Sandra Keating
I've only meet you once in a lifetime, but I'll be always loving you- for eternity.
My father was hospitalized due to a heart disease he have. I was eight then, and his father, Dr. Keating, coincidently was my father's doctor. My mom brought me every afternoon to the hospital to visit dad. Fate have perfectly planned our little love story— our innocent playful love for one another— from the very day we were born, we were already destined with each other.
One afternoon, while I was heading to dad's room, clutching my mom's hand tightly, I saw Dr. Keating talking to his son, Joshua, who was at the same age with me. He kept on telling him again and again, that he may go and watch the kids across the street, playing baseball but he can never join them. I didn't mind what I heard and just continued walking to my dad's quarters.
While sitting next to mom, watching over dad sleeping, I felt tired, so I decided to get myself a cup of water. I went down the stairs and I was about to head down the hall, when suddenly, a woman shouted noisily, "For God's sake, Johnson! You're a doctor, try to cure your own son!"
I turned around, and it was Dr. Keating with a woman I've never seen before.
"I am trying my best, Lucia." Dr. Keating replied. "There's no point in scolding me. Don't you forget that I maybe his doctor, but first and foremost, I'm his father. I can't give up on him."
"But in this point, if we don't do anything, he won't even reach the age of 15—"
"He will—he won't die before any of us. No, I can't let that happened. But, honestly, the only thing we can do is pray."
I was surprised and hurried to Joshua. I've never talked to him before, but I didn't think twice and looked for him, not really knowing what to say. I ran all around the hospital, finally, I found him, sitting alone on the grass. I approached him and lied down next to him. "They—they said you're going to die."
"I know. You don't have to tell me."
"Why will you die? You look perfectly healthy to me."
"Dad says something with the heart."
"It seems painful to hear."
" But everyone dies, right?" He looked at me and smiled.
"I'll die, too?" I was surprised by what he said.
"Maybe."
"But I'm afraid to die."
"I'm not. I've prepared myself for that day."
"What happens after death?"
"Just be good—so you'll end up in heaven." He smiled then invited me to play with him. Every afternoon, we played together at the same place. He and I grew closer to each other.
One day while playing I asked him something, but deep inside I wished I never did. "I'm wondering, can I be your friend?"
He stopped and stood up. He started to walked away, but I grabbed his hand and said. "Wait—it's okay if you think I'm not good enough to be your—"
"I'm sorry. You can't be my friend and I can't be yours. We're just strangers playing together. That's possible, right?"
"Yeah. Sure."
"I have to go."
"Wait," I pulled the tip of his fingers and finally let go when he turned around. "Why—why can't I be your friend? I've never had one." I felt tears rolling down on my cheeks.
"Don't cry. It's not your fault."
"But why?
"Because if you'll be my friend, when I die, then you'll have to attend my funeral and from above, I'll see you cry because of me. But I won't be able to go back to Earth anymore. I can't be there by your side, and dry your tears up."
Years passed and dad finally, was allowed to leave the hospital, but I didn't want to go. It was so much fun there. I looked for Joshua first, before we finally leave the hospital. Of course, he was easy to find, in the same place waiting for me to come and play with him. When he saw me, he smiled and asked for my hand. Then he slid a grass, tied at each end to form a circle, on my finger.
"It's a ring. A promise."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, today is our wedding. The flowers and the bushes are the guests, this blooming pink flower can be your maid of honor and this little plant here can be my best man." He laughed and I joined him in. "You see this huge tree, standing alone? It's our priest."
I took out my white handkerchief from my pocket and placed it on my head. "This will be my veil, and even if I look ridiculous right now, in overalls, this is still my wedding gown. And this ring, is the sign of our marriage."
"The nature have just blessed us and proclaimed you, as my wife, and I, as your husband. We're now husband and wife." He bowed down in front of me, I bowed, too then he held my hand tight.
I looked down and whispered to him "Actually I—"
"We're moving to America next week. You won't have any playmates anymore." He interrupted me and lied down on the grass. "I'm sorry, and sorry for the sudden marriage."
