ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS

55. LOVE OVERCOMES DEATH

❤︎ Anjali ❤︎

"Do you want to sit down? You seem very emotional."

She puts her hand on my shoulder and comforts me. I don't know what to say or where to begin. My mind is trying to understand this mystery of life. I ask for a glass of cold water and try to reflect on what is happening.

Mr. Davis comes back with a glass and hands it to me. After drinking a mouthful of water, I start to explain what happened to me in New York for the last six months.

"You might think it is impossible, and I am trying to understand if it was an act of God or just an unbelievable coincidence. I have known Leo for six months in New York City. We were lovers."

"I met him at the bar called Lone Star in East Village. When I saw him for the first time, my heart pounded so hard, and I almost couldn't breathe. In fact, I fainted right after. It was so emotional. Bianco was so friendly to me that Leo always wondered why because he is usually very aloof and only nice to his family."

"After seeing each other for a month, we fell in love. I was already in love with him at first sight. I was so happy when I was with him. He filled my heart with joy, and I thought it would last forever. "

"About three weeks ago, when I went to see him at Lone Star, he told me out of the blue that he was leaving New York. He couldn't tell me his reason for leaving me. But he needed to take care of something he had been running away from in his hometown."

"For him to move on with his life, he needed to face reality. I didn't ask him further because I was afraid of finding out what he needed to face.

"After coming here, I am more than sure that Beth brought Leo into my life. She still loves him so dearly and still wants to be with him through me. I just know. I also love him, and I can't live without him. This is how much I know."

Mrs. Davis listens to me attentively.

"Wow! Life is incredible, isn't it? I am shocked!"

"Leo has actually been coming by often since he got back. He is open to talking about Beth's death and what happened to his life since he left home. He even told us about someone he met in New York—someone he really cares about."

"Amazingly, that person showed up at our doorstep today, and we are talking to you. Anjali, Leo really cares for you and loves you. He is trying to move on and wants to start a new life with you. That is why he came back here to sort things out."

"Two years ago, when Beth died, he couldn't face the fact that Beth no longer exists in his life because they were inseparable since they were born. So he ran away from everything that reminded him of Beth."

"After meeting you, he began to see his life after Beth. To be sure that he can move on, he needed to come home to face Beth's absence instead of running away. That is what he is doing these days. I will take you to his parent's house. You have to tell him you are the recipient of Beth's heart."

We walk across the green field toward his house. I pass the tall elm tree that I saw in my dream. This is where Beth and Leo grew up, a quintessentially American landscape. As I get close to a large mansion, I have an overwhelming desire to hold Leo again.

At the same time, my thoughts try to figure out what to tell him when I see him in a few minutes. I become slightly tense as my emotion is rising. When we are close to the entrance, Bianco runs toward me, and I hold him with all my affection. It is so nice to see him again.

Mrs. Davis knocks on the front door. I anxiously wait for Leo to open the door. The door opens, and an elegant woman appears and smiles at both of us.

"Hi, Kate! How are you? What are you up to? Come on in!"

She must be Leo's mother, and she invites us to come into her house. Once we are in her hallway, I look up the large staircase to see if Leo might be looking at me. He is nowhere to be found. She asks Mrs. Davis.

"I know Leo was in your house last night. Thank you so much for taking care of him. By the way, who is this beautiful lady?"

Mrs. Davis starts to explain before I have a chance to talk to Leo's mother.

"Joanna! You won't believe this! This is a true miracle! I don't know where to start, but I'll try."

"As you know, we asked the hospital about meeting the recipient of Beth's heart. She arrived this morning. Her name is Anjali. When we went through Beth's old photos, she recognized Leo from the last picture we took at their high school prom."

"Leo and Anjali were together in New York. Leo has been talking about the girl he met in New York. That is Anjali!"

Leo's mother exclaims and hugs me.

"Oh, my God! I can't believe this! It is a sheer miracle! He has been talking about you since he got back!"

"He was just here an hour ago. I think he went to Greenwood Cemetery! I will drive you there."

Leo's mother pulls the Jeep out of the garage and tells me to get in. I hop into the passenger seat and close the door. She drives down North Main Street as fast as she can. The cemetery is located at the center of downtown Weatherford. While driving, Leo's mother explains what has happened since he returned.

"Leo came back three weeks ago. The first week, he got used to being back at home and went to places alone, reflecting on his life. Since the second week, he began to talk about Beth and her death. Slowly, he has started to explain what happened after he left town two years ago. He talked about you very often and told us how much he cares for you."

"Since last week, he has begun to clean out his old belongings and pack them in the boxes to store. I know that he has finally come to terms with Beth's death and soon will be ready to move on. I think you came at the perfect time!"

When her explanation ends, the Jeep stops at the entrance to the cemetery. She explains how to get to Beth's grave.

"Once you walk in the cemetery from that gate, go toward that big tree over there. Her grave is the nearest plot to that tree. I know Leo is always there around this time."

"Best of luck, Anjali! You really deserve my son!"

She kisses my cheek.

I get out of the Jeep and walk toward the tree. There are hundreds of graves around me. I pass one by one. They make me see how frivolous our life is. At one point, you are at the peak of your life, and the next minute, your life is taken away—just like what happened to Beth.

Yet she was determined to meet Leo again, and her heart implanted her hope in me to be with him again. Her love overcame her death.

I feel as if she is with me, and she tells me what to say to Leo. I see Leo kneeling in front of the grave. His back is to me, and a bouquet of white roses rests against the grave. I walk closer to him and stop a few feet away from him.

The words come out instinctively out of my mouth.

"Remember me. When I come back to you, please remember me."

He straightens his shoulders and slowly turns around.