by Nicole Heck
She pulled out a small snow globe and turned it to face me. Inside the snow globe was a picture. Tears trickled down her face, and I couldn’t tell if they were happy tears or sad ones.
“Look.” She smiled and handed me the snow globe from across the table. “This is a picture of my parents when they were younger.”
How did they know? I looked around for the staff, but they were clearly letting us have a moment as they all seemed to have disappeared. Staring at the couple in the picture, I now realized how they probably knew. Zoe could have been her mother's twin. She was beautiful, just like her daughter. But it still didn’t explain how they got their hands on this picture.
“They look so happy, don’t they? My dad was so good to her. Can I see it again?”
“It looks like it was taken here,” I said, handing it back to her, after I noticed that the fireplace they were standing in front of happened to be identical to the one adjacent to us.
“Wait, what?” She grabbed it from my hands abruptly. Staring at the fireplace and back at the picture, she was speechless. Silence remained between the both of us for a few moments until an older gentleman approached our table.
“Good evening! My name is Luciano. I am the owner here. How did you enjoy your evening?”
“It was amazing! Thank you so much for a wonderful time. You have a great place. I’ve never been anywhere like it,” I said, shaking his hand.
“I loved it!” Zoe paused and looked down at the snow globe. “Did you know them?”
“Your parents, you mean? Yes, I did. They used to come here every year.” Luciano replied.
“Really? I wonder why my mom never told me about this place,” Zoe said.
“This picture is from their first time here. They were a bit younger than you, I presume. I had this made up for them way back when, but your father told me to keep it here. He said the first time he took your mother here was when he realized he was in love with her.”
“How did you know who I was?” Zoe’s voice was shaken up a bit. I, too, was in shock that this was all happening. The words that escaped from his mouth were powerful and left me with unfamiliar emotions.
“When you walked in through the door, I knew right then. You are the spitting image of your mother. I knew she had a daughter named Zoe, so when I heard this fine young man say your name, I didn’t have a doubt.”
“This means a lot. It really does. I don’t even know how to thank you.” Zoe stood up and gave him a hug, which took Luciano by surprise, but he welcomed it. By now even I had tears in my eyes. This was hard to wrap my head around.
“No need to thank me. I just hope you two will visit again soon.”
“Oh, we will be! Where do we get our bill?” Christian asked. It was starting to get late, and we needed to head home even though neither of us wanted to leave.
“Don’t worry about it,” Luciano said quietly before smiling.
“Oh, wow. You didn’t have to do that. You are so kind.” I was floored.. Tonight couldn’t have been any more unpredictable.
Standing up, I shook his hand, thanked him again, and I grabbed my coat as Zoe stood up to help put it on her. Taking her hand I led her toward the doorway. Walking down the steps into the snow, she stopped and pulled me closer to her, kissing me unexpectedly.
“Thank you so much. Tonight was amazing,” she said while releasing her lips and staring into my eyes. We were out in the cold, but warmth filled my body as I took Zoe’s hand. It seems that just as her father fell in love with her mother, I think I have fallen in love with Zoe at the very same place.
Zoe sat on the back of the snowmobile holding her helmet in her lap. The wind was starting to pick up as the night got colder. Her hair blew back behind her, and her smile glowed, bringing light to the dark skies.
“Well, are we going to leave?” she said as she smiled back at me. I hesitated to move. I just want to stand here for a minute longer. If I could freeze time and stay in one moment for the rest of my life, this would be it.
{21}
Zoe
I sat on the back of the snowmobile and waited for Christian to join me. Looking ahead, I saw an empty ice covered path lit up from the moon and the stars. Looking behind, the beautifully decorated lodge sat on a small hill, surrounded by snow covered pine trees, and lights illuminated the sidewalk. It was picturesque.
Christian peered out of the doorway and stopped at the top of the stairs right underneath the porch light. I looked at him, and there was nothing left to fear. The unspoken echoed loudly through the silence, awakening an invisible energy that connected our hearts, our souls. He made me feel alive again.
He finally hopped on the snowmobile and powered it up.
“Ok, I’m ready.” I wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Wait, look up there!” He pointed up toward the sky.
“I don’t see anything.”
“Over there.” My eyes followed in the direction of his left arm up over the trees toward the darkness and caught sight of the flame burning through the sky.
“Make a wish,” Christian turned around and whispered in my ear. His warm breath hit my neck as he spoke, sending goose bumps down my arms. I rested my head on his back and closed my eyes gently and made a wish.
“What did you wish for?” he asked.
“If I tell you, it may never come true.” I smiled.
“Alright, hold on tight.”
I held him just as tight as I did on the way here. The only difference was that this time I wanted more.
We drove back along the path we took to get here. I envisioned what it would be like to know every part of him.
As he drove the snowmobile into the back of the trailer, I tapped Christian on the shoulder as he slowed down until coming to a complete stop.
“Everything okay?” he asked me.
“Yeah, but I have an idea.” I grabbed my keys and headed toward my car.
“What’s that?” He questioned.
