To begin with this auspicious time of the year, here I present you a beautifully written piece by Sara, whom without doubt, is one of the best writers I know personally. One whom seeks solace through words, one whose imaginations bring out the joy in reality.
The short story below is one of her many original fictional creations, enjoy if you have the time!
*****
Inspired by the book "For one more day" by Mitch Albom
Dedicated to Carrie
xx
If you could have one more chance to make something right, or to put that final conclusion to your dream, would you take it?
This is the story of what happens when Carrie gets to spend one more day with ex-colleague Evan.
xx
Carrie was sitting quietly behind table number two, books in piles of seven or eight all around her, obscuring her vision in front. In front of her pile was a separate book, her marking arm resting upon it, clutching her red pen. Marking. Marking.
It was five minutes over nine in the morning. Where was everyone? It wasn't supposed to be an official working day, but the staff of Learning Lots were instructed to come back for some extra work. And so far Carrie was the only one here.
Her red ink scraped across the book she was working on as she continued righting the wrongs.
It was ten minutes past nine. Still no sign of anyone. Carrie swept a quick glance upon the empty room and frowned. Had she come on the wrong day? She checked the calendar on the wall. It was the thirteenth of February all right. She remembered distinctly hearing Renee requesting everyone to come today and at nine in the morning, and everyone agreed they would...
Carrie buried her head in the book once more and continued marking.
It was a quarter past nine. Still she was the lone person pouring her heart out to make sure these kids get back their corrected homework the next day. Where were the others? Abandoning eight year-old Tara's homework, Carrie fished out her cellphone to dial Renee's number, only to realise it had already ran out of battery. Damn. Going against her conscience, she decided to use the office phone. This is for work-related purposes after all, she reasoned to herself.
It was a good thing Carrie already had Renee's number memorized in her head, along with a few other colleagues'. She dailed for Renee. After ten beeps, still no answer.
She tried Pearse's, but to find herself in voice message.
Kathryn's. Nothing.
Carrie covered the phone in frustration. Now what?
Someone was shuffling quietly outside the door. Renee? Pearse? Kathyrn? Or thieves?
Slowly, the main door of Learning Lots' was pushed open, the sun behind a tall silhouette shining directly at Carrie's face, blinding her temporarily. The tall silhouette closed the door, and suddenly the mystery person's face was reveal. A familiar voice called out Carrie's name, giving her goosebumps all over.
Carrie's jaw dropped. No. It couldn't be.
The tall silhouette turned out to be a broad-shouldered, sturdy guy. Messed-up hair and tiny eyes that gave him the impression of smiling all the time. But his lips curled up into a real smile as he spoke Carrie's name.
"What are you doing here?!!" Carrie demanded, because truthfully, he wasn't supposed to be here, after quitting his job in Learning Lots because he had to serve in the army in another district which was on another island five hours' flight away. That was just a week ago. He couldn't be back. It was so surreal. And yet, as Carrie stared into the eyes of hunky Evan, there was no mistake that this was him, after all those seven days of wishing him back, and picturing his face clearly in happy light. She had only know him for a week, the same amount of time she had to go through suffering without him, since she joined Learning Lots when Evan was already leaving, and during that short seven days she had fallen head over heels in love with him--there was no denying that. But how was she to take the friendship further another step, when it was a mere seven days of knowing Evan, and when he was leaving for good?
"I have come back to help you with your marking, haven't I?" Evan said in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone, and smiled.
Carrie laughed at his little jest. "What about the army?" she asked, confused. Evan did not answer but merely went on smiling. A few seconds in that though, his smile drooped.
"Carrie," he said. "I am only going to be here for one day. A few more hours only, in fact." Carrie's eyes widened at his words.
"Y-You're not staying?" she spluttered.
Evan hesitated with a heavy sigh, and then said, "No, I'm not. In fact, I think this would be my last time here. I'm not coming back."
"Ever?" Carrie coughed out.
"Ever," Evan said it so softly it was almost inaudible.
Something inside Carrie seemed to have broken, but it wasn't before long that a new surge of energy came bubbling inside her. She felt a pair of invisible wings trying to lift her.
