A Flame From The Past

14: Saying Goodbye

The chatter from the kitchen rudely, and abruptly woke me up. Pots, pans, lids were being whacked together creating a crashing symbol sound. And Luca, that man now was blending a mixer at 7 in the morning who does that? And he was yelling over the blender, the stupid blender.

I shut my eyes for the second time hoping that the sound would go away but whatever I did didn't help in the slightest bit. On the weekends I absorb every second I get of extra sleep, because I know for work the kids depend on me to be on time, providing them stability is the best I can offer them.

Which is why I was so flustered now, sleep is so important especially to growing minds, and mine still is hopefully.

I crept out of bed seeing the already soaked towel leaning against the bed stand, how did he already have another shower? I quickly moved it, back into the bathroom, he wouldn't notice. I opened the door slightly as the noise just got louder and louder from the kitchen and then I looked across the way, the door to where Ray had been was already open. His bed was made, and there was no sign of him expect his shoes he wore yesterday.

Then the blender stopped, and with that the pots and pans stopped as well, I slowly crept towards the kitchen as I saw Ray leaning over something on the kitchen counter.

"You think she's gonna like it?", he asked, touching a tray of food on the counter, and in that moment I quietly but quickly ran back to the bedroom. He made me breakfast in bed, so I pulled back the covers and messed with my hair to show off my insane bed head.

I tried to snore but it didn't sound realistic and as the door opened for the room, my acting was in play. And I was brilliant, my head was off to the side.

"Surprise", Ray shouted, I could tell he had got used to talking over the blender. I woke up smoothly, yawning loudly but not too loudly trying to sell this whole act.

I had remembered the one Mother's Day I had tried, I had made my mom breakfast in bed, with a card and a couple of flowers I had stolen from the neighbor's garden.

I had everything set up, I had woken up early at 5:30, just so I wouldn't miss her when she headed off to work. But that day as I was entering her room, she ran out the opposite side, telling me 'making breakfast is a waste of time' and that I should've just left her alone I stopped trying after that.

I had never known how much feeling the love I give being given back felt like, I didn't know it was this powerful. Tears rushed to my eyes, just on this one moment and I hugged Ray like I never wanted to let go. He deserved the whole world, everything the earth could offer him.

"Ray this is amazing, how'd you do all of this?", I looked at him with a loving smile, as he returned a loving smile on his own face. He pointed to the person who took up the door frame, as he leaned against the frame itself.

"Luca helped me", he said, giving me another hug, as I wrapped my arms around him. I looked back at Luca and mouthed him a 'thank you' as he nodded in acceptance of this joyful moment.

"Why don't we all have breakfast in bed? Come on bring your plates and we can all eat here",I said, and Ray nodded looking over at Luca who went to go get the plates.

Ray sat on the bed, tucking himself under the black covers, as he looked up at me.

"I like Luca", he said simply, but the sentence meant something to me, meant that I needed to be careful. Ray had shared a bond with Luca and would always have that bond, he would probably remember it until his last days, it's not every day that you meet your hero.