The Blue Of Your Eyes

by Jamila Mafra

  They kissed.

  THE ARRIVAL

  “Ana Lucia!”

  “Annette!”

  "How good it is to see you again, Ana Lucia!" Annette hugged her.

  "Thank you for picking me up here at the airport. I thought Shelly would be here too; I talked to her on WhatsApp and she told me she was coming.”

  "Your friend Shelly asked me to let you know that she could not come because she had a family affair to resolve, but she said she'll be staying at the mansion later."

  "At the mansion?"

  “Yes. You're staying on the farm with us, are not you?”

  "I made this trip for Albert, but I do not want to stay at your house. During the day I stay in the mansion, but at night I sleep in a hotel.”

  "I just thought staying at home would be easier to keep Albert company. But okay, if you'd rather sleep in a hotel, feel free, Ana.”

  “Yeah, I'd rather. I booked a hotel room, it was a bit rushed. Then I rent an apartment for myself. A small studio is enough for me to stay well.”

  "I'll see that for you. I am a member of a condominium of apartments and studios here in the city and I can get one for you to live for free. Let's go to the hotel to leave your things, and then we head straight for the farm. Albert will be happy to see you.”

  "I want to get my telescope with Shelly. It will be good for Albert to watch the stars and the night sky again.”

  ***

  Ana Lucia and Shelly met and hugged each other.

  “Friend, how good to see you back here in America!”

  “I'm happy too! But now I'm in a hurry, I came to get my telescope. I'm going to the farm. I'll see Albert for the first time after he discovered the disease.” Ana explained to her friend.

  “Good luck. Richard and I went to see him, and Albert hardly even looked us in the face. But with you it will be different. He loves you. I'll help you get the telescope to the car.” Shelly volunteered.

  “Thanks friend. I'm staying at a hotel, but I'm going to live in a studio soon.”

  “That’s cool! You'll have your own apartment!”

  "My mistress is going to give me a studio in one of her condos."

  “Then give me the address.”

  “Sure will.” She hugged her friend once more.

  ***

  Annette and Ana Lucia were in front of the door of Albert's room, on the ground floor of the mansion. The heart of the Brazilian accelerated. The long-awaited moment had finally come.

  "Ana Lucia, I'll go in first, and then I'll call you. Wait here.”

  “Yes I’ll wait.”

  Annette entered the room.

  "Albert, my son, I have a surprise for you.”

  “What a surprise?”

  “Look who's here!” Annette opened the door.

  Ana Lucia entered the room.

  “Albert!”

  “Ana Lucia! You are here?”

  “Yes, I am. I came back!”

  "I'll leave you guys alone; you need to talk a lot." Annette left the room.

  Ana Lucia sat down on the bed next to Albert.

  "Why did you come, Ana Lucia? Why are you here?”

  “I'm here because I love you! We were fooled by Brianna. She did everything to separate us. But now I'm back to stay by your side, to support you in your treatment. How are you?”

  “I still feel good. I walk with the help of a walking stick, more because of my spinal surgery. I feel pain when I step on the floor directly. Look, I still move my hands. I can still talk.”

  "So let's live those moments intensely while we still can," Ana Lucia proposed.

  “Ana Lucia, I love you so much, more than anything in this world. And I'm very sorry for my illness, I'm sorry I cannot be the right man for you. In a few years I will be completely invalid. That's why I beg you: walk away and leave me alone with my pain. I do not wanna ruin your life.”

  “Don’t talk like that. What I most want is to stay by your side.” She hugged him with the greatest affection in the world. "For God's sake, Albert, do not send me away from your life!"

  He continued as they hugged each other:

  “Tell me one thing: during this time you stayed in Brazil did you have a boyfriend?”

  There was silence for a moment. She stared at him and said,

  “Yes, before I came back here I was dating a boy, but we finished before my boarding here. I thought you were already married to Brianna. I needed to forget you. We were the victims of a lie.”

  “Go back to your boyfriend. Get out of here. I do not want to see anyone. Please, I want to be alone.” he exclaimed, disillusioned.

  "My love, do not say that. I love you.” she insisted.

  “Get out of here. I want to be alone.”

  "We can go up the hill tonight and reminisce about the old days," she suggested.

  “Old days?”

  “Yes. I brought my telescope. Soon at nightfall I'll put it there for us.”

  “Do not insist. Get out of here, please, I'm asking you.”