"Then let's make the most out of it," Carrie said, a renewed determination in her voice. She stared at the clock. It was almost half past nine.
"They're not going to come," Evan said, answering Carrie's unasked question. Carrie did not ask how he knew.
"Let's go," she said.
It was just two weeks ago that Evan had announced, in front of Carrie, Renee, Kathryn and Pearse that he was leaving for good to join the army in Hope Island, because that was what he had always wanted to do, and now that the dream has hit it in his face he was not going to turn it down. Carrie remembered the look on Renee's face--she looked like she would have liked nothing better than to give him a good kick, because Learning Lots was seriously understaffed at the time, and being the head, that meant more work for Renee herself; and then there was Kathryn and Pearse's expression of mild curiousity and nonchalance; and then Carrie's own feelings, akin to having her heart being sliced apart by a knife. She remembered replaying that scene over and over in her head, which had made her head go numb throughout the entire days of trying to digest that piece of information. He had looked sheepish announcing that at that time, though probably because he was afraid of everyone's reactions, especially Renee's.
And yet now he was here. Back here. For one day only. For an unknown reason. And then he would be gone again.
Carrie and Evan found themselves walking into a garden they had never seen before, which seemed to be just behind Learning Lots.
The garden was beautifully paved with symmetrical bricks, the pathway illuminated by the many different flowers on both sides. Roses. Daisies. Sunflowers. Orchids. Tulips. Daffodils. The mild rays of sunlight bounced off the flowers' petals, giving them a serene glow. There was a peaceful silence about the place, that gave off hints of secrecy and sacredness, a bit like magic.
"What is this place?" Evan asked, furrowing his brow.
"I don't know," Carrie answered truthfully. "So tell me about the army." She turned to face him.
They talked and talked for hours. He spoke of his love for his country, the reason he was joining the army, as a means of sacrifice, for greater good, to protect people, to fulfill his father's wishes as a filial son. He spoke about how difficult it was for him to make that decision, that as much as he knew the army was right for him, there were also things he had to sacrifice--his life, for one, and the time apart from his friends and family, and doing normal things other people do. Worrying about trivial things was a luxury once he joined the army. He would be out there, fighting death, keeping the country safe as unsuspecting children slept some twenty miles away. She listened, feeling the sacrifice he has to make, but hearing the pride in his voice for doing what he does.
She talked about Learning Lots, about the children in it, the new policies, and her dreams of running her own nursery in future. She talked about how much it means for her to be able to care for someone, especially someone younger, and to educate them, to make them better people of tomorrow's society, knowing she can always make a difference, knowing she has power in her hands to change that. She also talked about helping out the poor in another country, her saving up to get there, so she can brighten up someone's day and put a smile on the people's faces, letting them know they are not alone. He listened intently, comprehending that what she does and wants to do is no more different than what he is doing now.
It was near noon.
"Hey," Evan said abruptly, standing up from the bench they had been sitting on in the garden. He fished out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to her.
"I, uh, here's my e-mail for you," he said abashedly.
Carrie accepted the piece of parchment in which he had scrawled his e-mail with his curly writing, and blushed deeply.
"Thanks," she said, beaming widely, before looking intently at her feet to hide her blush.
"I'm sorry I have to go. Keep in touch. Stay connected in spirit..." Evan said. Carrie looked up, and she was utterly startled to find Evan gone.
Carrie made her way back slowly to Learning Lots, and was again surprised to find the lights on. She stepped inside, and found Renee there with Kathryn and Pearse.
"Where were you? We just got here awhile ago, sorry we were hours late," Renee said.
"I, uh..." Carrie was momentarily speechless.
"Hey thanks for marking all those books. That's a lot you did this morning," Renee said, pointing at table number two where Carrie had been working on. She had only just noticed that the unmarked books she had left in a mess that morning were all gone, arranged neatly in the basket beside the table. Carrie was so perplexed she said nothing.
Carrie went back to work the next day, and when she opened her locker to keep her bag in, she found something else already in there. It was a rose, like the one she had seen in that sacred garden. And there was a piece of parchment, on it written:
Think of all the things we've shared and seen.
