To Be Me

That Day

Matthew's POV:

              After successfully getting Emma to reconcile with Rosie, Matthew lazily strolled up the stairs.

Approaching his room, he opened the door and collapsed on the bed wishing he could look at the time and the day would be over already.

As least then he wouldn't have the time to think. To go through it all over again.

Getting up from the bed, he took a long, warm shower before coming out and putting on the black hoodie and joggers he had already laid out. Not forgetting the sneakers.

Without a second thought he grabbed his car keys to go but almost immediately dropped them as he decided it may be better to walk.

Who knows? The fresh air might do him some good.

Coming down the stairs he passed by his mum who was on her way up with his breakfast.

"I'll be out for a bit."
He said quickly going down the stairs almost two at a time.

"But Matthew..."
She was in the middle of her sentence when she heard the door get shut.

He knew she had good intensions, the best actually... but he needed some alone time right now. To clear his head.

Stuffing his hands into the pocket of his hoodie, he started walking.

Destination... Nowhere.

After a short while, he looked up and realized he had arrived at Willow's Park.

It was a very popular attraction in the city and was coincidentally, relatively close to their family house. The trees were always properly trimmed and looked after.

The park was always kept clean and open. Some of the trees were trimmed in artistic manners as they took on different shapes and sizes. Of animate and inanimate things.

Finally paying attention to the ache in his leg, he sighted a nearby bench and sluggishly walked to it.

Getting a better view of it, he noticed a lady putting on a baseball hat and a black face mask sitting by one end operating her phone.

Putting up his hoodie, he sat down at the other end of the bench and rested his back on it. Eyes up to the sky. Completely lost in thought.

Today made it the 2nd year.

                                 

                                           ***

          Two years ago:

Her name was Alisa. She was the best thing that ever happened to him. They met in college. She was studying hard to be a world class neurosurgeon as she always said while he chose to become a dermatologist. They really did not get along so well in the beginning.

She came across as snotty and annoying to him and she said he was plain, vexing, proud, annoying, egotistical.... You get the point. Even with all these they somehow had to bear with each other as they always had to see and sometimes even speak to each other.

One thing led to another and they fell in love.

She was there when he got terribly sick and could not attend his classes and he was there for her when she failed her exams and was extremely down.

They had each other's backs to put it in one way. At their worst moments, they weren't alone, they had someone to lean on.

Well she didn't give up wanting to be the best neurosurgeon the world had ever seen so she gave the exams one more try.

Of course she passed. It seemed her former results were tempered with and that was why she failed.

Apparently one of her colleagues influenced that. It seemed Matthew had a few secret admirers not ready to let him go just yet.

Matthew as expected was recruited by one of the biggest skin products company who also worked hand in hand with the biggest entertainment company; 'Star's Delight.'

Alisa on the other hand was determined to further her studies.

They had previously talked about what they planned to do with their lives and with that conversation in mind, he had already made his decision.

He had long decided this was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. All that was left was for her to say yes.

He was going to propose on her birthday. He planned it to be a double surprise kind of party.

After renting out her favourite restaurant for the night, it was decorated almost to perfection. The lights were dimly lit. There were scented candles all around and at every possible corner, a mixture of pink and red roses on every table and at the entrance.

Flower petals led to where he stood in the middle of a giant heart wearing a proper suit, holding a little box in his hand.

After the finishing touches were done, he picked up his phone and called her.

She stayed late at the library and was already on her way home when she got the call so she had to make a quick turn to get to the restaurant on the other side.

Distracted by the call, she didn't notice the oncoming vehicle and had a deadly collision with it.

Minutes later, Matthew got a call from the hospital.

He quickly rushed out, got into his car and sped off before the person at the other end could finish what they were saying.

He soon after arrived at the hospital where he was immediately attended to.

It seemed she was in critical condition and the chances of her making it out alive were extremely low.

With all the strength she could muster, she thanked him for the life he had given to her as the tears ran down her eyes and blood down her mouth. For giving her a glimpse of true happiness and being her rock. Her shelter. Her home.

Seconds later... She died in his arms.

He screamed and cried and begged but the truth still remained.

She was gone and there was nothing he could do about it.

It took him nearly a year to come to terms with it and here he was.
His second year without her but the hole she left still remained.