“Follow me.” I started up my car and waited until he got in his to start driving.
We drove for about ten miles until I pulled into the parking lot of a motel I had noticed on the way here. Christian parked next to me, and without asking any more questions, looked me in the eye and opened his door. He headed toward the office.
I leaned up against the hood of my car while I waited. I took a deep breath in and smiled as I watched the door open. As he slowly approached me, our eyes never lost contact. Reaching out for my hand, he led me to room 103.
He turned around quickly after opening the door and picked me up. My legs wrapped around his waist. Our foreheads touched, and we both smiled. He gently placed me down on the bed and walked over toward the door.
I watched as he turned the lock and rested against the back of the door. I grabbed the bottom of my shirt and slowly lifted it over my head. Christian turned around and I motioned with my pointer finger for him to come closer until he was standing right in front of me.
I placed my hands underneath his shirt and stood up as I slowly moved it up his body. I admired his abdominal muscles as his shirt rose above his chest, sliding up and over his head. Wrapping my arms around his neck, his hands moved up my back until reaching my bra straps, which he slid off of my shoulders and unclipped.
We slowly laid backward until his body was completely on top of mine. He gently brushed the hair out of my face and tucked the loose strands behind my ear.
“My God, you are beautiful,” he whispered as he leaned forward until our lips met each other’s once again. This time, it was different. There was a fire between us that continued to get hotter. He grabbed my hands and held them while lifting them up and over my head.
Time was lost in the dark of the night. Eight o’clock had become nine o’clock. I laid my head on his bare chest and listened to the beat of his heart. Neither of us spoke until my phone rang.
“I’ll just let it go to voicemail.” The phone stopped and the room was silent again.
It rang a second time. I reached over the side of the bed and into my jacket pocket.
“It’s Emily.” I looked at Christian in a panic.
{22}
Gabe
The game ended a while ago. Janice and I were watching movies the rest of the afternoon until she brought dinner to me. She made pulled pork and fries. It was so good. I was only able to eat a little bit of it, though, because I haven't been feeling well. My legs have been really weak today too. Sometimes I can barely move them out of my bed or up in the air. Zoe told me I shouldn't walk anywhere by myself when they feel like this.
“Will you be okay when I leave? Emily just got here.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really, and if you need anything just have her call me! I am going downstairs. She should be here any minute. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Janice gave me a kiss on my forehead before heading back downstairs. Emily was my sister’s best friend. She has been coming over here for the last couple of years to hang out with me when Zoe had to work and Janice needed a break. I loved when she came over. She’s really pretty.
I set my cup of water on my nightstand. I couldn’t drink anymore. My head was starting to hurt now, and all I wanted to do was sleep. I had to try and stay awake to hang out with Emily for at least a little bit.
I laid my head down on the pillow and turned to face the doorway. My eyes were starting to shut, but I heard Emily heading up the stairs. Walking in my room, she had a present in her hand.
“Hey, buddy! What’s up?” she said while handing me the bag. “I brought you a little something.”
“You always do! What is it?”
“Open it and see!”
I tried to sit up in my bed, but I was struggling. “Can you open it for me?”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m just really tired and really weak today. I don’t think my muscles are working right.”
Opening the bag, she took out a t-shirt. I smiled.
“This is one of the t-shirts we had made up for the game today that we were throwing out to the crowd. Shh—don’t tell anyone I stole it just for you.” Emily smirked.
“I want to wear it. Can I?”
“Yeah, obviously!” She lifted the shirt I was wearing up over my head. Sometimes I needed help getting dressed too.
“Oh, shoot, it still has the tag on it. Are there scissors up here?” she asked me and I laid my head back down.
“No, I don’t think so,” I said quietly.
“Okay, let me run downstairs quick and grab some. You okay?”
“Yeah.”
A few minutes passed. Emily must not have been able to find the scissors. All of the water I drank really made me have to use the bathroom. I had to go so bad. If I didn’t get up, I might wet the bed, and that would be so embarrassing. I tried yelling to Emily, but I didn’t have the energy to yell. Maybe I can do it.
I can do this. It’s only across the hallway.
I moved my legs to the side of my bed and pushed myself up. I put my one hand on my nightstand and the other on my bed. Standing on my feet, I looked out my door. I didn’t want to let go of my bedside. The bathroom seemed so far away, but I couldn’t hold it in any longer. It started to hurt I had to go so bad. Taking a few steps, I made it to my doorway before I had to stop and hold onto the side of the wall.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I reached with my right hand to grab onto the railing of the stairs. Standing against the side of the wall, I pushed myself forward. Only a few more steps. I looked down the stairs, and I could see Emily coming from around the corner.
“Gabe! What are you doing?” she yelled to me and started to run up the stairs.
All of the sudden my legs felt like they were going to break. I went to reach for the railing, but my head was spinning so it looked blurry. I started to see black.
{23}
Christian
The fate of the night had all changed. The happiness, excitement, and passion diminished. The look in Zoe’s eyes after answering the phone call frightened me.
