- 9.
Weakness forced her to sit on a nearby
bench.
The familiar surroundings brought a measure of peace. Mrs. Davies bustled over, her voice choked with emotion. “Sarah, my dear girl… why didn’t you tell me?”
<
Mrs. Davies’s pet name. She used to run to
her, eager to share the day’s events. Now,
she had no energy. “I… didn’t want you to
worry.”
33
Whether it was Sarah’s illness or her words,
Mrs. Davies began to cry. The reality of her
impending death hit Sarah hard. She wouldn’t
see these faces again.
Not seeing Jason… a blessing. But Chloe…
Mrs. Davies…
Mrs. Davies held her hand, talking, talking.
Finally, Sarah’s strength faltered. Jason
stepped in. “Mrs. Davies, Sarah needs to
rest.”
“Of course.” Reluctantly, she released
Sarah’s hand, walking them to the gate.
<
Jason drove her back. He insisted she sit up
front, but she shook her head, and he
understood.
In the backseat, she rolled down the window,
letting the breeze wash over her. The visit to
the orphanage had loosened something
inside. “Jason… we haven’t taken a picture together in ages.”
“You used to say they were pointless,” he
said quietly.
“Not pointless. Just… pointless with me. You
took Anya everywhere, didn’t you? The beach
I loved, the mountains… You always smile so
much. Why did you only frown at me?”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel.
く
“Holding her, kissing her forehead, holding
hands in bed… Jason, I forgot to mention…”
she took a deep breath, the words tearing at
her. “The year you started seeing Anya… I
was pregnant.”
“Pregnant? We… we had a baby?” He
slammed on the brakes, throwing her forward.
“Yes. We had a baby.” She met his stunned
gaze. “But I was… sick. And then the
photos… I went into early labor. We lost him.”
He searched his memory, trying to place it.
She smiled sadly. “Don’t bother. It was when
you kicked me out, moved Anya in.”
‘Jason, you’re a monster.”
She got out at the hospital entrance,
slamming the door.
That night, a raging fever almost consumed
her. Hands holding hers, voices whispering.
She couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, just pain. So
much pain.
“Sarah… don’t leave me. Please.” Jason’s
voice, choked with tears. He was crying
again. Like Chloe, a crybaby.
Her consciousness flickered. She saw flashes,
images, then darkness. Death, it seemed,
wasn’t ready for her yet.
The first snow fell in Springfield. Sarah,
bundled in blankets, insisted Chloe take her
outside. Chloe finally relented after the fifth
time Sarah asked.
く
As they descended the stairs, Chloe
remarked, “Strange. Jason isn’t here.”
“I told him not to come,” Sarah smiled faintly.
CC
‘Asked him to mail my things from River
City.”
“What things?” Chloe asked.
“Just… a ring.”
They reached the garden, the spot where
she’d last spoken to Jason. Her breathing
eased; she felt… lighter.
She knew. It was time.
“Chloe…” she took her friend’s hand, smiling
weakly. “Do you know my biggest regret?”
く
“Marrying Jason?”
Sarah shook her head. “No. It’s that we…
fought over him.”
She inhaled deeply, catching a snowflake on
her outstretched hand. “We were so blind.
Thought love conquered all. Now… now I
know it’s not that important.”
“But what is important… I still don’t know.”
Her voice choked; she squeezed her eyes
shut. “Chloe, I’m… scared…”
Chloe, sensing it, saw the pallor spreading
across Sarah’s face, felt her hand growing
cold. “No…”
Unable to stop it, she just shook her head,
tears falling Another crybaby
く
“You sent Jason away, didn’t you? You didn’t
want him here.”
Sarah nodded weakly. “The ring… it doesn’t
matter. It was just… an excuse. Please,
Chloe… promise me… keep him away from
my funeral. Don’t let him near… the urn.”
She wanted to leave… clean.
To be….. clean, even in death.
“Chloe… find your happiness. Live it… for
both of us.”
A snowflake landed on her nose. “It… doesn’t
hurt… as much…”
“Sarah!” Jason’s anguished cry pierced the
air. She didn’t have the strength to turn. Was
<
it a hallucination?
She looked up, as if transported back in time.
Fireworks exploded, a path of roses leading
to Jason, kneeling, a ring in his hand.
“Sarah, marry me?”
With her last breath, she shook her head. No,
Jason.
A final, sharp pain in her chest. Then nothing.
Sarah didn’t see the rest of that first
snowfall. She became ashes, resting in a cool,
smooth urn.
Jason’s Perspective:
<
“Sarah… you really didn’t want to see me, did
you?”
The photo in the frame, her smile radiant, so
achingly familiar, the way she’d smiled at him
when they were first in love.
He couldn’t even see her one last time.
“You’re not the same. Neither of us are.” He
knelt in the funeral home, his voice a whisper.
“That money… it was for the plot. Why
Springfield? Why so far away?”
If he missed her, where would he go? Where
could he find her?
“I know now. The ring… it was a lie. You just
wanted me gone. Didn’t even want to say
goodbye. Chloe followed your instructions.
<
Kept me away from the funeral, wouldn’t let
me near you. I snuck in when they were
gone.
The irony. He’d once dreaded going home to
her; now he could only steal these moments.
“Sarah… we were each other’s everything.”
His heart constricted, the pain of separation a physical blow.” keep dreaming…
remembering… things I ignored. I loved you
so much. How could I… how could I have
done that to you? Sarah, I loved you as deeply. as you loved me. And I… I forgot.”
Tears fell. “Why did it take losing you to
remember? To realize how precious you
were?”
“Sarah, I miss you. I’m not afraid of anything
anymore. I know you were afraid of the dark,
of pain… so I’ll come soon. Don’t push me
away again.”
“Sarah… one last time… please… come to
me in my dreams. Take me with you. Please?”
A pale smile. No, you were tired of me. I’ll
take my final bow on my own.
He’d believed love conquered all. Now he
understood. It’s mutual love that conquers all.
