An Incident

   We sit down on the big bulky rocks by the water and he looks up at me with his eyes filled with hope as he says the words I regret to hear. "Will you be my girlfriend?" Danny asked. At that moment, I knew all my actions led to this moment and I have no one to blame but myself. My heart pounds uncontrollably and my palms are soaked in sweat not because of the Texas heat beating down on me but because I can't imagine a scenario in my head where any response I give will have a good outcome. "I can't," I tell him as I watch his face go from a bright smile to no expressions at all. He gets up and leaves without saying one word. I can feel myself start to breathe again as I focus solely on my surroundings. I know he picked this place to ask me because its where we first met. I remember the day like it was just yesterday.  

   The sun was rising and no clouds were in sight to block its way. I was taking my dog, Chico, on a walk to Research Park but it looked more like he was taking me on a walk as he lead the way and I followed. The vibrant grass tickled my ankles with every step I took. I paused at the wooden bridge above the water to stop and take everything in for a moment. This park has been my favorite place to come and relax for as long as I can remember. Something about the sound of the tranquil waters trickling down the rocks gives me an indescribable feeling of serenity. The water isn't a beautiful blue color like you see in the movies. It's more of a dirty brown color but the ducks and turtles look happy to call it a home. When you close your eyes, you can hear the calming sound of the waters, the lonely crickets, and the some quacks every now and then. Then, you open them and see everywhere you turn there is a diverse family of trees coming in all shapes and sizes giving us the gift of fresh air and cooling shade. No two trees are the same. Each one has a complex design of branches that look like a system of blood vessels. The shades of colors in the park ranged all the way from dry brown to a radiant green with the occasional pop of lavender colored flowers. It truly is the perfect place to go and just escape for a while. 

   Not too far in the distance I saw him for the first time. A tall nicely built frame with silky dark brown hair and eyes big and blue like the ocean. Right next to him he had a small ball of fur that appeared to be a dog. "WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF." I lost grip on Chico's leash and he began sprinting straight towards the dog. My dog is about five times as big as his. I try to run as fast as I can without tripping on the uneven land. "CHICO!" I yelled out to him as if he was going to just stop and turn around. I was praying my dog wouldn't eat his dog. Danny picked his dog up and Chico started to jump on him. I get there and immediately pick up my dog like he's a bad seven year old kid who doesn't know how to behave. "I am so sorry about that he gets really excited when he see's other dogs," I tell him in my most apologetic voice. "Oh its okay he was just trying to have some fun. Maybe, they can go on a playdate," suggested Danny. We exchanged numbers in what I thought was a friendly gesture. After that, I went back home to my husband.