Sunny and Moon

It was a Thursday afternoon, around 4 p.m. You know that time when the world feels calm and chaotic at the same time? The sun is setting, or maybe it's still shining bright.

I was going on my daily walk in my little, boring town where nothing ever happens. You know the kind of town where everyone knows everyone. However, I don't think anyone truly knows anyone. I think in a town like this, the birds and the trees hold all the secrets.

They definitely hold mine, and I wonder if they hold hers, too.

I'm referring to an old friend from my past, Sunny Jones.

We used to come here and walk together back in high school. We had coffee in our hands and notebooks with us. We would bond over boys and our changing bodies. You know, the type of things teenage girls boast about.

I hoped Sunny was doing well. Everything reminded me of her. Even though it had been years, the sun and the flowers still reminded me of her.

I mean, who could ever forget a girl named Sunny Jones?

When I knew her, she was truly the sunshine in my life. Perhaps I was a storm cloud in hers. Either way, she used to call me her little honeybee.

As I continued my walk, I noticed the wind blowing and the sun gleaming down on me. The weather was truly beautiful. I walked past a small pond and noticed little fish swimming around.

Sunny loved nature, and I loved Sunny.

I wondered how she had been all this time. It had been ten years, and I figured that if I hadn't seen her by now, I would likely never see her again.

Her mom only lived fifteen minutes away from my mom. We still had mutual friends. Yet, our paths never crossed again.

I found that weird. You know how two people can be in the same space but somehow never see each other again? I wonder what kind of universal law that is.

It felt cruel.

Or maybe I was cruel.

Because Sunny never reached out to me again after that one night when I was drunk and we got into a fight.

She never came back around, even though I apologized for the words I said.

I told her I didn't love her or want her in my life anymore, which wasn't true. I was just upset because our lives were going in different directions, and I didn't want her to leave me behind.

I should've told Sunny that.

Instead, I let her leave town thinking I didn't care about her or us.

Trust me, I tried to write her, email her, and call her old number. I even called her mom one night, and that didn't go well.

Sunny had gone away, and I couldn't seem to find her again.

As I continued walking through the park, I saw the water fountain where I once told Sunny we would always be friends.

I paused.

Even after ten years, my heart still sank thinking about all our memories.

By this time, it was almost 5:30 p.m., and I had to get home to let my dog out. So, I started walking back down the path.

That's when I noticed a woman.

I couldn't fully see her, but she had long hair, a curvy figure, and she was wearing a red dress.

She reminded me of Sunny Jones.

I knew that couldn't have been her.

I rubbed my eyes, hoping the illusion would disappear.

But it didn't.

It was indeed Sunny Jones, staring right at me.

I thought to myself, I should dash.

I never expected to see Sunny again, and I certainly didn't know what to say.

I was hoping she hadn't seen me, even though she was clearly staring at me.

My heart started racing.

I noticed some bushes along the walking path and thought to myself, Man, I could run into those bushes, or I could just walk past her and not say anything.

After all, she didn't know me anymore.

However, Sunny immediately said, “Moon, is that you?”

I felt relief wash over my body.

I hadn't heard Sunny's voice in a decade. It was still smooth, buttery, and soft.

She was even more beautiful than she was back then. She looked mature, like life had treated her well, but there was also a certain sadness surrounding her.

I couldn't help but think I had caused it.

After my little inner dialogue, I finally replied.

“Hey, Sunny. It's me, Moon. How are things?”

She looked me up and down, and we made small talk.

Then she asked if I wanted to walk down the path with her for old times' sake.

I had envisioned this moment a million times in my head, but I never thought it would actually happen.

I said yes.

As we walked, we kept stealing glimpses of each other.

It felt like we were seventeen again.

Sunny told me about her life. She had two kids now and an amazing husband. She had become a victim advocate, helping victims of crime.

I felt a sense of pride knowing my old friend had done well for herself.

Sunny had a rough life growing up. I won't get into all of that, but it's no surprise she wanted to help others.

I also felt a sense of disappointment in myself.

I never married. I lived in a small apartment on the bad side of town.

Sunny Jones had moved on and moved out of town, while I had kind of stayed stuck.

Still, Sunny and I laughed and reminisced about old times.

Eventually, we came to the end of our walk.

It was dark now.

I had completely lost track of time, and Sunny was getting ready to leave. She was only in town to visit her mom.

This was my chance.

My chance to finally ask her why she never forgave me.

“Sunny Jones,” I said softly. “Why did you never write me back or call? I apologized to you a hundred times, and I've thought about it a million times. You never said anything, and that really hurt.”

Sunny looked at me with those big green eyes and paused.

“Moon, I wanted to reach out and tell you I forgave you, but what good would it have done?”

I stood there, waiting for her to continue.

“You were so impulsive when I knew you. You often only cared about yourself, Moon. And I loved you, but I couldn't save you. I had to move on from us, from you, from our friendship. Otherwise, I would've stayed here on this walking path with you.”

“Sunny, I did love you,” I said. “I didn't realize I was selfish. I was hurting, you know? Things were bad back then.”

Sunny looked at me.

“Moon, they were hard for me, too. You know I had that case with my dad. Yet, I would drop everything for you. You hurt me, Moon! You said you didn't want our friendship anymore. What else could I have done?”

“Sunny,” I said sadly, “I'm sorry I ever hurt you.”

“Moon, it's okay, really. I've gotta go. It was nice seeing you, okay?”

She turned to leave.

“Wait, Sunny! Come back!”

She slowed down.

“Is there anything I can do now?” I asked.

“Moon, it's been ten years. It was nice seeing you, but we don't know each other anymore. I have a husband, kids, and a job far away from you and this no-good town.”

She paused.

“I don't want you back in my life. Not because I don't love you anymore. I do think of you from time to time, but I've moved on, Moon. I hope you move on, too.”

Sunny Jones ran away crying.

I just stopped in my tracks.

I had envisioned this moment so many times in my head. I never imagined it would go like this.

I always thought that if I ever ran into Sunny again, we would become friends.

We would run away together.

I would save her from her dad.

But instead, Sunny ran away from me.

As I walked back to my car, I sat and thought.

Sunny was right.

I had to move on, I guess.

I thought I already had until I saw her again, with her beautiful hair and green eyes.

However, it was time to face the truth.

Sunny was gone.

She didn't want me anymore.

I had made that decision ten years ago, and now it was time for the warm Sunny I knew to finally be free from my memory.

Gosh, it hurt.

I was in love with her.

Maybe I should've told her that.

After tonight, I think maybe she was in love with me, too.

However, there was one truth.

We shared moments of love and passion ten years ago, and I can still love her.

But I need to let her go.