From the Heart: A Valentine's Day Anthology

by Anthology

  Before he could respond, she picked up her belongings and stormed off, leaving him standing there with the audience they had created, feeling stunned, but all he could think of was she was the most beautiful, all be it angry, girl he had ever seen.

  As he walked back to the theatre he laughed to himself as he thought about what had just happened. She might have just made a show of him, but she had definitely put his bad day in perspective.

  When he got back to the theatre, he laughed as he told the others what had happened. When he restarted the auditions, he was in a much better mood than he had left them. Even though the singers didn’t seem to be getting any better, he wasn’t getting as stressed out as earlier. He just kept thinking of the poor girl standing there, covered in his coffee looking like she was going to explode, and every time it made him smile.

  “There is just one more to go, Logan,” Steve, the choreographer said as he popped his head around the curtain.

  Jenna handed him the girl’s résumé and sat down beside him. “Her names Ella Graham, she hasn’t much experience.”

  Ben looked up at the stage and there she was, the coffee girl, coffee stains and everything.

  Logan tried his best not to react but he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

  At first she didn’t even notice him as she stood there.

  “I am sorry I look a mess,” she said as she stepped to the front of the stage. “I haven’t had a great morning and…” she trailed off as she spotted Logan and realised who he was. For a moment she just stood there.

  “I am just going to go,” she sighed as she turned and picked up her things.

  “Hang on,” Logan replied as he quickly jumped to his feet and walked over to the stage. All the others just sat there, looking confused.

  “I am not going to waste my time,” she said sounding like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

  “And how do you know you’re going to waste your time?” Logan replied with a smile. “After all, if I can forgive you for yelling at me in the street, you should be able to forgive me for pouring coffee over you.”

  “How do I know you’re not just going to let me sing and then tell me to get out?” She asked as she nervously bit her lip.

  “Are you any good?” He asked, surprising her.

  “I’m not bad,” she replied, modestly.

  “Well if you can sing, why would I tell you to get out?” he asked and gave her a warm smile. “Trust me.”

  “Okay” she replied, still sounding unsure. She walked over to the piano, sat down and began to play. When she began to sing, she was breath-taking. Logan just sat there, speechless. She was what he had been waiting for. She was like an angel, poised there at the piano. There was a passion in her voice that no one else had come close to touching, but there was more to her then this incredible voice. He knew it the minute he saw her.

  When she finished the song, for a moment no one said a word. Ella just sat there at the piano, holding her breath as she waited for someone to speak.

  “Wow!” Jenna sighed, as she finally broke the silence. “What do you think, Logan? We should definitely call her back right.”

  “No!” Logan exclaimed as he got up and walked back over to the stage. “The job is hers.”

  “Really?” Ella asked as she tried hard to contain her excitement. She looked a little bit stunned.

  “Yes,” he replied with a bright smile. “If you want the part, that is. I think you are just what we were looking for. In fact, if I am honest, you are better than I had hoped for.”

  “Thank you” Ella replied as she blushed. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you will take the part,” Logan laughed.

  “Yes, of course,” she replied, excitedly.

  “Let’s call it a day then shall we” he announced.

  Logan smiled as he remembered her face that day. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Even that first day, he knew she was special.

  Now she was his world and he was so afraid he was going to lose her.

  “Ella, please,” he whispered at he brought her hand to his lips. “Fight for me. Fight for us. Please don’t leave me.”

  He watched her, as he willed her to open her beautiful eyes. He longed so much to see them again.

  “Look at me, Ella,” he pleaded. “Open your eyes and look at me! I need you, please.”

  Suddenly alarms starting going off, and before he knew what was happening, the room was full of doctors and nurses, and Logan was being led outside.

  As he stood there in the hallway, staring at the door, his heart broke. Was is losing the love of his life?

  Chapter 2

  “Logan,” the doctor said as he stepped out into the hallway. Logan climbed up from the floor and braced himself for whatever he was about to hear.

  “Is she okay?” He asked, afraid of the answer.

  “We have managed to stabilize, Ella, for now,” he said but Logan knew that was where the good news ended. He was right. “However, her condition is deteriorating fast. We…we are running out of time.”

  Logan felt like he had been kicked in the guts. Never in his life had he felt more helpless than he did at that very moment.

  “I am going to call UNOS again,” the doctor said as he reached out and placed his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “Don’t give up, not yet.”

  Logan nodded and took a deep breath, before he walked back into Ella’s room. He stood by the door and watched her lying there, willing her to open her eyes.

  He closed his eyes and thought about the first time he told her he loved her.

  It was the day before the opening night of the show. The final dress rehearsal was going perfectly and Logan was feeling confident about the show.

  He had watched Ella as she stood on the centre of the stage and he knew that he was witnessing a star being born. He also knew that no matter how hard he tried to deny it, he was falling in love with her.

  They had grown closer over the weeks, spending night after night rehearing, going over lines and practising songs.

