SHANTELL PETERS - ONE DANCE

Shantell Peters is a full-time student at Full Sail University and was recently inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Shantell is an only child and a mother to her fur baby Snoopy. In her spear time she collects records and gains inspiration from her own personal music choices. In the future she plans to continue writing and one day have her own sitcom and feature films for people all over the world. 

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ONE DANCE

​“Can I have this dance?” Drew asked.
 
“Sure,” Chanel said.
 
Reluctant to take his hand, Chanel couldn’t resist his charm. Even though the hotel room was less than romantic, Little Anthony and the imperials playing in the background swept her off of her feet.
 
“If we could start anew, I wouldn’t hesitate
I’d gladly take you back and tempt the hand of fate...” she said.
 
“It’s over this time, right?” Drew asked.
 
“It’s has to be.”
 
Chanel entwined her fingers into Drew’s and kissed his ring finger.
 
“This commitment wasn’t promised to me,” Chanel said.
 
“Tears on my pillow, pain in my heart, caused by you...” he said.
 
As he lets go of her hand an instant flash of his wife and kids hit him.
 
“Don’t do that!” he said.
 
“Do what? Tell the truth, Drew! Stop being a coward and face reality.”
 
“This is my reality! Being here with you and being near you.”
 
“Drew, your wife and kids are your reality. I’m just a frequent dream you visit on the weekend in this cheap hotel.”
 
Taking a sip of his whisky Drew watched the makeup run down Chanel’s face. The damage is already done.
 
“You know I love you,” he said.
 
“Then leave her. Be with me. Love me Drew.”
 
“You know I can’t do that. She is my wife! We have kids together!”
 
“Well, we have a kid too!” she said.
 
“What?”
Chanel dropped to the edge of the bed and stained the covers with her smeared make up.
 
“You’re pregnant!?
 
“I-I wanted to tell you, but we are just fantasy. You and I aren’t real life, Drew.”
 
“When did you find out?” he asked.
 
“Two months ago.”
 
“Two months ago,” he said.
 
Drew threw his whiskey glass at the wall.
 
“You’re selfish!”
 
“I’m selfish! You are selfish! You go home to this picture-perfect life, but deep down you are miserable.”
 
“Wait, just stop! Listen I just need a second to process everything. Are you sure it’s mine?”
 
“Oh don’t you even go there!”
 
“Just kidding.”
 
Even though Chanel couldn’t even look at him, Drew always found a way to make her laugh. That was one of the things she admired about him was his humor.
 
“Give me your hand,” said Drew.
 
“Drew…” Chanel said.
 
“One last song, please.”
 
“Our final dance.”
 
Drew grasped hold of those three words as if he took his final breath.
 
“This one is for you, Chanel. I love you. I swear, but please don’t hate me.”
 
Drew went over to the nightstand and put on the radio. Ironically the Flamingo’s Lovers Never Say Goodbye plays and dread floods the both of them. As they slow danced Drew touched her belly.
 
“Please wait for me; for I shall return; My Love for you will forever burn. Though we must part; There’s no reason to cry…” he said.
 
Drowning in her own tears and her deep regret, Chanel fought the urge to look him in the eyes, but how could she not. She was doomed in love.
 
“Just say so long; Because lovers never say goodbye...” she said.
 
“I love you, Chanel,” he said.
 
“So long, Darling.”