{John 5} Who Does Your Heart Belong To? {John 5} *On Hold*

{John 5} Who Does Your Heart Belong To? {John 5}

I walked down the street savoring the sweet air. Home at last! I’d been gone to long this time, but I was glad to be back and spending time with my family. Even my well intentioned but nagging mother. A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. She just wanted me to have her idea of the perfect life.

Of course she was happy that I was happy with my professional life but didn’t I want a family? Someone other than my parents to come home to?

It was the same conversation every time I came home. I loved her for it though because I knew she really did just want to see me happy.

My aimless path had taken me wandering to the streets I had spent most of my youth on. My eyes eagerly searched out the building that had been like a second home to me growing up. I stopped dead in my tracks.

NO! No this couldn’t be! What had happened to the store? My eyes took in the peeling paint and the nearly empty and very outdated window display. I walked woodenly into the store, the familiar chime of the bells above the door welcoming me and alerting anyone in the store I had entered. I looked around at the severely depleted shelves, obviously the store was struggling to stay open these days.

“Hi my name is Elizabeth, is there anything I can help you find?” He voice floated over my shoulder. Ah Lizzy, my skinny as a beanpole playmate from those Golden days of childhood. I turned to her with a smile and I saw the surprise when she recognized me, “Sure, can you tell me where your father is?” I looked at her small frame and my eyes widened.

“Um, he’s upstairs resting. Is there anything I can do for you?” Yes my mind screamed as I stood there frozen, a thousand thoughts running through my mind. She was no longer the skinny tomboy I remembered but a fully grown and matured young woman who had blossomed beautifully. “John?”

“I don’t think I ever remember him not being down here before.”

“The chemotherapy took a lot out of him.” She saw the surprise in my eyes. “Oh he’s ok now it’s gone they say of course he has to keep being rechecked.”

“Lizzy, I’m sorry if I had known…”

“It’s ok John your parents were so helpful it’s not like there is anything you could have really done to make a difference that they didn’t do.”   She looked around the store. 

“I’ve done the best I could but the medical bills.”   She paused and looked at me helplessly.   “I haven’t told my dad yet although I think he knows it. I’ll have to close the store in a couple of months if business doesn’t pick up.”   She hung her head and I touched her cheek. It was wet.

“Lizzy, I’m sure you’ve done your best. Let’s go see your dad.”

“You go on up John. I have to stay down here in case we get customers. He’ll be so happy to see you.” She smiled a little at me. I gently wiped away the remaining tears. “John you know I’d do anything to keep the store open if I could right?” I looked at her surprised.

“Yeah, I do Lizzy.”

“Do you think you could convince my dad?”

“Lizzy, I’m sure he knows that.”  She shook her head.

“We had a bad fight John not long after you moved away. I said some horrible things to him and then moved to France with my mom. I wouldn’t have even known he was sick if your mom hadn’t called me. He thinks I just want to sell the store so that I can go back to France.”  She was nearly in tears again.

“I’ll talk to him Lizzy.”

“Thank you John.”

I caressed her face lightly again enjoying the feel of her impossibly soft skin beneath my thumb. Then I walked to the back of the store and up the familiar old narrow stairwell.