  NIGHT SKY

  A week after her arrival, Ana Lucia had finally convinced Albert to leave the room and take a walk outdoors. On the hill, sitting on the grass, they talked as they watched the stars on that beautiful night of glowing skies:

  “Ana Lucia, I never imagined that I would be abandoned by the woman who swore love for me, who lied to marry me. The worst part was the pregnancy that she invented and separated me from you.”

  "I also thought she'd stay with you forever. She had no eyes for any other man.”

  "I loved Brianna, but after a while she became a cold woman. It was enough to know of my illness and abandoned me. But now it's over. I do not want to talk about her anymore.”

  “You're right. Let's talk about us.”

  “Talk about us?” He looked curious.

  “Yes. We can go back to college together. It would be amazing to graduate in astronomy.” She said with a smile.

  “I don’t know. I think my life is over. I would never be the man you deserve. I know you love me, but only love is not enough.”

  “Sure is enough. It's enough to be happy together. Let's realize our dream of being astronomers, setting up our observatory…” she insisted.

  “The sky is beautiful today. It looks like it was designed by something or someone. Now I know the First Cause Argument. Kalam's cosmological argument makes perfect sense. Physics should never have been separated from Philosophy.” Albert said, smiling at his beloved.

  “I also believe in this. Philosophy should never have been separated from science. If the universe did not always exist, but now it exists, there has to be a cause, a causer. I believe that this sky full of stars of light like the blue of your eyes does not exist by chance. I suffered so much when you sent me through WhatsApp that video with our music. I suffered so much from your absence.” She stroked his cheek.

  "I also felt destroyed without you here with me. I'm remembering now the first day I came up this hill. I have loved you ever since.” Albert stirred in her hair. "How I missed your black hair like the darkness of space..."

  Albert stroked Ana Lucia's face, pressed her cheeks together, and kissed he for the first time.

  "Finally, I kissed you. I waited so long for this moment. It was better than I dreamed.” Albert said, smiling.

  "You cannot imagine how happy I am for this. It was so hard not to be able to have you.”

  “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” He asked.

  "And you still ask? Of course I want to be your girlfriend. I'll help you beat this storm. We just need to have faith and believe that we will be happy despite all the difficulties, my love.” She stated, staring into his eyes.

  “Faith?”

  "Yes, an unwavering assurance that even in the face of all obstacles we will overcome and be even happier." she explained.

  “I really want to have that faith and I believe that I can be
happy not only in the future, but especially now, at this very moment. Let me kiss you again then. I do not want to miss another minute of your company. I love you, Ana Lucia.”

  “I love you too.” She kissed him once more. They embraced, uniting their souls in one.

  THE LIGHT OF THE STARS

  "Annette, Matthew, where's Albert? Is it ready yet?” Ana Lucia asked as soon as she entered the mansion room.

  "He's in the room with Meg, and he's done packing up. Today is the most important day in your life. And that makes me very happy.” Annette replied with a broad smile.

  "Anyway, after these two years of study and fighting, you and Albert are graduating in Astronomy. You helped him fulfill a dream. Congratulations! After all we face together, alternative treatments in China, difficult times, we finally have made some progress in his health. The disease has stopped, has not progressed yet, at least for a while. Thank you so much for everything.” Matthew thanked her by holding her hands.

  "No need to thank me, all I did was out of love. I love Albert more than anything in this life. And Meg also helped a lot; she's been a wonderful sister to him, partner and friend. Here they come.”

  Leaning on his crutches, beside Meg, the young astronomer Albert approached his parents and his girlfriend, who welcomed him with a smile.

  “Astronomer Albert Bennett, prepared for this great day of our graduation?” Ana Lucia asked kissing him.

  "Yes, I am prepared and very happy," Albert replied, still with some difficulty with his speech, but with a radiant smile.

  "Then come, my love. Today is our special day!” Ana said happily.

  "My brother looks beautiful, doesn’t he, Ana Lucia? Starlight has the same color as his eyes: blue.” Meg said, thrilling everyone around.

  “Yes, he looks beautiful. Beautiful words, Meg.” Ana Lucia replied cheerfully.

  "My son is always handsome. Albert, you look very elegant. Annette flattered him by kissing her face. "Now come on, we can’t be late.”

  “Yes, let's go. A great friend of my from Brazil, Gabriel, came to the United States especially for our graduation. He just sent me a message saying that he's already at the university waiting for us.” Ana Lucia revealed her delight in announcing the presence of her friend.

  ***

  Even on his crutches and having difficulty moving his hands, Albert held his astronomer's diploma, demonstrating the greatest joy he had ever felt in his life, alongside his beloved companion, Ana Lucia.