Loves' Ferris Wheel (A short story)

CATEGORY

Ok... So, I’m in love, right?  I’m thinking, “This is the greatest experience I have ever had!”  Just as I began to feel comfortable with love; it’s over! Gone! Kaput! Finished! The opportunity to experience love is like…. Well, it’s like a Ferris wheel… Love’s Ferris wheel.

                             Loves' Ferris Wheel

I’m riding the Ferris wheel. At the beginning I’m nervous and butterflies are turning flips in my stomach; I love it! As the ride takes me higher and higher I become even more excited! This is the greatest feeling I have ever had IN-MY-LIFE!

I am sitting back chillin at the top of the ride, relaxed and feeling good (you know that place in the relationship that reaches its comfort zone; that sweet spot?) suddenly the ride is slowing down. Now it has come to a complete stop. I’m thinking “what dah…” as I look below I see people are being escorted off the ride. Now the Ferris wheel is moving again; I’m no longer at the top but slowly nearing the bottom.

Fear has crept in; I don’t want to get off! (You do all you can to hold on to him/her but…) Now, I am in front of the Ride Operator; he says to me  “Please unfasten your seatbelt and exit the ride.”  I say, “Nooooooooo! Please let me stay I don’t want to get off... I’m not ready for this to end!”  But my begging is to no avail; he remains unchanged (I guess he hears this all the time). As I unfasten my seatbelt tears began to flow; I whisper  “This ride was supposed to last my lifetime.”

As I am getting off the Ferris wheel I noticed people who were told to exit the ride; some were going left and some were going right. I asked the Ride Operator “What’s the difference between the two directions?” He told me “Going left will allow you to get back in line for another chance to ride the Ferris wheel and going right is for people who have chosen not to ride again.” After careful consideration I decide to go left (I’m no quitter!) As I’m walking towards the end of the line despair is starting to set in… “Damn this line is long!” I continue walking, determination, my fuel.

As I continued my walk I noticed, standing in line are people of all race and ages. I saw a few young people (there first time) who didn’t seem to really care about being here; if I knew then what I know now… was my thought. Finally, I take my place at the end of the line. Time has passed, the line has gotten longer but it has not moved an INCH!

Suddenly a commotion erupted! People were jumping up and down, weaving the hands in the air and yelling! At first I couldn’t understand what they were saying because so many were yelling at once. Then I realized what they were yelling...“Pick me! Pick me!”  Just as I was beginning to wonder why were these people yelling “Pick me” I saw a person in uniform with a name tag that read “Love”! This person was going through the line picking people at random. I asked the old man ahead of me “What is that person doing?" The old man said “That's Love, picking people for an opportunity to jump ahead of the line to ride on the Ferris wheel."  Sooooooooo, like everyone else (you know?  When in Rome…) I began jumping up and down yelling “Pick me! Pick me!  Hay Love Ova hear!  Pick me!  Pleeeeeease pick me!”

        Love is heading in my direction... Our eyes  meet... they are locked on each other…. I’m no longer yelling; I’m BEGGING… PLEADING... “Pul-leeze pick me!" Then Love walked rrrrrrrright passed me!  Love didn’t choose me; I was devastated! Now, I’m on my knees crying HARD and LOUD!  “WHY DIDN’T LOVE CHOOSE ME?!!!!!” A short while later while still in my devastated state, I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder; I wondered who would get out of line to offer me comfort? After all whoever it is didn’t get picked either! Then I began to wonder… how far ahead of me in line was this person? and if I could beat this person to that spot! (Awwwwww don’t judge ME, you would do the same thing!... I’m just real about it! Lol) I looked up to see who this comforting hand belong to. It belonged to Love! I jumped up, used the sleeve of my blouse to wipe the tears and snot from my face and nose (yeah... a hot mess!) I was too surprised for words; aaaaand felt a little guilty about my previous thought. Love looked at me with a soft smile and said “Come with me, I’m giving you another opportunity to ride the Ferris wheel.”

Once again I am riding Loves' Ferris wheel.  Butterflies are turning flips in my stomach.  Once again I am at the top…Once again I feel the ride slowing down then come to a stop…Once again I see people being escorted off the ride. The ride is slowly moving again and I am no longer at the top; I’m nearing the bottom. Before long I am in front of the Ride Operator but, before he could say what I knew he was going to say, I looked at him and said "I know what to do".  Tears are in the duct of my eyes preparing there march.  As I began unfastening my seatbelt the Ride Operator says to me “Please keep your seatbelt fastened and remain in your seat, this ride is not over for you.”  My tears still marched on but, this time… it was a march of joy! I prayed; Dear Lord please let this time last my lifetime.

Never give up, Sheryn