the scenery. The water, the ship, Samantha’s clutch on the bag of chocolates.

“Why did you bring that? I’m really not hungry.” She said, but Samantha ignored her question.

“Do you like it?” Samantha asked.

“Like what?”

“The cruise ship.” Tara smiled. She knew what was going on now. She figured out that Samantha had planned a vacation, a getaway for just the two of them. A vacation on a cruise ship for just her and Samantha. She didn’t realize how big her smile was until she had to reply.

“Yes, I love it.” Samantha returned her smile.

“Good.” She said. She let go of Tara’s hand, and knelt on the ground to dig through the paper bag. She pulled out a black box.

“…because that’s where our reception will be.” She opened the box to reveal, not chocolate, but a twisted band holding a large diamond in the middle.

-xLLSx-

(via reckless-lovee)