ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS

52. LEO'S SIX WIVES

❤︎ Anjali ❤︎

I can't look at the taxi that took my love away from me. So I keep walking in the other direction. Snow continues falling on the ground as if it is covering up the evidence of a murder scene.

My heart is weeping, and my entire body is grieving inside. I don't know if I am strong enough to go on. I am not sure at this moment. I need to keep walking. Otherwise, I will fall apart. So I keep plodding for hours until coming back to my apartment in Jackson Heights.

I walk to my bedroom and close the door behind me. All of a sudden, the sadness gushes out of me. I fall to my bed and keep on crying for the next three days. The next evening, my mother walks into my room.

"My Baby! What happened?"

"You haven't eaten for an entire day! Did you fight with Leo?"

She sits right next to me on my bed and gazes down at me. By seeing her worried face, I break down and cry out loud, just as if I was a little child who dropped her favorite ice cream.

"Mom, I don't know why Leo left me. He went back to Texas to take care of something important."

"I didn't ask him the reason because I was too afraid of knowing what it is. But he is gone. He couldn't tell me if he is going to come back or not. I am afraid, Mom! I am so sad and don't know what else to do but cry! I hate my life!"

She holds me in her arms for a long time without asking me any more questions as if I am a newborn baby.

On Sunday afternoon, Ananda comes to my room. She already heard from my mother what happened to me. She quietly sits down on my bed and caresses my hair.

"Anjali, your mom told me what happened. I am very sorry! I don't know what else to tell you, but I am so sorry."

Now I have more courage to tell her in detail.

"Leo told me he has something important to take care of back in Texas before it is too late. So I thought he must have a girlfriend back there. I confronted him right away while staring into his eyes."

"He said no. I know he wasn't lying to me. I know he was honest. Ananda! I don't know why he left me. I am so crushed! I could die!"

 I rest my head on her shoulder. She had always comforted me when I was sad or discouraged since we were small.

Then she asks me a peculiar question.

"Did you ask him if he has a wife?"

I look up at her, confused, and ask her.

"What? A wife?"

"No, I didn't ask him."

Ananda continues.

"Maybe, he has a wife back in Texas, or even more."

"The other day, I read an article from Reader's Digest about a man who had six wives in six different states. His wives didn't know each other, and he went on living like that for many years."

I can't believe what she is saying. She is a total lunatic! So I burst into laughter.

"You are crazy to think that Leo has six wives!"

"Be serious! You are not helping me. You are supposed to be helping me feel better!"

She smiles wittingly.

"At least I could make you laugh, couldn't I?"

I hold her tightly in my arms. She always makes me laugh in such a quirky way. I love her for it.

Before leaving my room, Ananda asks me.

"Are you coming to school tomorrow? I understand if you aren't ready. Then I will go by myself."

I tell her honestly that I still need some time to be alone in my room until I can face reality. She hugs me again and walks out of the door.

By Wednesday, I am strong enough to go back to school and attend my lectures. After my classes, I go to Dr. Waxman's office and tell her what happened. After listening to my story, she comforts me.

"Oh, Anjali! I am so sorry to hear that. I know it really hurts. Especially your first love."

"I still remember when I broke up with my first boyfriend. I thought my life was over and I could never love someone again. Oh, I don't want to go back to being a teenager again."

Then she changes the topic of the conversation.

"Anjali! I just received an e-mail concerning you. Let me read it more carefully. Give me a few minutes!"

She goes back to looking at her screen on her computer. A few minutes later, she explains the content of the e-mail.

"The parents of your heart donor are requesting I contact you. They want to meet with you and find out how you are. It has been almost two years since you received the heart. They invited you to see them, and they want to show you where their daughter lived before they store all her belongings."

"It seems that they are ready to come to terms with what happened to their daughter and are ready to let go of the past. I think your visit will help them to move on with their lives. They will pay for your airplane ticket and want you to stay with them for a few days if you would like."

"I think it is a great opportunity for all of you! What do you think, Anjali?"

It is such an unexpected request. So I hesitate a little. But I want to thank them in person for giving me my new life, and I am curious to see what the donor was like. So I respond to the doctor.

"Yes, I would love to meet with them. I just finished my exams, so I should be free for the next few weeks before becoming busy again. Where do they live?"

The doctor rechecks their e-mail and tells me.

"They are in Texas, not far from Dallas."

I become more curious because they live in Texas. It is exactly where Leo came from. I know that the state of Texas is huge, but I am stunned by the coincidence that I will be going to Texas. So I ask her another question.

"When can I go to see them?"

"It doesn't specify in their e-mail. I will let them know that the next few weekends are good for your schedule. We can give them a few options."

I want to leave for Texas right away—perhaps even tomorrow. I know that there is hardly any chance of running into Leo, but the thought of staying in the same state gives me hope.

Now I am counting the days until my departure.