Fountain of Youth (Fruk)

15 (final)

One year later

"How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth, Stolen on his wing my three and twentieth year! My hasting days fly on with full career, But my late spring no bud or blossom shew'th. Perhaps my semblance might deceive the truth, That I to manhood am arriv'd so near; And inward ripeness doth much less appear, That some more timely-happy spirits endu'th. Yet be it less or more, or soon or slow, It shall be still in strictest measure ev'n, To that same lot, however mean or high, Toward which Time leads me, and the will of Heav'n: All is if I have grace to use it so as ever in my great Task-Master's eye."

"It is one of my favorites..." I added. I shut my book slowly and looked at the wrinkled man in front of me. "Ah, oddly enough, it sounds familiar; you should come back tomorrow and read it to me," he chuckled. He rested his hand on the blanket on his lap and looked past me. "Are you sure you want me to come tomorrow? You know it is hard for you to recognize me," I laughed. I stood up from my seat and handed him back the book. I then went behind him so that I could push his wheelchair somewhere else.

"I know, but no matter what, I know that I feel safe around you," he whispered. My smile dropped as I continued to push him, and I felt sad. "Can you remind me again of how we know each other?" He asked. I chuckled slightly at what he asked and nodded, despite his inability to see me. "We are really old friends," I spoke. "Oh...I see, that sounds lovely...you wouldn't happen to have a picture of us, would you?" he asked. I smiled at what he asked and stopped pushing his chair.

"Of course I do, and I will show you," I spoke. I walked in front of him and watched as he smiled, looking at me. This was the norm for us daily; he would ask the same questions. At this point, I was prepared to show him pictures of us. I pulled out my phone and quickly showed him the screensaver of us when we were younger. "This is me, and that is you," I pointed.

"That was you?!" He asked, shocked. It was so cute how shocked he had gotten. His jaw was nearly to the ground as he looked at the photo of us. "Yes! I was so good-looking, right? Oh...where did the years go?" I laughed. He smiled at me and nodded his head eagerly. "I think you are still good-looking now! you look amazing!" He laughed.

This was new...was he hitting on me? For once? I could not help but smile at the thought.

"Do you have a family?" he asked. Again, this was a new response. Usually, he asked the same questions. "I do...I have two sons and husband and some grandchildren..." I explained.

"A husband?...."

"Yes, does that bother you?"

"...not at all..."

I smiled at him again and put my phone away. I was glad to be with him all the time. Alfred and Matthew tried to visit, but it was hard for them to stay because they always grew sad seeing him this way. Arthur...should have had more time, but he did not. I looked at the sky and noticed the sun was about to set. "How about we go inside now? I would not want the nurses to get upset with me again," I laughed.

After some time, Arthur needed to be in a nursing home because he would freak out whenever he first saw me or anyone. But, lately, he has been getting better, and I am happy to say that in the coming weeks, he will be coming home with me and living with me again so I can be his nurse...with some assistance, of course. He would sleep in another room, but I will be able to be with him constantly...and if he were to pass anytime soon...I will also be there for him immediately.

I began to walk past him so that I could push his chair, but he suddenly grabbed onto my wrist to stop me. "Wait, before we go inside, I want to tell you something," He started. I stopped moving and looked at him. He had his head down and did not look at me. This old man...never changes. "What is it?" I asked.

"Well...I know I met you this morning...but I feel like I have this weird connection with you that I can't shake off. I know you said that we were friends before, and that is probably what it is, but there is something else inside of me that I must get off my chest. Forgive me for overstepping, but I feel like maybe the younger me might have missed his opportunity," he started.

I smiled at his words, and he finally looked at me. "What is it, Arthur?" I spoke. He smiled, and I fell in love with his wrinkled smile. He was the cutest old man...I could never stop loving him; never in my life could I do that. He was everything to me.

"This may be sudden...and I know we are really old..." he spoke slowly. His face was getting red and nervous, and he tried to pull at his collar to cool himself down. "What is it?" I asked again with a smile. I could tell by his demeanor what he was trying to say. I knew my husband like the back of my hand. "Well...I think I am in love with you...and well, you said you had a husband, which means you are taken, but I thought that maybe I should get these feelings off my chest," He spoke. He tried to smile his nervousness off, but he still looked unhinged.

"Are you confessing to me? how sweet!" I smiled. I reached for his hand and held onto him gently. "But your husband?" he asked, shocked. I could not help but laugh at what he said. "Darling, you are my husband," I spoke.

Watching his face go from shocked to joyful in a matter of seconds made me fall in love again. How was it possible that even in this state, I loved him so much? More than anything in this world. "Does that mean I always have two sons and grandchildren?" he asked. He accepted it really fast. "Yes, our sons are Alfred and Matthew," I spoke. He smiled at this realization and finally sat back in his chair.

"That is very lovely," he spoke. He smiled once more, and I began to push him back inside. "I must be one lucky fellow to have married you," he added. All I could do was laugh and nod in acceptance.

This was the first time he had confessed to me.

It was nice...