Twelve First Dates

With the clink of two wine glasses, Mason and Amelia agreed that their first date officially began. Mason had circled May 12th on his refrigerator calendar for weeks and kept counting the days. The cloudy but bright sky, and crisp clean air of the late Spring afternoon added a touch of freshness and newness to the occasion.

“Today is finally the day, our day.” He raised his glass of Merlot in the air.

For almost two years, there were long Facetime calls and plenty of letters before the first true date. Mason sipped his wine; Amelia put her glass down. The young couple gazed at each other. Their hopes and dreams they talked about with enthusiasm and passion for 21 months - of travel, dating, marriage, a big house, children, pets, successful careers – were all expressed in one loving glance. It was clear to them that a life partnership was "in the cards". This was a long-distance love affair that came to them relatively late in life and it was a blessing.

Mason smacked his lips together. “Mmm, a velvety and plum-like taste”, he muttered with a grin.

Amelia started laughing, and curiously asked, “Was that a commercial? She commented, "That sounded like a commercial”. He reached over the picnic basket and placed his hand on top of hers.

“I always feel cold, right? Sorry, ‘Mase’ sweetie”, Amelia said quietly, using a nickname she gave him several months ago.

He brushed her off with his free hand. “Baby, no worries. Your heart is warm”, he said. She smiled coyly.

Just then a big wind blew through. The red and gray checkered blanket they were sitting on partially covered them up. They laughed, and immediately moved to a calmer location in the field. The two human lovebirds settled into a low-lying grassy space near a huge oak tree. The view of the town was now closer.

Amelia declared, “It’s a further walk to the cemetery now”. Mason stared at her seriously, and she quickly shook her head and replied, “Never mind. Sorry”. Then her body stiffened up and she sat erect.

“Mason, we have to talk about this today”, she demanded.

He brought one finger to his lips.

“Please!”, she pleaded.

Mason now gently put his finger over her lips. “Not on our first date, my love,” he whispered. She rolled her eyes.

Mason removed the contents of the picnic basket. He named each item as he took it out and placed it on plastic dishes. “Roasted duck and mushroom sandwiches, pasta salad, a bunch of grapes, and sliced apples”, he pronounced like giving someone a food order over the phone.

Amelia shook her head in amusement.

Mason pulled out a folded piece of paper from his shirt pocket and waved it in the air.

Amelia clapped here hands in glee. “You found it in my apartment!”

He said, “I not only found it, I made myself perfume from your recipe,” he boasted. “Boy, you use a lot of ingredients.” He gave her a puzzled look. “And vodka?”, he asked.

Amelia laughed and explained, “I didn’t have grape alcohol on hand. OK.”

He exposed one side of his neck to her. “Do you smell that – like almonds, oranges and jasmine?”

“I can’t smell, silly!” she quipped.

“Well, I smell”, he replied, then quickly defended himself. “You know what I mean. I smell pretty good” He giggled.

Mason took a big bite out of a sandwich. He muttered while chewing, “You know roasted duck goes very well with Merlot”.

“You’re too much”, Amelia laughed. “I wish I could have a bite. I'll enjoy watching you eat."

After watching Mason devour a whole sandwich, a serious look came over her face. She lowered and shook her head. His smile left quickly, and he lowered his head too. She reached over the picnic basket and lightly kissed him on the cheek.

“I can feel that less and less,” she told him.

“I liked it very much”, he responded.

“I did too”, she quickly replied, and then declared, “But it’s time! It’s our promise to ourselves.”

Mason lost his appetite as reality set in. Amelia said, “Walk me back, Mason”.

They clasped hands and walked towards the cemetery. Mason was quiet and had mixed feeling about ending the date abruptly. He tried to focus on Amelia and just enjoy the hand in hand moment with the love of his life. When they stopped walking, they turned inward and looked into each other’s eyes. Mason's eyes welled up with tears and a few droplets fell onto his cheeks. He asked Amelia what he was feeling for so long, “Why, why does this first date have to be our last?”

Amelia answered, "Mase, please don't."

He took her hand and placed it on his chest. Then he put both of his hands on her shoulders and pulled Amelia into his body.

“Don’t you see? Every first date brings me joy and peace”, he explained.

Amelia stroked his face. “Let it be." She affirmed, "You gave me the best date, and the best 21 months before that, and the best park in the town, and the best duck and mushroom sandwiches, and the best Merlot, and the best of you".

“I don’t want to let you go. I can’t let you go!” He began to sob uncontrollably. “I put you on that respirator. It’s my fault! I was so stupid to go to that party, without a mask, with a whole lot of people without masks, and then at our first meetup I gave you this deadly --- !" He stopped talking but continued crying.

“Shhhh, Mase". She tried to wipe away his continuous flow of tears. "I forgive you. Please believe that".

Mason stopped crying and drew in a deep breath. He started to hiccup. They laughed. He held both of her hands and started swinging them back and forth.

"They are really cold now, aren't they?", she asked.

"A little", he responded.

She uttered, "I'm getting colder and colder. It is time".

"No, no, not yet sweetheart", he voiced, tugging at her arms.

She stroked his hair and disclosed, "In life you had my heart, mind and body. For the last twelve months, every 12th day, you had my soul. For one purpose. To give you time to heal and move on. It's that time, Mase. It's out of our control. Please".

Amelia embraced Mason. She added her last words, "I'll be in a good place. I can forgive. I can watch you move forward. Be well, my sweet beautiful man." In the next second, she vanished.

Mason was alone. Amelia was gone. Suddenly a strong burst of almonds, oranges and jasmine pierced the air. A big smile covered Mason's face. She had left a memory of her homemade scent. He was ready to walk away when he got up the nerve to look at the bronze grave marker at his feet, a reminder of Amelia he ignored on the last eleven first dates. He was brave enough to read the words aloud.

Amelia Solomon

Born February 19, 1976

Died May 31, 2020

At that moment sounds of life returned around him, sounds he had put into the background all day: chirping birds ready to roost, a plane flying overhead, the wind blowing through the trees , a dog barking and kids playing. His love Amelia was now free, at peace. Would he be free and at peace, too?