Short stories woven amidst chaos and discord

Out of Reach

Heather opened her eyes and closed them again quickly as the blaring lights overhead hit her retina. Her nostrils were filled with the smell of chloroform and sanitizer. millimeter by millimeter, she lifted her eyelids, still heavy with sleep, as her eyes got used to the lights. She looked around her, taking in the clean sheets of her bed, the drips and the clean, plain white walls and concluded that she was in a hospital. How she got there, she couldn't remember. In fact, she couldn't remember anything except her name, her parents' name and the blurry, indistinct face of someone, which refused to come into focus. She looked around again and her liquid, swirling, coffee brown eyes fell on a silhouette of someone lying on a bed, etched on the white curtains. Before she could give the matter anymore thought, the door opened and a doctor holding a sheaf of papers, walked in. "Ah, Miss Brown, awake I see. You've been out for so long that your parents were starting to worry," the doctor said his eyes twinkling. "How are you feeling?" Heather couldn't help smiling as she said "Fine but particularly stupid. What happened? How did I get here?" "Well, you've had an accident which caused you to lose your memory, though temporarily, which is why you can't remember anything at the moment." Then, in a graver tone, "But your heart was a much bigger problem. It was bleeding profusely and needed to be transplanted almost immediately. Luckily, you had a donor who was a perfect match." "Who was it?" Heather asked filled with gratitude and curiosity. "I'm afraid that the donor doesn't want this particular information disclosed," the doctor said, his expression somewhat sad. Regaining his cheery tone, he said, "You'll have to rest in the hospital until we're satisfied that your heart and head are fine. Your family has come up with different ways to keep you entertained throughout your stay here. I'll tell your parents that you're awake and you can ask them all the questions that are obviously waiting to rush out of your mouth," and he left the room, chuckling.

For the next two months, Heather was in the hospital recovering. Her family did all they could to keep her entertained. Happy though she was to be alive with the people she loved, her curiosity about the identity of her donor kept growing stronger and stronger with every passing hour. She kept asking the doctor, the nurse and her parents about her savior, but to no avail. They all gave her the same answer. "The donor didn't want that information disclosed." "Fine," Heather thought furiously, when she was refused an honest and proper answer for the hundredth time, "I'll find out myself as soon as I can get out of this bed and am back at home."

She didn't forget her resolution, for as soon as she got home, she got all the medical documents containing information about her heart transplant, out and studied them. But, to her dismay, she found no name other than hers there. Frustrated, she paced around her room, trying to think of another way to solve this aggravating mystery, when one of the pictures on her bedside table caught her eyes, she picked it up and analyzed it. It was a picture of her and a strange boy, who might have been around two or three years older than her. Judging by the background of the picture, they were most likely at a fair or a carnival of some kind. The boy's face caught her attention. He had soft, brown eyes, which were bright and full of warmth and he wore a smile that warmed her heart instantly and calmed the confusion in her mind. The evening sun caught on his ash- blonde hair as they held hands and smiled happily for the camera.

