It was a cold and rainy evening in the month of August and I was left all alone in the house because my parents were out on a trip. A knock on the door disturbed the silence of the house and I went down to check who it was. A man in his mid 20’s was outside feeling cold and very wet. I was moved with pity to the man and I didn’t have any second thoughts because he looks like a nice person that is why I allowed him to go inside and stay until the rain stops. I offered him some clean towels to dry himself because he is really very wet and after it I left him in the living room because I was cooking soup for dinner. “How can I finish this soup if the vegetables are not yet in it?” I asked myself. The man helped me and he chopped the vegetables. After helping me the man asked me if he can take a shower. I didn’t respond right away because I was too busy preparing the utensils in the table. When I turn towards him to answer his question, he was already gone. I guess he already went upstairs to take a shower. After I assembled all the things in the table I went up to check if he is already done. I saw that the light in the master’s bedroom was open. So I walk towards that direction and opened the door. I saw the man holding a newspaper and tears run down his face. “Why are you crying mister?” I asked while trying to get a glimpse of what is in the newspaper. I just read the number of the page, it was 19. The man crumpled the newspaper and threw it in the trash can across the room. He then went inside the bathroom. I guess he was so depressed that he needs some time being alone so I just left him. After a couple of minutes, I called him for dinner because the soup was already getting cold. “Mister, can you join me for dinner?”I asked him. The man nodded with a smile in reply.
“The soup was very tasty and I really like it”.
“Oh, thank you! That is my favourite of all the soup I can cook that is why I already mastered cooking it” I answered with a smile.
After dinner the man told me that he needs to go. The rain had already stopped so I said that he can leave by now.
“Thank you for your kindness young lady, I hope that I can eat the soup you made for the second time around.” The man said.
“Well your welcome mister, I’m sure to cook a lot just for you”.
“I can’t surely wait for that moment, we’ll definitely meet half way when you’re already in your journey”, he replied.
When he left, I became puzzled about the last words he said but I remembered the newspaper that he was holding awhile ago and I check it on the bedroom. I saw the newspaper on the trash can and I picked it up. The newspaper was printed on the year 1990 but it is already 2011 this year. When I turn to see the page that he was looking at awhile ago, his picture was there under the obituary section where names of people who died were written. I felt chills all over my body but that didn’t stop me from reading. As I turn to see the next page I read a message that touched my heart;
“You are a very bright young lady, full of hope and strength to face every challenge that may come along your way. It was so sad that Our Creator already took you to be with Him in heaven. Your loving presence will always be remembered in our hearts forever.”
Camilla Alden
Died: August 13, 1993
Age: 18
Tears run down my face as I close the newspaper. I guess that I already understand everything the man told me awhile ago that we will somehow meet halfway, on my journey.