Don't think about the things which might have been.1
Happy valentine's day.
Yours truly,
Evan
1 Lyrics from "Think of me", from "Phantom of the opera"
Dedicated to Carrie
xx
If you could have one more chance to make something right, or to put that final conclusion to your dream, would you take it?
This is the story of what happens when Carrie gets to spend one more day with ex-colleague Evan.
xx
Carrie was sitting quietly behind table number two, books in piles of seven or eight all around her, obscuring her vision in front. In front of her pile was a separate book, her marking arm resting upon it, clutching her red pen. Marking. Marking.
It was five minutes over nine in the morning. Where was everyone? It wasn't supposed to be an official working day, but the staff of Learning Lots were instructed to come back for some extra work. And so far Carrie was the only one here.
Her red ink scraped across the book she was working on as she continued righting the wrongs.
It was ten minutes past nine. Still no sign of anyone. Carrie swept a quick glance upon the empty room and frowned. Had she come on the wrong day? She checked the calendar on the wall. It was the thirteenth of February all right. She remembered distinctly hearing Renee requesting everyone to come today and at nine in the morning, and everyone agreed they would...
Carrie buried her head in the book once more and continued marking.
It was a quarter past nine. Still she was the lone person pouring her heart out to make sure these kids get back their corrected homework the next day. Where were the others? Abandoning eight year-old Tara's homework, Carrie fished out her cellphone to dial Renee's number, only to realise it had already ran out of battery. Damn. Going against her conscience, she decided to use the office phone. This is for work-related purposes after all, she reasoned to herself.
It was a good thing Carrie already had Renee's number memorized in her head, along with a few other colleagues'. She dailed for Renee. After ten beeps, still no answer.
She tried Pearse's, but to find herself in voice message.
Kathryn's. Nothing.
Carrie covered the phone in frustration. Now what?
Someone was shuffling quietly outside the door. Renee? Pearse? Kathyrn? Or thieves?
Slowly, the main door of Learning Lots' was pushed open, the sun behind a tall silhouette shining directly at Carrie's face, blinding her temporarily. The tall silhouette closed the door, and suddenly the mystery person's face was reveal. A familiar voice called out Carrie's name, giving her goosebumps all over.
Carrie's jaw dropped. No. It couldn't be.
The tall silhouette turned out to be a broad-shouldered, sturdy guy. Messed-up hair and tiny eyes that gave him the impression of smiling all the time. But his lips curled up into a real smile as he spoke Carrie's name.
"What are you doing here?!!" Carrie demanded, because truthfully, he wasn't supposed to be here, after quitting his job in Learning Lots because he had to serve in the army in another district which was on another island five hours' flight away. That was just a week ago. He couldn't be back. It was so surreal. And yet, as Carrie stared into the eyes of hunky Evan, there was no mistake that this was him, after all those seven days of wishing him back, and picturing his face clearly in happy light. She had only know him for a week, the same amount of time she had to go through suffering without him, since she joined Learning Lots when Evan was already leaving, and during that short seven days she had fallen head over heels in love with him--there was no denying that. But how was she to take the friendship further another step, when it was a mere seven days of knowing Evan, and when he was leaving for good?
"I have come back to help you with your marking, haven't I?" Evan said in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone, and smiled.
Carrie laughed at his little jest. "What about the army?" she asked, confused. Evan did not answer but merely went on smiling. A few seconds in that though, his smile drooped.
"Carrie," he said. "I am only going to be here for one day. A few more hours only, in fact." Carrie's eyes widened at his words.
"Y-You're not staying?" she spluttered.
Evan hesitated with a heavy sigh, and then said, "No, I'm not. In fact, I think this would be my last time here. I'm not coming back."
"Ever?" Carrie coughed out.
"Ever," Evan said it so softly it was almost inaudible.
Something inside Carrie seemed to have broken, but it wasn't before long that a new surge of energy came bubbling inside her. She felt a pair of invisible wings trying to lift her.
"Then let's make the most out of it," Carrie said, a renewed determination in her voice. She stared at the clock. It was almost half past nine.
