by Marie, Ava
She stood up and waited for him to come to him. But he just remained standing, as though afraid to breach the gap. In the end, her emotions defeated her, her love for her son growing with each step she took. When she reached him, she was crying. Then she took his head in her hands and kissed him on the cheeks, cradling his head to her chest like he were a babe.
And that was the time that Dan broke down.
“I’m so sorry, mom. I’m back. I’m sorry I was weak,” he murmured.
Mrs. Dalloway kept on shaking her head. “It’s all right. We want you back here with us.”
She took his hand and made him sit beside her. Like the mother that she was, she offered her son her own coffee.
Timidly, he smiled and refused.
“I’m going back to school,” he said.
Mrs. Dalloway nodded. “That’s wonderful. Your father will be very happy.” And Mrs. Dalloway knew she was telling the truth.
A year ago, after Dan had an accident, he blamed himself for the victim’s lost eyesight. Instead of continuing his college education, he said that he’d take on a part-time job and try to make up for the trouble that he had caused their family. He said that he would pay for his actions and that he would only return when he has healed.
But Mrs. Dalloway found out that although her son had told her the truth, the main reason he went away was so he could protect the girl. He worked as a security guard in the condominium she’s residing to watch over her and come to her aid should she need it.
She studied her son, wanting to ask the questions inside her head. But it didn’t seem the right time for that so she just bit her lip and watched him. He would tell her his stories when he’s ready.
“I talked to her, you know,” he began.
Mrs. Dalloway waited for his next words.
“She seemed to be coping pretty well. At times, I believe she’s doing better than I.” He shook his head with a weak smile on his lips. “Can you believe that?”
“We’ll help her. In whatever way we can…”
Dan nodded. “It’s just that, whatever I do, I know there’s nothing that can be done for her to regain her sight.”
“Maybe there will be. We just have to wait,” she said.
He was silent for a while. “Any donors?”
Mrs. Dalloway shook her head and Dan looked away.
“Too much to hope for, I guess,” Dan said. He shrugged and kissed her mother once more. “I’m going to my room.”
***
Dan surveyed his room. Nothing was moved. Even the books that he had left opened, which he were reading to prepare for an exam lay untouched.
This is his life. This is home. He sat in bed and cleared his mind.
After a few minutes without moving, he stirred and walked over to his dresser. He slipped on a clean dress shirt, checked his reflection in the mirror, combed his hair up and went out.
Outside, he stopped by his mother’s garden and searched for a blossoming bud. The azaleas were gathered around and there were other beautiful, colourful flowers with names he didn’t know.
He continued walking until he found what he was looking for. Smiling, he bent down and slowly, picked out the reddest among the roses. It didn’t matter that Annie wouldn’t see it’s the most beautiful as long as he knew he was doing his best, giving her what he thought she would like.
***
Annie breathed out, thankful that she finally reached the tenth floor. It was difficult for her to ride the elevator because she would have a hard time knowing if it’s already her floor if there were other people inside, pressing at their floors’ buttons. So she had decided to always take the stairs. That way, she would also get an appropriate amount of exercise, knowing all too well that she could never go back to her morning routines, jogging around their subdivision.
She walked slowly, mindful of the measured movement of her legs. She learned that if she walks with an exact precision, she would be able to reach her door with the correct number of steps. Eighty-one. That was how many times she had to step to reach her door. There were times that she reaches it faster, but on the average, it was that number.
She wondered where Dan was. Usually, he would greet her in the lobby but today, the friendly greeting did not come. Instead, she walked straight ahead for the main door, hoping that the familiar voice would still call out to her. But there was none.
She reached out for the doorknob and she felt a pang in her heart when she didn’t touch the familiar envelope holding a musical card. As a habit, she still allowed her fingers to go slightly up where usually, the stem of a rose would come to contact with her fingers.
She was surprised to find that a rose was there. She carefully took it and opened the door.
“Good morning, Annie,” Dan said.
Annie froze. “Dan?”
Dan smiled. “Yes. I dropped by to tell you that today, the skies are even bluer than they were yesterday,” he said.
Annie smiled. “You weren’t in your post,” she said.
“I quit my job.”
“Oh.”
Chapter 4
“I’m going back to school.”
Annie nodded slowly, wondering why she felt sad about that. “So I won’t see you again,” she said and laughed. “I mean, I wouldn’t hear from you again.”
Dan laughed at her joke too. “Well, maybe you’ll still see me someday. But you’ll definitely hear from me every day.”
Annie raised her eyebrows. “Would you like to come in? But you have to bear with the state of the room. I didn’t have the time to clean up—”
Dan moved closer to her. “It’s OK. There’s no need to explain. I’d be happy to join you inside.”
As Dan closed the doors, he wondered if he has the heart to tell her what he had decided on sharing with her.
He looked around and noticed that the lights were turned off.
“Is it OK if I switch on the lights?” he asked.
