Beyond The Sky

41

The next day arrives. This is it, Serena - the day fate truly decides what to do with you.

Okay, that sounded weird. But you get the point.

I watched the clock most of the day. I wasn't practicing music, wasn't reading, doing anything productive... Just staring. Waiting. Time felt like it was moving so slowly.

I hated that.

But finally, finally, it was time. I'm actually... A little nervous. There's a lot of 'what ifs' going around in my head right now.

No. I need to shut those off.

I quickly tidy myself up and let the house know I'm leaving. I take a few steps off the porch and take a couple of breaths.

"There's nothing to be worried about," I tell myself, "you've done this before."

I take a few more steps forward, and then a few more.

Before I knew it, I was halfway there.

And then I made it there. It wasn't that far from me, but it felt like miles.

I step into the park. This place is really starting to be familiar to me. Maybe that's not a bad thing, though.

I'd hope not.

I see Lance off in the distance, over by the same bench. I call out to him. "Lance!"
He turns at the sound of my voice, sounding quite relieved from the tone of his voice. "You made it." He lets out a breath. "I wasn't sure you remembered."
"Why wouldn't I have?"

"I-I don't know." He chuckles awkwardly. "It's never happened before, but, I just... I worry something's happened."

"You don't need to worry. I don't break promises." I give him a reassuring smile.

He smiles back at me. "Good," he pauses a moment. Seems he's trying to put together the right words.

"...Seeing any color yet?"

I knew that question was coming. "Not yet. Just got here. Give it some time."
He looks down. "Right. Figured. Sorry for asking."
"No, no, you're okay! It's okay that you decided to ask." I reassure him. "I know you're just checking in."

Lance stuffs his hands in his hoodie pockets. I wonder if... No, now's not the time to think if he had gotten that from Arlo.

Maybe it wouldn't hurt to ask though... But would that be too much?

Let's put that off for now.

Lance looks over at me. "You know, Serena..." Awkward pause.

"Hm?" I make eye contact with him.

"Um... never mind."

"Oh, okay." That was strange. Maybe he wasn't ready to say whatever he wanted to? That's what I'd assume for now.

"Wait, actually--"

"Oh, you changed your mind?"
"Yes, yes, sorry, um..."

Okay. Awkwardness. I get it. I really do.
"I wanted to tell you something that Arlo had told me. Maybe not face-to-face, but... he'd texted me the day you two had met."

I stand there in silence, listening to him.

"He told me a lot about who you were. The small quirks he'd picked up on... Things like that." He'd sigh. "I thought... it was cute, the way he admired you like that. So quickly, too. I guess that's a thing for you and your soulmate, huh?"

"I guess so." I respond. "I never quite figured that out."

"Well... Yeah. I never did either." He'd gather his thoughts again. "I didn't exactly... know who you were by name. He told me your name, and I'd forgotten."
I laugh at that while he continues. "He'd continuously say it too, that day, to help me out... But I don't think I'll ever forget it now." He stands a bit closer to me, him seemingly getting comfortable. "Because what he texted me... actually..." Another pause. "It's really hard to wrap my head around, sorry. We hadn't fully talked face-to-face for a while before this conversation, and the fact that he was just texting me... the night before..."

"It's okay." I pull him into a side-hug. He takes a breath.

"He told me that if anything had ever happened to him and he couldn't be around you anymore... Like what had happened..." He takes another breath. It's okay Lance, take your time. "He wanted me to keep checking in on you. Make sure you were okay... And well, I guess simply put, take care of you."

I'm surprised he didn't actually tear up saying that.

Because... I feel like I'm going to.

Arlo.

I miss you so much. And I know Lance does too.

Is... this what you would have wanted?

"Did he... predict the future?"

"I don't know. But I guess knowing what position he was in and what he did as volunteer work, it's almost like something that needed to be said..."
"I guess that makes sense."
"I told Arlo I would... and what's funny, is now, here we are."

I look down at the grass below me. No color again yet...

"Is this..."

"Hm?"

"Never mind, it's a stupid question."
"Wait. Were you about to ask if... this is what he would have wanted for us?"
"...Yeah."
"I've been thinking about that too."
"I think... he'd be happy."

"Me too. It's just really weird to me."

"I get that. It's not like we were really related though."
"I know." I look at him.

He randomly takes a few steps forward and gestures to me to follow. "Follow me?"
I'm not sure where he's going or what he's doing, but I follow him. I trust Lance.

Always have.

He leads me quite far from the entrance of the park. "I have an area I really like to visit when I'm here. It's really pretty, and I think you'll think so too."

"Yeah?" I ask in response. "What makes you think that?"
"You'll see." He winks at me playfully.

...Okay then. I continue to follow him anyway.

Like I said, I trust Lance, so this shouldn't be too bad... right?