  On more than one occasion, Logan caught Ella sitting at the piano, when she thought she was the only one left in the building. He would stay out of sight, and listen to her sing. She had the most beautiful voice in the world, and it captivated him.

  “You have been quiet today,” Ella said as she sat in the seat next to Logan, while they had stopped for lunch during rehearsals. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” he replied with a smile, as he opened his bag, took out some sandwiches and offered Ella one.

  “No thanks,” Ella declined the sandwich. They sat side by side in comfortable silence for a few minutes, until Ella spoke again. “Why do you always sit in this seat?”

  “Because it has the perfect view of the stage,” he explained with a knowing smile. “I can see the whole stage from here and it is easy to imagine I am surrounded by an audience in the darkness of the theatre, because this far back I am out of the glow of the stage lights.”

  “Right,” she replied with a nod and a smile. “So what’s wrong?”

  “What makes you think something is wrong?” Logan asked, looking at her in surprise.

  “Because you have not been yourself for days now,” Ella sighed. “And today you are very quiet. So I figure there is something on your mind.”

  “I am just nervous about tomorrow night,” Logan shrugged, as he considered if he could tell how he felt. “I mean, I know we are ready but I am still worried. Also, I um…actually…never mind.”

  “No.” she said and playfully hit his arm. “Tell me.”

  “Really,” he replied and laughed. “It’s nothing…”

  “Oh you can’t do that” Ella pouted. “You can’t start to tell me something and not finish it, that’s just mean.”

  “It’s nothing,” he said. “Honestly.”

  “You like someone!” She exclaimed suddenly, completely catching Logan by surprise.

 
“No!” He laughed nervously, feeling stunned that Ella had guessed the truth.

  “You do,” she pushed, excitedly. “Oh tell me, is it Jenna?”

  “Look, I would rather not talk about it now,” Logan said feeling a little uncomfortable.

  “Oh come on, please tell me,” she begged playfully. “You can’t leave me hanging like this.”

  “You really want to know?” He asked.

  “I really do,” she replied excitedly.

  “Okay then,” Logan said deciding to take his chance. But just as he was about to tell her everything, Jenna called from back stage, stopping Logan before he could start.

  “Logan,” Jenna called again, as she walked back on to the stage. Logan wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved that they were disturbed. “Are you ready to start again?”

  “I am,” he said as he put the rest of his lunch away and gave Ella an apologetic look.

  “This conversation isn’t over,” Ella said with a giggle as she got up and went back to the stage.

  The rest of rehearsals passed quickly and by the time five o clock came around, Logan had decided he was going to come clean with Ella.

  As they were packing things up, Logan took a deep breath and walked over to where Ella was standing, talking to two other girls.

  “I was wondering if you could stay back after everyone has gone,” he said nervously as she turned and looked at him expectantly. “There are a couple of things I would like to talk to you about.”

  “I can’t tonight,” she said and smiled shyly. “I have a date.”

  For a moment he said nothing. He felt beyond gutted. He had waited too long and now he had missed his chance.

  “Oh…oh really,” he stuttered, as he did his best to hide his disappointment. “With who?”

  “Pete,” she replied. “You know, he is one of the set designers?”

  “Yeah, I know Pete,” he said and forced a smile. “He is a nice guy”.

  “I think so, too” she replied with a nervous laugh, and Logan could feel a pang of jealousy that she seemed so happy with someone else. “But hey, if you really need me to stay, I can cancel.”

  “No, it’s fine,” he said sounding a lot more abrupt than he had meant to. Ella just stared at him, and Logan felt like a complete asshole. She looked hurt. “I will see you tomorrow”.

  Without saying another word, he turned and headed to the back of the stage, leaving Ella standing there, looking confused.

  “YOU IDIOT!” Logan shouted at himself once he was out of ear shot from Ella. He began to pace up and down. “All you had to say was, Ella, would you like to go to dinner? Or Ella, would you like to go to a movie? Or even, Ella I think I am in love with you!”

  He turned around and his heart nearly stopped when he saw Ella standing there staring at him.

  “Oh shit!” Logan said, realising Ella had heard everything.

  “I was…um…” she stuttered, as she desperately searched for what to say.

  “Ella…”Logan said, but he too was lost for words.

  “I have to go,” Ella said as she turned around abruptly.

  “No,” he replied as he stepped towards her. “Wait.”

  “I can’t,” she said as she hurried towards the exit. “Pete is waiting.”

  Logan just stood there and watched as she disappeared out the door.

  “YOU FUCKING IDIOT!” He screamed again, as he kicked over a stack of props in temper.

  By the time he got home a short while later, he felt miserable. He dropped his jacket in the hallway of his apartment before he walked straight through to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator. He reached for a bottle of beer, popped the cap before he took a long sip.

  He leaned against the counter and closed his eyes.

  He thought of Ella standing there at the back of stage, the look of complete shock on her face. He wondered how he would ever be able to face her again.