“Sure. Sorry they were off. I don’t have much use for them.”
Dan felt guilty. Annie sat down.
“Would you like to join me here?” she asked.
“Of course,” he said.
There was silence.
“It’s nice to know that you’re going back to school,” she started. “I might too. Not just now.”
“You should. And if it’s OK with you, I’d like to join you studying, maybe accompany you every now and then. That is, I mean, I hope—” he stammered.
Annie’s hands move to where he was and it landed over his hand. “I know what you mean. And I’d be happy to study with you.”
Dan turned his hand and clasped the soft, dainty hand on top of his hand. “How did you do that? Move your hand exactly to where mine was?”
“It kinda grows on you. This couch is only two-seater. I figured you’re a big guy and by estimating the distance between us in my head, I sort of approximated the location of your hand.”
“Wow,” he said. “You’re wonderful.”
Annie looked at him. “What did you say?”
Dan blinked and gazed at her face. “I said you’re wonderful.”
She smiled at him. “I’m pretty sure you are too.”
He shook his head. “Would you mind if I take off your glasses?”
“Not at all,” she whispered.
Dan carefully touched the sunglasses and gazed at her eyes. They look to be the same, perhaps how they were once was when they could still see.
“You’re very beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you.”
He grabbed his bag and took out the other rose he picked out from their yard. “I have something for you,” he said as he handed her the rose.
“A rose?” she asked. “Or a musical card?”
Dan’s eyebrows rose. “You knew?”
Annie smiled, “Of course. The friendly voice in the lobby—I could only hope that the gifts were from you. I sort of really hoped they were. And I’m glad that I’m right.”
“
Here,” he said. “It’s the most beautiful in our garden.”
Annie nodded. “I know you wouldn’t pick the sorriest looking flower for me,” she smiled.
Dan felt comfortable in her presence and he couldn’t stop himself from staring at the strong girl in front of him. If it were really possible, he thinks that he has fallen in love with her. One year of watching her, seeing her stumble through the greatest challenge in her life, it was difficult to think it was impossible.
“I have a story to tell you…” he began. When Annie didn’t speak, he continued, “I used to party all night.”
Annie chuckled. “So I guess you might be some sort of a jock. Girls flirting with you all the time?”
Dan laughed, feeling oddly relaxed. “A bit.Just a few. But that’s not important. What I want to say is that I changed. I think I have learned a lot this year. I became responsible. Took on a part-time job. Washed my own clothes and did some micro-budgeting—”
Annie laughed.
“And then, I became more aware of the people around me. That I am a very lucky person and I shouldn’t waste my time on things that are not important--”
“Like parties?” she teased.
Dan smiled, “A few parties maybe, but not all of them.”
“So you’ve been reformed?”
Dan shook his head. “Maybe. I don’t know. But I just want to let you know that you were a big part of this change—”
Annie smiled. “I was?”
Dan nodded and then realizing that she couldn’t see it, added, “Yes.”
“That’s good. At least I managed to help someone.”
Dan swallowed, afraid that the time has come for him to tell her the truth.
“Annie, there’s something more,” he said.
Annie sat rigidly. Her face became serious and her lips trembled. “I know.”
Confused, Dan asked, “What do you mean?”
“I know. I know it was you. The one who was driving the car the night of my accident…”
Dan flushed, his cheeks growing hot. “How did you know?”
He thought back on the things he did after the accident and cursed himself. He didn’t even visit her, afraid that she would yell at him, blame him for all the pain he caused her. Instead, even with his cowardice, Annie sat composed, a touch of sadness coating her voice, but definitely far from yelling at him.
“I know your voice,” she said. “Right before I passed out, you yelled. You said you were sorry. It didn’t matter then because I was hurting and your face barely registered. But that first time you said good morning to me, a faded memory came to life,” she paused.
Dan squeezed her hand.
“I knew I heard that voice before. And then the flowers started coming. And the musical cards. I appreciate them, Dan. Thank you.”
Dan felt his eyes moisten from emotion. “I have much more to thank you for…”
This time, Annie slowly raised her other hand in air, carefully trying to reach out for his face. Dan took her raised hand and brought it to his face.
“The right time is now. Not then. I need to know you now, not before. Because if it had been in the past, I probably would have yelled at you, chase you away. Instead, we stuck together. I mean, you stuck around.”
Dan nodded and kissed her hand. “I’m really sorry about everything.”
Annie shook her head. “The hard time is over. I’m all better now. And hearing that you’re going to school again, I could only conclude you’ve healed too.”
“I’ve had,” Dan smiled. He moved forward slowly and his lips touched hers. He closed his eyes as he felt his love flow through to her in that physical contact.
They were disturbed when Annie’s phone rang. She pulled back and answered the phone.
“Mom?”she said. Then she listened. “Oh, I don’t think I have the time to meet a sweet guy just yet,” she said. Annie squeezed Dan’s hand as she said, “I’ve already met one.”
THE END.