After hanging up with Emily, Zoe threw her clothes on within seconds. She was talking fast, suggesting that she would just call me with updates, but I couldn't let her do that. I couldn't leave her at a time like this when she would need me the most.
Following closely behind, I ignored her request to go home. I coasted along the roads going almost thirty miles per hour over the speed limit just so I could keep up with her. Fearing that the cops would be out tonight, my eyes continuously watched my rear view mirror for lights that may appear.
When we arrived at the hospital, Zoe took no time getting out of her car before she frantically ran to the entrance. I tried to catch up to her.
In the waiting room, Emily was pacing back and forth. As soon as she spotted us, she ran in our direction.
“I shouldn’t have left him. I shouldn’t have gone downstairs. I’m so sorry, Zoe. I’m so—”
Before Emily could finish, she broke down into tears as Zoe embraced her.
“It’s not your fault. Where is he now? What happened?” Zoe replied as she let go of Emily and wiped away the tears from her eyes. Her face was swollen as if she had been crying for hours.
“I…I brought him one of the shirts from the game, and I went downstairs to find scissors to cut the tag off and then…then…ugh, Zoe, I’m so sorry. I was coming around the corner, and I saw him standing at the top of the stairs. I ran to him, but I was too late. He passed out and started to fall down the stairs.” At this point Emily could hardly get the words out of her mouth. She was in a state of sheer panic. “I called 911 and then called Janice. She drove me here. She just went to the bathroom quick.”
“Emily, listen to me. It’s not your fault. He’s been getting worse. He’s hardly been eating, and this morning he couldn’t even get out of bed.” Zoe’s voice was shaking. I took her hand, gripping it tight.
I know what it feels like to lose a brother, to lose your best friend. I can't imagine what it must feel like to think that you could lose the only person you had left. I wish there was something I could do right now that would make this all go away.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked her.
Zoe turned to face me, grabbing my other hand.
“You are amazing. All we can do is wait right now while the doctors examine him. They’re probably going to have to run tests as well, so it could be a while. You don’t have to stay. You really don’t. It could be a long night.”
“But I want to.” I kissed her. I wasn’t going to leave her or Gabe.
*
An hour has passed, and the only new information we have is that the doctor said it shouldn't be much longer before Zoe can see him. Thank God, I thought to myself, looking around at all of the people we were surrounded by. I needed to go take a walk. It broke my heart to see Zoe suffering this much. I didn’t want to tell her that I was growing weaker myself, so I offered to go grab coffee. That way I could get myself together.
On my way to find the cafeteria I passed the chapel. Pushing the doors open, I walked in and mindlessly sat down in a pew.
“James, if you can hear me, please give Gabe the strength he needs to get better. I wish you were here today to meet Zoe and Gabe. I’ve fallen in love with her. Surprised, right? Me? In love? I know. But this girl is amazing. She’s selfless, strong, beautiful, and such an amazing sister to her brother. Gabe is sick, and he is the only family she has left. Right now he needs all the help he can get. I miss you every day, JJ. I love you. I didn’t tell you that enough, or how much I appreciated everything you did for me.”
Tears streamed down my face. This was all too familiar to me. I looked around and memories flooded my mind from the last time I sat in this very chapel. In the same exact pew, I sat back and closed my eyes. The door opened, interrupting my thoughts, and sent my body jolting.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Emily whispered.
&n
bsp; “You didn’t. Sorry. I was just thinking.”
“This is awful.”
“I’ve been here before.” I stared at the front of the chapel. “We were standing at the front, and we lit a candle, then sat in this very pew to pray. We prayed that James would have the strength to survive. I was terrified. I didn't know if I would ever see him again.”
“James?” Emily questioned.
“My brother,” I replied before continuing.
“At that young of an age, the silence was scaring me. I turned around and I noticed a girl who looked to be about my age sitting by herself near the back with her head downward. Her body was shaking. I got up and walked over to her, noticing that her lips were quivering. She looked just as alone and as scared as I was.”
“How old were you?” Emily asked.
“Fourteen. She asked me why God did these things to us, why he put us in these situations. I didn’t know what to say to her. I don’t even know if now I would have had an answer. Water poured out of her eyes down her face, and in that moment I knew I wasn’t alone in the world.”
I teared up thinking about it.
“I never even learned that little girl’s name. So much was going on, I never thought to ask her. But she gave me the strength to get through my brother’s death because I knew then that I wasn’t the only one dealing with loss. It helped me get through that tragic time, and I often found myself thinking of her.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” Emily’s hands clasped and she leaned forward.
“It’s okay. Not too many people know. Being here and seeing what Zoe’s going through is hard. It brings back those memories, and it’s hurting me to see her go through this.”
“You really care about her, don’t you?”
I nodded in agreement.
We headed back toward the waiting room with several cups of coffee in hand. I was anxious. Hopefully we would have answers soon. Coming around the corner I stood still and watched Zoe from the distance. Even at her worst, she was beautiful. I admired the way her strength and composure radiated off of her. The doctor came out and headed toward her. The floor seemed to disappear beneath my feet, and I had to brace myself up against the wall.