Heather took the picture out of its frame and absent- mindedly turned it over. She saw writing on the back. It was a short description of the picture. It read, "3rd July 2009. Jay and I went to the annual town fair today since summer holidays have just started. We went there to celebrate my good grades at college and Jay's promotion at work. We visited every booth, including the fortune- teller's, even though Jay hates fortune- telling and thinks it's a load of nonsense. Still, we had the best laughs of our lives when the fortune- teller told us that Jay would grow a monkey's tail and sprout antlers if he sat at any table which had 13 chairs and 13 forks. We had such a good time. Before leaving the fair, Jay asked me, blushing, if it would be okay if we met the next day for dinner. By the time I said yes, his face had turned tomato red and mine surpassed maroon." Several things came crashing into Heather's mind all at once. This picture had been taken a day before her accident. That was the day he was supposed to meet Jay, whoever he was. Her parents had never mentioned him. Did they know him? She decided to ask them during dinner that night. In the meantime, she would see if she could find out more about this boy. On a hunch, she took all her photo albums out to see if there were anymore pictures of Jay. The albums did not disappoint her. She found a whole album filled with pictures of her and Jay. Apparently, they had known each other since they were very small. So, her parents would definitely know about him. She and Jay seemed to be inseparable. There were pictures of them at picnics, fairs and school and in all of the pictures, they were both smiling happily. That night, when Heather was having dinner with her parents, she mentally prepared herself to ask the question burning on her lips. Her parents were talking about the friends they had been to visit earlier that day. "Mrs. Worthington was your mother's best friend when she was young," her dad explained to her. Heather, no longer able to contain her curiosity and anger, burst out, "Like Jay?" The effect of these two words were astonishing. Her mother dropped her fork with a loud clatter and her father turned paper white. "How did you know Jay?" Barely controlling her anger, "Well, pictures are much better at telling the truth than your own parents, obviously." Her parents bowed their heads guiltily. "Well, am I going to get the whole truth or am I going to have to find it out by myself?" Her mother said, tremulously, "Darling, we promised Jay we wouldn't tell you about him. He......he wanted you to rest and stay calm. Excitement isn't good for your heart." "Being kept in the dark isn't good for it, either!" When her parents refused to yield, "Fine! Be like that! I'll find out myself!" She stormed off to her room and slammed the door, crying angry tears. Why were her parents so stubborn and frustrating? Wanting to distract her mind, Heather got her diary out and opened it. A yellowing piece of paper fluttered out and fell on the floor. She picked it up and saw, "Jay's new house: No 2005, Court Road, River Heights," written on it. She felt an upsurge of joy as her eyes feasted in this new piece of information. She decided to give a call at this address and find out who Jay was once and for all. She went to bed feeling triumphant. Sleep weighed down her eyelids, causing her to half- close her eyes, when she saw a blurry, glowing figure of someone watching her through the window. Her eyes flew wide open but the figure had vanished. Doubtful of her sanity, she dismissed the incident thinking that her sleepy state was making her see things. The next day, Heather got up early, dressed and had a quick breakfast. "I'll be back by noon," was all she said to her parents as she left. Court Road was only ten minutes' drive away. The houses there were more like the cottages from her favourite fairytale books. She drove along the road and brought the car to a halt when she saw a white- painted wooden gate with the number 2005 carved into it. She got out of her car, warily approached the gate and gathering up all her courage, she pushed it open. Facing her was a house and a garden which looked as if it had been abandoned for months. Ivy was already creeping up the stone walls of the house. Weeds were growing amongst the beautiful flowers on the flower bed. She walked up to the round wooden door and knocked. No answer. She gave it a push and, to her surprise, it opened. She stepped into a round living room which was thick with dust and cobwebs. The mantelpiece and the fire place were covered in soot. It would have been such a lovely little house if it had been clean. Finding nothing interesting, Heather climbed up the narrow wooden stairs and opened the first door she saw. She entered a round, spacious room. The first thing she saw was a large picture of her hanging directly above the brick fire place. She felt utterly bewildered. She decided to dwell on the matter later and let her eyes wander around the room. There was a four- poster bed, a closet and, directly by the large window, was a wooden writing desk. On the desk was a small box similar to the ones which usually contained wedding rings. She strode across the room, picked the box up and opened it. There, in the middle, was a beautiful silver ring set with diamonds and sapphires. She took the ring out and turned it over. There were initials of two names engraved into the gleaming silver.

H.B and J.S

She'd barely read it, when she heard a soft, swooshing sound that made her turn around. Millions of tiny golden lights were spinning and spiraling, forming the figure of a slender young man about a head taller with soft, brown eyes and a loving smile. Jay. Heather felt so much love radiating from him, as all her past memories and long- forgotten feelings came crashing back to her. She could finally remember everything. She remembered the time when Jay had comforted her as she cried, having fallen over and grazing her knees, at the age of 6. She remembered when Jay would bring her special figurines, he'd carved out of wood each birthday and she remembered the night of the accident which had taken place while she was driving to meet Jay. She also remembered something else. While she was bleeding and unconscious in the emergency room after the accident, she'd heard Jay's deep yet low voice distantly. "Do it," he said. Another voice said, "Take a life to save another? I can't do that. You'll regret it." "You said she doesn't have much time and I'm a perfect match. Do it. You'll be giving a painless exit to the life you're taking and a long, full life to the one you're saving. If you don't do it, the life you're supposed to safe will extinguish slowly in pain and the life you're supposed to be taking will live like a corpse." "Young man, you seem sure. Very well. You'll have to sign some papers and then, the surgery can commence." "Thank you. But don't tell Heather about any of this. Promise me. She won't be very happy about it." "You have my word." Finally, Heather had the answers to all her questions. The truth hurt. Her donor had been the man she had loved and treasured so much. He had given up is life just so that she could live hers fully. Tears welled up in her eyes and cascaded down her cheeks as she felt the dagger of truth stab her repeatedly at her heart. She felt angry and bitter. She hated herself and wished herself a painful death. Jay seemed to read her mind, for he said," Heather, don't blame yourself. It was my choice." Wiping her tears angrily, she said," Are you completely stupid? You did all this just so that one insignificant life could live?" "Actually, I did this so that a very precious life could live. You would've done the same for me," he said in a matter- of- fact tone. This only infuriated Heather further. "Precious?" she snapped. "You sound as if you're talking about the weather. Can't you at least say that you regret giving me your heart very much just so that I won't spend the rest of my miserable life wallowing in self- hate and denial?" "No. I don't tell lies. Especially to those I love. You gave me a wonderful time while I was living in my mortal body. I was very happy when I was with you. I was just being selfish when I gave you my heart. I couldn't imagine life without you. I don't regret my decision in the least. I actually wanted to ask you if you would be my partner for the rest of my life on the night of the accident. Heather Brown, I have always loved you and will always love you. Giving up my heart was nothing compared to the happiness and love you have given me." Heather, no longer angry, smiled softly through her tears as she said, "I would have loved to spend the rest of my life with you. Especially in this lovely house." Jay smiled lovingly as he slowly started fading and said, "Take good care of my heart. Be happy. Travel the world. Live life to the fullest. And when you're content and satisfied, come and join me." "Stay with me, please," said Heather in despair and anguish. "I am with you. I'm part of you. And everything I do, I do it for you."