It was dusk. Melissa sat on a chair, an adjustable one, on the porch, watching the sun set. She had a pen and two books beside her, one authored by someone, the other, a book in the making.
Oh! What a beautiful sight. It’s never the same. There’s always a different turn in the artwork. Though a renowned painter, Pablo Picasso wouldn’t come near this.
* * * * * * * * *
“Oh! I love this. I love the view. It’s wonderful. It’s, it’s amazing.”
“This is what you wanted. This is what you ever desired. A house away from the metropolis. A lake house,” he replied holding her hand.
“Yes! True. But not now. Not this time around. You just invested a huge sum into your business.” She turned to look at him.
“I know. I had to do it to keep it afloat. Also investing in what makes you happy isn’t bad either.”
“Oh! Dear. I know but having you by my side. Having you next to me is more than I desire to be happy. Nothing else can be compared. It just gets better as time progresses.”
“Yeah! My love. I know. This is an added sunshine. This is an added colour. It’s a gift from me to you. There’s no other time better than this.”
“Oh! I'm so grateful. Thank you dear. This is indeed a huge one. You’re simply the best.”
“It's all for you. And you for me. Both of us happy together.”
He embraced her closely.
“Hello! Mum.”
“Hey! Melissa. How are you?”
“I’m fine, mum.”
“That's good. How is everyone?”
“They're all fine and good.”
“I’m glad to hear that. When next are my grandchildren coming to see me?”
“Shortly mum. Soon.”
“Ok. I'll be expecting.”
“Mum. Guess what?”
“You got a publishing offer.”
“No.”
“You’re designs have been bought.”
“No.”
“You’ve started your clothing line.”
“No.”
“Then I can’t guess anymore. What’s it?”
“Mum, we just bought a lake house!,” she screamed with excitement.
“Oh! That’s a good one.”
“Mum, you sound cold. Are you not happy for me?”
“What's so spectacular about a lake house? What’s so special and exciting about a house standing by the sea? Is that what’s causing the euphoria?”
“Mum! Why are you sounding like this? You know how much I've talked about this? You know how much I longed for this? How invigorating it is going to be.”
“See Melissa, there’s much more to acquire. There’s much more to achieve.”
“Mum, I'm doing my best. I'm trying. Can’t I at least be commended for that?”
“No. Not much as to be commended. Where are the lofty dreams? Where are the grand ambitions?”
“They're still there. Hibernating.”
“How long? Melissa, nothing is hibernating. They’re dead. All gone.”
“Mum! How do you know?”
“It’s glaring. It’s obvious. You don’t talk it even as a passing comment. Your eyes don’t speak it. You’ve allowed maternity to slow you down.”
“Mum, are you not over stretching me?”
“I'm not. See my daughter, nothing last forever. Everything is transient. It can stay for long but not eternal. In my walk in this life, I’ve seen so many surprises. I’ve learnt so many lessons and I've come to conclude that one’s own treasure chest shines more.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I mean that your possession, your handiwork worth more than anything else.”
“Ok, mum. I've heard. I'll do something about it.”
“Don’t forget what I’ve always told you, ‘Procrastination is a…’ “
“ ‘…thief of time.’ I know. I've heard that umpteen times.”
“Ok. No problem.”
“I'll call you later. Bye.”
“Will be expecting. My regards to everyone. Bye.”
Melissa noticed David hasn’t been having a good night sleep as he used to. He seemed to be awake half of the night. She also noticed that a times he pauses a while in the middle of their discussion. Then later resumes back feigning a smile. She had asked several times what was the matter. He always said that perhaps the stress of the day was what made him stay awake at night and that whenever he paused in the middle of their discussion, it was as a result of trying to fathom something. It wasn’t until she stumbled on an envelope she got to understand.
“Why David? Why did you conceal this from me?”
“What? I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
“I mean this.”
She brought out the envelope from where she kept it and gave it to him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bother you. I didn’t want to make you worried.”
“Now am worried. Haven’t I eventually? How could you keep such a thing from me?”
“I'm so sorry. I was getting better but…”
“But what? You mean you’re leaving. You mean you’re d-y-i-n-g? No.”
“The doctor said I could be lucky. He said I could turn the tables. He said I could pull through.”
“Is that why you've been doing all these for me. Is that why you've been doing so much for me. Spending a fortune. Oh! Please don’t tell me you’re leaving me?”
Holding her hand he replied, “I’m still here. I'm not leaving yet. I'll fight it. I’ll pull through. Trust me.”
“Please stay with me. Stay with us. Please don’t go. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave us,” she spoke in tears.
“Don’t worry. Don’t cry. I'll get through it.”
He embraced her.
He fought it. It was a quest but the conquest wasn’t for long. The ailment made deep roads into him. It ravaged his health. He was bedridden for some weeks until he finally gave up.
* * * * * * * * * * *
“You said you were going to stay. You promised you were not leaving us. You left me in the lurch. I was about getting my feet.”
“I tried. I did my best to stay. I just couldn’t. It came for me. I couldn’t close the door. I'm so sorry.”
“Melissa! Wake up. It’s late already. Please go to bed.”
“Oh! Mum. What time is it?”
“It’s past 11 pm. Why are you crying? What’s the matter?”
“Mum, I saw him. I saw David. He was sitting beside me. He’s no longer here. He’s gone.”
A dream in her dream house.
