Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 58 - Nightly News

Dark clouds travelled unseen in the starless sky under which Mica made her way back home. It had taken her four buses and a free ride to go from the hospital to Sandra's, then home, back to the hospital and finally home again.  

She was tired and sweaty and decided to skip dinner. At Sandra's insistence, she had downed a bowl of chicken soup after dropping Julian. 

The phone rang and Mica hurried to pick it up. 

"Hello?" 

"Mica, cariño. Did you get home ok?" Escobar's tone was half-relieved, half-preoccupied. 

She fiddled with the telephone cord. "I'm ok. How's mom doing?"  

"The doctor says she is going to be fine, but she needs to stay here for a while. I will be home tomorrow around lunch to take a shower and change, then I am coming back to the hospital." 

"Ok. What about Julian?"  

One occasion, Jacira and Escobar indulged themselves to a weekend away from the kids. As far as Mica was concerned, their escape turned out to be a disaster. Her little brother had nightmares every single night. She would wake up alarmed, her own heart racing from hearing his cries and sobs. Mica feared a rerun if his entire family left for nights in a role with no explanation.  

"Maybe you should bring him home tomorrow. You didn't want to sleep at Sandra's tonight?"  

"It was either alone in my bed or on the couch with Julian." 

"Right. Ok, sweet dreams, cariño. Do not forget to lock the doors. I'll see you tomorrow." 

"Ok. Tell mom I said good night," she replied and then hung up. 

Mica walked up to the fridge, opened the door and studied its content. After opting for a half-depleted jar of green olives, she got a fork from the drainer, and moved to the living room. She turned the TV dial until the soap opera channel snapped in, then cozied up on the couch. For a minute or two, she stared at the screen without watching it.  

Mica had just opened the jar when a knock on the door startled her. 

"Crap," she cursed, looking at her skirt, now drenched in brine. "Coming!" 

Opening the door a crack, Mica spied outside. 

"Good evening," said a hooded figure. The old lamp of the portico creaked as a gust of wind made it swing. Its dim light danced over the visitor.  

"May I come in?" 

"I'm sorry," Mica said and braced the door with her foot just in case. "Do I know you?" 

Two twiggy arms stuck out of the wide cuffs to lower the cloak's hood. Agnes' wrinkled face seemed sickly under the yellow light. 

"Oh!" Mica exclaimed, perplexed. "Hi Agnes. I would never have guessed it was you. Please, come in."  

Agnes stepped in and looked around. "Anyone else home?"  

"No. My parents are at the hospital and my brother's sleeping at Sandra's." 

"Yes, I figured." Agnes replied. Pointed upwards, she added, "No lights on in the house. Vanessa from the street fair brings me fresh veggies every week. She told me about your mother. I'm sorry for her. Is there anything I can do to help?"  

"There's not, but thanks for asking." 

Agnes glanced at the olive jar on the table. 

"Would you like me to fix you something to eat?" 

"I can manage. Thanks." 

Agnes peeled off her cape, folded it over one arm. "Very well, then. If you ever get tired of olives, let me know."  

Mica let out an amused snort. "Do you want anything to drink?" 

"I'm fine." Agnes waved her hand in the air dismissively before it rested again on her cape. "It's late and I cannot be long."  

The old woman rummaged the cloak's inner pocket and produced a crumpled envelope.  

"What's this?" Mica asked, taking it. 

"Open it," Agnes instructed. "Would you mind if I sit? My legs are killing me." 

Tearing the envelope open, Mica gestured to the armchair while she perched herself on the couch's armrest. Her eyes avidly scoured the note. 

"Did Theo send this to me?" 

"Yes," Agnes confirmed. "I thought it'd be safer for him not to sign." 

"And he wants to meet me tomorrow?" 

"Correct." 

Something seemed off. Why would Theo suddenly want to meet her if he did not even bother coming to her birthday? 

"If he wants to see me, why isn't he here? Why send a note?"  

"All I know is his mother won't let him leave the house alone. Besides, it's not as if he can run to your encounter every single night. That time when you showed up at the house, right after dinner, his mother was on her way up to check upon Theo and his-." Agnes mock-coughed. "Fever. It was by a miracle that I convinced her to keep her guests company. When I opened the door, you know what I found?" 

"What?" 

"An empty bed!" the old woman exclaimed. "Now, I don't suppose Carolina'd be happy if she had found out. Do you?" 

Mica shook her head in silence. 

"So he wants to make up?" 

"That's not for me to say. Maybe he does, maybe he wants to know what happened to his friend exactly. I don't know. But I think it's a good sign that he wants to meet you. Don't you agree? 

"I guess." But Mica was not really sure and her hesitation showed.  

"I'm here to save you both from trouble!" Agnes rasped, grasping Mica's arm. "Show some enthusiasm or at least some gratefulness, child." 

"How can you help us?" Mica wanted to know.  

Agnes eased back.  

"For starters, if you want to see each other, you've got to be more careful. You cannot come to the house and hind behind bushes, hoping no one will see you. And Theo..." she shook her head and sighed. "He cannot be seen sneaking around here. Do you think no one will tell Escobar? Or worse, his parents? Gossip's this village best form of entertainment, kid." 

"So what do I do?"  

"I'll be your messenger. If he wants to contact you, like today, he uses me. I will come up with something that I have to do in the town center and deliver his message straight to your hands." She grabbed Mica's hand, still clutching Theo's note, as to prove her point. "Likewise, if you want to talk to him, you call the number on this note. If anyone other than me picks up the phone, you ask for me. Tell them you're Laurine from church. Everyone knows I help at the church, no one will think it's awkward. Got it?" 

"All right," Mica agreed. "Why are you helping us?" 

Agnes shrugged. After a deep sigh she said, "A long time ago, a young couple asked my help. They were my friends and they were young, just like the two of you. I screwed things up. All this time, I could neither forget it nor forgive myself. Their shot at happiness is long gone. But maybe this is my second chance." 

"Thank you," Mica said and gave Agnes a one-handed hug.  

"Ok, ok." The old woman said, patting Mica's back and swallowing back the tears that her memories had brought up. "Now I must go. What should I tell Theo? Will you meet him?" 

"I'll be there," Mica nodded.  

"Good," Agnes said, putting back her cape. "Open the door, will you?" 

The curious emissary walked out of the house, leaving Mica with a sleep-depriving, strange stir in the pit of her stomach as she watched Agnes vanish into thick darkness.