I am lying on the king-size bed in the villa with a view of the beautiful beach. A sweet kiss wakes me up. It's Chris, he's been waking me up like this for 5 years. "Honey, 5 more minutes, please." I say these words with a smile, then I kiss him on the lips. This is our daily routine of love.
"No, baby, wake up. I've made you breakfast. Come on! Wake up, my little sleepyhead." Chris rushes me and gives me another kiss.
"We're on vacation, there's no need to wake up so early." I pout as I reply.
"Baby, you need to wake up right now. After breakfast I'm going to marry someone else." Chris says these words firmly.
"Who? Who are you going to marry? I'm your only baby in the world. Don't go! Chris. Don't go..."
I woke up from the horrible dream as I screamed. It was only a dream, but it was so real. I am sitting on my couch, shaking and sweating, feeling pain deep inside. Chris and I had lived together for 5 years, he was my lover, my best friend, my everything. We were very good partners in many ways, but we were never on the same page about having children. Chris was a single kid being raised by a great single mom. He longed for a complete family with children since he was a child, but having a child is never my thing. We argued about it for almost a year, and our love ended in a serious fight 2 years ago.
Even though I've been dating other guys for the past few months, I still feel empty inside. These guys are gentle, handsome, and humorous, but I couldn't connect with them the way I connected with Chris. My friends suggested me to date more guys, but the more I date, the lonelier I feel.
I try to get rid of the sadness, so I put on the trendy black leather jacket and the luxurious high-heeled boots that cost me an arm and a leg, then I walk down the stairs and go to the park. I have no idea why I decided to dress like this in the cozy community where I live right now. I was just going with the flow. On my way to the park, leaves fall from the trees, birds chirp like an orchestra, people in T-shirts and their pets walk down the street. The modern look makes me look like a fool. Well, I'm definitely "fooling around" now. I thought it would help if I got some fresh air, but now I'm just so embarrassed by my outlook.
As I pass the corner of the street, I see that Joy is in a bakery. It gives me a sense of security to see that she is there. As I enter the bakery. We make eye contact.
"Oh, honey, look at your beautiful jacket!" Joy speaks to me as she straightens her back. All negative thoughts instantly disappear.
"Joy, it's so nice to see you here. Are you buying muffins here?"
"No, this is my bakery. And let me introduce you to our manager, Lesley. She's also Emma's mom."
"You must be Betty. Joy and I were just talking about you. How's your day going? Can I get you anything?" Lesley's smile is as bright as Emma's.
"Uh... ....." I didn't know what to answer because I didn't want to buy anything here. Besides, I didn't bring any money with me when I left. I feel like a 100% idiot now.
" Just give us 2 classic chocolate muffins and 2 strawberry milkshakes."
When we crossed the street. We sit down on the bench.
"Beautiful love is always unforgettable, isn't it?" Joy looks into my eyes and says.
I'm completely astonished. How does she know what I'm thinking?
" Let me tell you a story. Joy hands me the chocolate cupcake.
"55 years ago, I was working as a nurse in a local hospital. One day, a young man bumped into me in the hallway of the hospital. He was the doctor there. We fell in love at first sight."
"Then you got married soon?" I asked.
"Yes. William proposed on our second date." Joy smiles as she eats the muffin.
"William grew up in an orphanage. He worked his way through medical school and became a doctor. We didn't have children, but we still loved each other very much. Our weekend rendezvous was to read, draw, or tell interesting stories to children in the orphanage because he believed that the habit of learning could change children's lives. We continued to teach children on weekends for 20 years. I was so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man," said Joy proudly.
" One day I found cancer medicine in his drawers. It was a bolt out of the blue. When William walked into our room and saw me staring at the medicine he was taking. He didn't say anything, just gave me a big hug." I saw that Joy was in tears when she remembered this, so I caressed her back to make her feel better.
"6 months later, he died in his sleep. Everything in my life fell apart. I was so afraid to wake up in the morning and found that William was no longer by my side. I cried my eyes out for weeks until one day I found the poem he had written in his diary before he died:
Life is a dream, a beautiful dream
My dream is fulfilled because of you
Everything in the dream is meaningful because of you.
Every day in my life is perfect because of you.
You are the sun in my life, radiating warmth and light
You bring me warmth, happiness and joy. You are my Joy
Life is a dream, a short dream
I'm about to wake up from the beautiful dream
But I'm not afraid of it
I will be the air in your life
To be with you in a different way
So I can keep our dream alive
I ask you, my sun, please continue to radiate love to the whole world.
Just like you did in the past
Bringing warmth, happiness and joy to everyone.
"I burst into tears, but at the same time, a power rose deep inside me. I looked around in our bedroom and found a picture of us eating apple pies in the garden. I immediately went to the kitchen and baked apple pies for the children in the orphanage and all of our neighbors as a way to start a new life. I didn't mean to open a bakery, but that's how I started my business. The smile returned to Joy's face. She was radiating warmth to the world again.
"Let me tell you a secret. Lesley grew up in the orphanage we used to serve. She worked part-time in my bakery after she left the orphanage, and now she's the manager, has a beautiful family, and she treats me like a mother. It's one of the best things in my life. I'm so blessed to be able to redeem myself and bring happiness to others."
My eyes are filled with tears. Joy is such a brave woman who has been able to overcome her darkest days in such a positive way. I feel so much better after hearing her story.
"Do you want to tell me your story? Sweetheart?" Joy gently stroked my hair.
"I feel so much better. Thank you for your story. Joy. Thank you."
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you an apple..." Joy says.
"Make apple pie." We say together and laugh.
" Would you like to go to the orphanage with me this weekend?" Joy asks.
"Yes." I answer without hesitation. I also feel the power within me. I know that I can also be the sun, radiating warmth and love. Life is a dream and I can make it a beautiful dream.
YOU ARE READING
The Old Lady Next Door
SpiritualBetty struggles with her life. She has been moved to a smaller apartment in the country for financial reasons, but little does she know that the mysterious old lady next door will open the door of her heart and change her life.