  You fucked up this time, Bryce! He thought to himself with a frustrated sigh as he took another gulp of his beer.

  Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Logan set his bottle down on the counter and went to answer the door.

  When he opened it and saw Ella standing there, he was stunned.

  “You love me?” Ella asked, looking him in the eye.

  “Ella…” Logan said nervously. “You weren’t meant to hear that.”

  “But you love me?” She repeated.

  “Yes,” he replied, as he held his breath.

  “Why didn’t you say something before?” She asked angrily. “Why now, when I have a date. I mean poor Pete, I just left him in a restaurant because I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

  “I’m sorry,” he replied, feeling like a complete asshole. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me?” She asked a little softer.

  “I tried to tell you how I felt,” he sighed, not knowing what else to say. “But there never seemed to be a right time.”

  “Of course there wasn’t,” she replied sarcastically. “We have been together nearly every day for the past six weeks! Night after night, practising…We have spent all this time alone together and you couldn’t tell me. I don’t know what I am supposed to say or feel. I don’t know what to think.”

  “Look, I’m sorry” he said feeling like a complete idiot. “I don’t know what else to say. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you, but I did…I do…I…I love you.”

  Ella just stared at him, and he had no idea what she thinking.

  Suddenly she walked towards him and to his surprise, she kissed him.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered against his lips.

  Logan smiled as he remembered how happy he was that night. They were happy together. He thought that they would be happy together forever.

  He walked to the bed and took her hand.

  “Ella,” he whispered. “I’m here.”

  He stared at her, as he memorised every tiny detail on her face. He loved her so much, he could barely breathe.

  “Look at me, Ella,” he begged the as the tears welled in his eyes from the grief that was almost suffocating him. “Open your eyes and look at me, damn it. You can’t do this. You are my family, you are my world, and maybe I am selfish, but you can’t do this to me, you can’t leave me.”

  Logan dropped down onto the chair next to the bed as lay his head down next to her. He held her hand tightly and let go of his grief.

  He wanted her back. He wanted them back. Losing her was not part of the plan.

  Chapter 3

  “Logan, Logan, wake up,” Andrew, Logan’s father whispered and he woke with a start.

  “Ella!” He called out as he sat up in the chair, confused by his surroundings for a moment.

  “She’s okay,” Andrew reassured him, as he pulled a chair over and sat down next to his son. “She’s still here, still fighting hard.”

  “Dad,” Logan said as he finally got his bearings. “How long was I asleep?”

  “I don’t think very long,” Andrew replied. “I just got here, but the nurse said you had only just closed your eyes.”

  “Oh, okay,” Logan sighed as he turned back to Ella.

  “How is she?” Andrew asked, as he too stared at her lying there in the bed and his heart broke.

  “She is getting weaker,” Logan whispered. “They said we are running out of time.”

  “Oh, Son,” Andrew said as he placed his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “I am so sorry.”

  “I can’t lose her dad,” Logan whispered as he tried hard to fight back the tears. “I don’t know what I would do without her.”

  “You need to believe that we will get a miracle,” Andrew replied, as he gave Logan’s shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t give up on her.”

  Logan sat and watched her sleep as he tried to do as his father said. He wanted to believe that everything would be okay, but in his heart he knew time was against him. He knew he was getting closer to losing he
r.

  Then he remember the last time he thought he was going to lose her.

  It had been six months since Ella had crashed into his life, and he loved her more than he had ever believed he could. She had become the centre of his world.

  They spent as much time together as they possibly could. After the show had finished its successful run, Logan decided to return to teaching, while Ella landed a lead in another show.

  Logan finally decided it was time for them to take the next step. He knew how he felt about Ella and he was sure she loved him too, so it seemed like the right thing to do.

  He had arranged everything. A romantic night for them. Dinner for two, roses, champagne, the perfect night to ask the woman you love to marry you.

  When Ella arrived at Logan’s, she looked surprised to see Logan all dressed up, and even more surprised when she saw the table he had set for them. They’d had dinner before, he cooked for her before, but this time was different and she knew it.

  “What’s going on?” She asked nervously as she walked into the dining room and looked around.

  “I just wanted us to have a special night,” Logan replied, sensing something wasn’t right with Ella. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I…I just,” Ella said looking uneasy. “I don’t…what is this for?”

  “Well,” Logan said giving her a cautious smile. “I had this whole night planned, but seems as you have asked, there was something I wanted to ask you.”

  He walked to the table and lifted up is napkin and picked up a small velvet box, before he turned and looked at Ella.

  She just stared at him as he walked towards her, then with a deep breath, he dropped down to one knee.

  “Logan,” Ella said as fear filled her face. “What are you doing?”

  “Ella,” he began and gave her a nervous smile. “I love you. I think I have since the first time I saw you.”

  “Logan,” she whispered. “Please don’t.”

  “I know it’s only been six months…” he continued.

  “Don’t,” she pleaded again.