OLD LOVE DOESN'T RUST

Alicja was my first love. When I fell in love with her, we were fifteen and in the same class. She was a tiny, beautiful blonde with the face of an angel. We enjoyed talking; she laughed loudly at my jokes and looked at me with amusement, her eyes twinkling.

I realized I was in love with her at the class disco. When the teacher announced, "And now the white tango, girls ask the boys," I stood with my friends, secretly hoping that Alicja would choose me. However, I was disappointed. When Marek and I were left among the unchosen boys, my heart sank, and when Alicja approached us, it was already beating like crazy. The girl pointed to Marek, and I felt a huge sense of disappointment, sadness, and regret. Until then, I hadn't realized how much I cared about Alicja.

I fell in love with her first, most beautiful love, the kind you never forget. Unfortunately, I was too shy to tell Alicja about my feelings or even ask her out on a date. I was afraid she'd laugh at me and reject the love of the skinny, not-so-good-looking nerd I was at the time.

A few months later, we graduated from elementary school and went our separate ways. Alicja started school in another town, at a boarding technical school, and I got into the local high school, so even though we lived in the same town, we saw each other very rarely, only fleetingly. I thought about her less and less, until I finally thought I no longer felt anything for Alicja.

I was wrong. We met in our third year of high school – at a mutual friend's eighteenth birthday party. She had changed a lot since elementary school. She was dazzlingly beautiful – she started puberty exceptionally late, and in her first year of high school, she grew four inches taller, had long, straight hair, and a nice bust. I was thrilled to see her. Memories of my first love came flooding back. I hoped we could talk and dance together. Unfortunately, Alicja took a liking to Andrzej, a friend the birthday boy had just met. She only played with him, constantly talking and laughing. Alicja had drunk quite a bit, and the alcohol clearly aroused her. At the end of the party, she kissed Wojtek while dancing, unconcerned that everyone was watching. Later, around 3 a.m., Wojtek walked her home and didn't come back for a long time, so she probably invited him over. I was disappointed and even a little disgusted. I didn't expect Alicja to be so easy when she was drunk. Easy, but not for a guy like me.

I stopped thinking about Alicja. She was no longer my dream girl. I had my first girlfriend in my senior year. Our relationship lasted four months. Later, in college, I had a few more women, but none of them lasted longer than six months. Sooner or later, I always came to the conclusion that my current crush wasn't the one I wanted to spend my life with. I didn't feel like I'd found my soulmate. Sure, I liked these girls, some of them very much, but it wasn't love. They didn't love me either, or at least that's how I felt, so none of these relationships stood the test of time.

After three years of full-time studies, I found a job in my hometown, so I switched to part-time studies. One day, as I was returning home at 3 p.m., as usual, I bumped into Dawid, a friend from elementary school, on the street. We started talking about old times, and eventually ended up at a pub. We sat in a corner over a cold beer. The topic drifted from one word to the next, turning to our former class, until I finally asked,

"Do you happen to know how Alice is doing?

" "I heard she has a child. A son.

" "Who? Married? Who?" I asked a series of questions.

"She wasn't married. She fell in with some guy eight or ten years older than her. She was four months pregnant when they were supposed to get married. Everything was ready—the hall, the band, the dress. But her would-be husband clearly chickened out, because a week before the wedding, he furled sail and sailed away. He left her, and that was all she saw of him.

A few weeks later, I was leaving the bookstore with a book in my hand, when, as luck would have it, Alice walked by, pushing a stroller with a little boy inside. The wind blew her long, blond hair, gleaming in the setting sun. I thought to myself that she was even more beautiful than the last time I'd seen her.

"Hi," I greeted her.

"Hi," she replied with a smile, but I saw sadness in her eyes.

We walked together, chatting. I told her I was a fourth-year student and had been working at a local company in the marketing department for six months. She replied that she worked there too – as a saleswoman in a shoe store. She didn't mention her near-term marriage, so I didn't mention it either. Instead, she bragged about her child.

"Wojtuś is so well-behaved and sweet, he hardly ever cries," she said happily.

I learned from her that every evening she puts her son in the stroller and goes for a walk with him, always in the same direction – to the lake and back. As I turned toward my apartment building and we shook hands in farewell, I felt my heart skip a beat. I thought to myself that old love doesn't rust.

From then on, every evening, when I walked the dog, I would walk with him towards the lake. As I had planned, I often ran into Alicja on that path. We always talked for long periods, broaching increasingly personal topics. Gradually, we grew closer. Often, after our walks, we would stand outside her cage for a long time, discussing things – we simply couldn't get enough of each other. Finally, one day, she told me about being single with a child. I pretended I was hearing the story for the first time and said,

"Don't worry! I don't feel sorry for a scumbag like yours. Everything will work out somehow!"

When Alicja's old computer broke down once, I came over and fixed it without any problems. She repaid me by making delicious coffee and offering me cookies. From then on, I became an increasingly frequent visitor to her tiny studio apartment. I helped her with minor repairs, renovations, and heavier household chores, like beating the carpets. I took a liking to little Wojtuś, and Alicja watched me play with him with a smile. Sometimes she invited me over for coffee and a chat, and I returned the favor by hosting Alicja and her son in the apartment I shared with my parents.

One evening, while I was at Alicja's, we sat side by side on the couch, sipping red wine. Wojtuś was sleeping peacefully in his crib, and the sounds of a rock ballad drifted from the stereo. It became very cozy and romantic. Alicja sat so close to me that our knees touched. I overcame my shyness. I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She kissed me back. Her lips were sweet and warm. That was the first time I stayed overnight at Alicja's.

Two months later, I bought a beautiful engagement ring and proposed to her. I ignored the comments from relatives and friends who advised me against getting involved with a woman with a child. I knew I'd finally found my other half. I loved and was loved. I needed nothing more to be happy.

Six months later, we were married. We sold our studio apartment and bought a two-bedroom apartment. Now we've been married for four years and have three wonderful children – in addition to Wojtuś, we have two daughters, four-year-old Ewunia and two-year-old Natalka. We are a very happy, cheerful, and joyful family.

Sometimes, when we look at old photos, we linger over the photo of our elementary school class. In it, I'm standing behind Alicja, looking at her with a look of misery. I always smile broadly and hug my beloved wife tightly. I've learned firsthand that old love doesn't rust.