"They're not going to come," Evan said, answering Carrie's unasked question. Carrie did not ask how he knew.
"Let's go," she said.
It was just two weeks ago that Evan had announced, in front of Carrie, Renee, Kathryn and Pearse that he was leaving for good to join the army in Hope Island, because that was what he had always wanted to do, and now that the dream has hit it in his face he was not going to turn it down. Carrie remembered the look on Renee's face--she looked like she would have liked nothing better than to give him a good kick, because Learning Lots was seriously understaffed at the time, and being the head, that meant more work for Renee herself; and then there was Kathryn and Pearse's expression of mild curiousity and nonchalance; and then Carrie's own feelings, akin to having her heart being sliced apart by a knife. She remembered replaying that scene over and over in her head, which had made her head go numb throughout the entire days of trying to digest that piece of information. He had looked sheepish announcing that at that time, though probably because he was afraid of everyone's reactions, especially Renee's.
And yet now he was here. Back here. For one day only. For an unknown reason. And then he would be gone again.
Carrie and Evan found themselves walking into a garden they had never seen before, which seemed to be just behind Learning Lots.
The garden was beautifully paved with symmetrical bricks, the pathway illuminated by the many different flowers on both sides. Roses. Daisies. Sunflowers. Orchids. Tulips. Daffodils. The mild rays of sunlight bounced off the flowers' petals, giving them a serene glow. There was a peaceful silence about the place, that gave off hints of secrecy and sacredness, a bit like magic.
"What is this place?" Evan asked, furrowing his brow.
"I don't know," Carrie answered truthfully. "So tell me about the army." She turned to face him.
They talked and talked for hours. He spoke of his love for his country, the reason he was joining the army, as a means of sacrifice, for greater good, to protect people, to fulfill his father's wishes as a filial son. He spoke about how difficult it was for him to make that decision, that as much as he knew the army was right for him, there were also things he had to sacrifice--his life, for one, and the time apart from his friends and family, and doing normal things other people do. Worrying about trivial things was a luxury once he joined the army. He would be out there, fighting death, keeping the country safe as unsuspecting children slept some twenty miles away. She listened, feeling the sacrifice he has to make, but hearing the pride in his voice for doing what he does.
She talked about Learning Lots, about the children in it, the new policies, and her dreams of running her own nursery in future. She talked about how much it means for her to be able to care for someone, especially someone younger, and to educate them, to make them better people of tomorrow's society, knowing she can always make a difference, knowing she has power in her hands to change that. She also talked about helping out the poor in another country, her saving up to get there, so she can brighten up someone's day and put a smile on the people's faces, letting them know they are not alone. He listened intently, comprehending that what she does and wants to do is no more different than what he is doing now.
It was near noon.
"Hey," Evan said abruptly, standing up from the bench they had been sitting on in the garden. He fished out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to her.
"I, uh, here's my e-mail for you," he said abashedly.
Carrie accepted the piece of parchment in which he had scrawled his e-mail with his curly writing, and blushed deeply.
"Thanks," she said, beaming widely, before looking intently at her feet to hide her blush.
"I'm sorry I have to go. Keep in touch. Stay connected in spirit..." Evan said. Carrie looked up, and she was utterly startled to find Evan gone.
Carrie made her way back slowly to Learning Lots, and was again surprised to find the lights on. She stepped inside, and found Renee there with Kathryn and Pearse.
"Where were you? We just got here awhile ago, sorry we were hours late," Renee said.
"I, uh..." Carrie was momentarily speechless.
"Hey thanks for marking all those books. That's a lot you did this morning," Renee said, pointing at table number two where Carrie had been working on. She had only just noticed that the unmarked books she had left in a mess that morning were all gone, arranged neatly in the basket beside the table. Carrie was so perplexed she said nothing.
Carrie went back to work the next day, and when she opened her locker to keep her bag in, she found something else already in there. It was a rose, like the one she had seen in that sacred garden. And there was a piece of parchment, on it written:
Think of all the things we've shared and seen.
Don't think about the things which might have been.1
Happy valentine's day.
Yours truly,
Evan
1 Lyrics from "Think of me", from "Phantom of the opera"
