Leaves ruffle and branches shook slightly as the summer breeze blew past. I took a deep breath as I observed the scenes around my park bench. Kids lay on the grass nearby observing the clouds and their many shapes, couples- old and young walking hand in hand while here I sat, staring at this red rose in my hand. As I twirled the red beauty, I smiled to the memories replaying from two years ago.
It was a midsummer’s night as we took a stroll in the park. The heat from the afternoon subsided and replaced by a cool breeze. Shakespeare knew the beauty of a midsummer’s night and now I understood too.
I turned to Mia. “Are you feeling much better?” She just leaned her head on my shoulder and let out a sigh. It had been a hard semester and the pressure was taking a toll on her.
So we continued walking along the path leading us deeper into the park. The street lamps lit the way and the night was silent, just the occasional cricket breaking that silence. It was just like a dream- me walking hand in hand with my wonderful Mia, her head resting on my shoulders. I’d trade everything in the world to stop time then.
After a while, Mia answered “Yea, it feels much better after walking. Thank you.”
I stopped and smiled “I know what can lift your spirits higher!” Mia looked at me puzzled, “Sure, an A in Molecular Biology would be just right...” she laughed.
I shook my head “No...This.” I planted a kiss on her lips. Stunned, Mia smiled shyly.
“I’m taking that smile as a sure sign you’re feeling better than a minute ago” I smiled. She laughed, “Yes, I do. I think, doctor, you must increase the dosage and frequency the next time.”
I looked at her, “What makes you think there’s a next time?” With that she laughed and nudged me. We continued down the path.
We both had a bright future together ahead us. My head filled with daydreams of the things we would have and the life we would share. How we would grow old together, how we would wrap our arms around each other just to keep warm during a storm. I smiled to myself.
“What are you smiling about, huh?” Mia asked curiously. I looked into her dreamy eyes, “Nothing, and nothing at all.” Mia eyed me and broke free to face me, poke her index finger on my chest. “Oh no, I know you. You thought of something embarrassing that you can’t tell me...” She smiled widely.
I shook my head and took her hand. She wriggled free and ran ahead. “Want me back? You gotta catch me!” she grinned childishly as she ran down the path.
I laughed as I ran after her down the path and around the fountain. The summer’s night was filled with our laughter and screams.
We ran pass the bushes and nearing the end of the path when a loud sound startled me from our game of tag. I saw Mia stopped and I turned to look around but found no one around. I turned back to Mia, I froze with fear.
She crouched on the ground in pain. I screamed her name and immediately rushed to her side. Her shirt stained with blood and the pool around her was gradually increasing.
Quickly I dialled for the ambulance. I tried my best with all the doctor skills I had to stop the bleeding. One thing I couldn’t do was take the pain away from her. Her face pale and eyes filled with tears. Her grip on my arm told me of the pain she felt.
The memory of that night I could never erase. A stray bullet from a burglary went wrong was what hit Mia. I looked at my hands and all I could see was her blood. I wanted to leave it all behind and move on but I couldn’t- or maybe I never wanted to.
The wind blew past. “I’m so glad that I found you, never thought I would...”
I placed the rose down on the bench, the place I first told her I loved her... I walked away.
"Nights are long and days are so sad
Just kept thinking about the love that we had
I'm missing you, and nobody knows it but me"
...end...
(the song taken from Babyface- Nobody Knows it But Me)