"I'll be okay." I smiled at him. "My dad's already okay, and we were already permitted to leave the hospital. That's why I came to tell you that were moving today."
"Oh, really? Well, this might be a goodbye. But maybe, we'll see each other again."
"I really hope. But it's mean for the husband to leave his wife just after the wedding."He laughed and we kept on staring at each other, not knowing what to say. Finally I stood up and took off the ring and wrapped it in my handkerchief. "I'll bury this ring and we'll come back to get married here again."
"For real."
"You and I." I smiled at him.
He smiled back and said, "Farewell, my dear bride." He took my hand and gently let it go.
Years passed and I haven't heard about him anymore, I didn't forget about him, but I started to think less about him. Time traveled fast, I was then graduating from high school. I was about to be late in school when a letter arrived.
Dear,
I'll be waiting in the hospital. Same place. Same time.
– Joshua—
I got overexcited and hurried to the hospital, and didn't mind school, even though I was very late already. I ran and ran, unendingly panting, tirelessly running. The forever wait was finally over, and we'll meet once more. I was so pleased to see his face again and to stop myself from smiling. But I can't. I was too excited, but nervous at the same time. What would he look like? How tall will he be? Can he still- Questions kept on running across my mind.
When I got there, everything looked the same, except that he wasn't there. I waited for him, waited and waited. It was already afternoon, so I decided that maybe, he forgot about it and that maybe he I was wrong, maybe I was only one-sidedly loving. Maybe, he only thinks of me just like everyone else. I stood up and when I was about to go, someone called my name. I turned around but it was only Dr. Keating.
"Oh, it's you. Do you remember me? I was your father's doctor?"
"Of course, sir. He's doing fine, it's all thanks to you."
"I was actually waiting for you to come, please tell your dad that I'd like to see him again and I also have news for him."
"Is – is that all?"
"Actually, that's just an excuse. I—I really want to thank you. "
"Why is that sir?"
"My son could have never reached such an age, if he didn't have any inspiration. I give you my deepest gratitude. My son, he—he was doing his best all the time."
"Are you say—"
"He passed away last April. He actually was here the whole time. We never moved to America, but he overheard your father's recovery and didn't want to be a burden to you, so he made everything up."
"Why—How could he?" Tears were racing down on my face but they never stopped falling down. I felt my feet shook, unable to carry the pain, but I tried my best to kept on standing.
"He told me about the fake wedding—I'm sorry you had to do that with him—but he said that he only did that because he was afraid he'll die without getting married. And that" he paused and smiled. "He didn't want you to get married to anyone else—poor Joshua, he fell in love at a young age. He was lucky to have you beside him, thank you for being there." He shook my hand and wiped his tears.
"It's okay to cry. I'm as hurt as you are. You're not just his doctor, he was from your own flesh and blood, he was your son. He taught me many things too, I'd like to thank him deeply, too." I tried to talk in a calm voice, but I can't stop myself from shaking.
"Thank you. I'll leave you alone now." He said and bid goodbye.
I knelt down on the grass and let everything out. It was too sudden for my little heart to take. I looked down and noticed something white on the ground. It was the handkerchief, I pulled it out and unfolded it. More tears came, when inside that white handkerchief was a real ring, with 'forever loving you' written on it.
Years passed, and I became a successful doctor, thanks to the inspiration I have. I've been helping children with heart diseases and encouraged them of what life could have prepared for them.
One day, while visiting a hospital, I got lost so I approached a nurse and asked for directions. "Excuse me, may I know which way is to ward 102?"
"It's this way, ma'am. Are you a relative of the patient or perhaps, a friend?"
"Well, I've been helping patients with heart ailments."
"Why is that?"
"So, their love stories can also have happy endings." I smiled at her confused face, but she went on. "ah, is that so? Um, ma'am, can I have your name please?"
I smiled at her and looked at her green eyes. This girl would never understand what pain I've gone through because of destiny. I looked up and smiled at the clouds up in the sky. I replied:
"Mrs. Keating. Sandra Keating."