He Could See Her
Zack sat on the dock of Mineral Town
Beach absently twirling a rose in his fingers. The waves gently lapped
the barnacle covered wooden posts of the dock. The sound of the water
was calming. Its whispers echoed with those of the wind to form a
secret conversation only understood by those that have long since left
this world for another. Mysterious and wonderful and frightening all at
once, these whispers sneak into the soul and unlock doors from within,
and it was Zack who now fell prey to them.
Zack often wondered
why the sea made him so sad. It was such a beautiful thing, and yet in
it he saw her. He heard her voice in its murmurs, and when the sun
reflected off of the surface of its waters, it was only a reminder of
how the sun shone in her eyes. Everyday for the past five years he had
done the same thing. He had cut a rose from the same bush in his green
house. He had told himself that he would ask her today. He had lost his
nerve. However, today the sea was whispering to him, the wind was
encouraging him, and both were strengthening his heart. He rose. He
would ask her today.
Zack found himself before her door. The
chicken farm was closed on Sundays and it was a perfect opportunity. He
raised his hand to knock on the door when a young pink-haired woman
nearly knocked him over in her hurry to get inside. She left the door
ajar and Zack could see clearly through the opening. A young man
descended the staircase in the corner and joined the young woman. A
third woman was sitting at a counter. She looked tired.
"Mother! Mother!" the young woman exclaimed.
"Rick! come look! it's a letter! it's addressed to you mother, it must be from..." Popuri laughed.
Popuri handed the letter to the woman, who took it and opened it. She began to read aloud.
"Dear
Lilia: How are you and the children? I hope you are well, and I wish
that I was there with you. Although I have yet to find the flower Anna
told me about, I can't help but feel that I am closing in on it. Please
be patient, my love. Tell the children I love them and that I'll be
back as soon as I can. Your loving husband: Rod"
Lilia no longer
looked tired. Quite the contrary, she was glowing. She wrapped her arms
around her two children and hugged them so hard that they nearly
suffocated and then she exclaimed in a voice stronger than it had been
in years:
"He's alright! He's trying to come back to us!"
"Let's have a celebration dinner!" Popuri squealed.
"I'll stuff the turkey!" Rick volunteered eagerly.
It was then that Lilia noticed Zack through the open doorway, standing shocked and pale as though frozen.
"Zack! What a surprise! What brings you here?!"
"I....I..."
Zack hid the rose behind his back. "I forgot the farm was closed on
Sundays. I'd better go." and without waiting for a reply, he left.
He
had been a fool. How could he have expected anything to come of his
foolish feelings for her? He would never love again. This would be the
last rose he ever cut from that bush, and he would put it where it
belonged. He would find his way to that cliff where he had always gazed
at the stars dreaming of her, and he would throw it over the edge. How
else would it fall as far as his heart had fallen when he had seen that
letter? It wasn't fair. What was the point of dreaming of her if he
couldn't have her? Fate had been cruel to him.
Zack was startled
to see another man standing at the edge of the cliff, staring, lost in
another world. It was Doug, the inn keeper. Zack suddenly remembered
the date: Fall 5. How many years was it now that Doug had lost his
wife? Zack was going to leave, but his footfalls on the stone had
already gotten Doug's attention. He advanced and put a comforting hand
on Doug's shoulder. Lost in his own grief, however, Zack couldn't think
of much to say.
"I'm so sorry for your loss..." Zack began.
Zack tried once more.
"Of course not! It's perfectly understandable."
"I don't know why...it's because I am selfish... I know she must be happier where she is now, and yet.. I want to see her. I want to know that she's alright. Even if I couldn't be with her...if I could just see her and know that she was happy..."
Doug broke down.
"I'm sorry. I...you...she was just...she was so young. It wasn't fair..." he choked.
Zack was shocked. Zack's opinion of his own fate improved as he stood staring at the man before him.
Zack
slowly followed the road back home. The rose was still in his hand. He
was deep in thought. It was twilight and the song of the crickets
filled the air. Suddenly a hand grabbed his. Zack looked to find Lilia
before him. He had been passing the chicken farm.
"Hello!" she said. "I went to find you, but you weren't home! I'm sorry about the confusion before."
Zack quickly recovered.
"Not at all! It was my fault completely! What can I do for you?"
Lilia smiled at him.
"Well, it's just that it seemed like you wanted to tell me something before, but didn't get the opportunity. I'm not sure what made me think so, though!" she laughed.
Zack smiled.
"I did, as a matter of fact!" He handed her the rose. "for friendship! I know how hard it must be for you without Rod here. I am so glad that you finally heard from him!"
Lilia returned the smile.
"Thank you so much! That letter was such a blessing!"
Zack
watched Lilia walk back into her home. She didn't belong to him, and
maybe he would never have her. However, he could see her, and he knew
that she was happy.
By Zinovia H. Hatzipetros