Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Now

Seiko sat on the bed in his mother's room. She was watching something on the news, practically oblivious to his presence. The memory of his last visit was still fresh in his mind. There was a lump lodged in his throat, his mouth was dry, and his hands were sweaty. He had thought long and hard about what he wanted to say to his mom on the ride over, but his mind was now blank. After a few minutes, she turned to him, noticing someone else in the room for the first time. His mother grinned and waved at him.

"Hi there, are you a volunteer?" She walked over and held out her hand to shake his. She still didn't remember him. Seiko was more mentally prepared this time though. He took her hand in his. It was warm and soft, the way it felt when he was a kid, and they would cross the street together.

"Something like that. I was hoping to spend some time with you today if that's alright?"

She nodded excitedly. She had little to no interaction with anyone other than the staff that took care of her. A visitor was a treat.

"Did you wanna watch this show with me?" She gestured back to the tv. "I can have them bring another chair in her for you. Just one sec!"

As they sat together watching a documentary on South American birds, Seiko felt the cracks in his heart start to ache a little less. The nervousness he felt around her also subsided after a while. Every now and then, he would glance over at his mother who was laughing and smiling. The woman that had been broken, shattered to pieces by life. She may not have always been around for him, but she was his mom. Nothing would change that. They chatted for quite some time, about birds, trees, and the weather. After a while, Seiko had to leave. His mother looked disappointed to see him go.

"Don't worry, I'll come back to see you next week."

She smiled and nodded.

As he made his way out of the facility, he could hear her voice.

"I'll keep your seat warm!" She called after him.

On the ride home, Oaklee was mostly quiet, but she finally worked up the courage to ask him a question. It was something she had been wondering about for a while.

"Is love really worth the pain? Is it ok to love someone so much even if you could lose them?"

Seiko was silent for a moment as if searching for the right words. "I think so. I know my mom wasn't always able to take care of me the way she would have wanted to. She was probably sick even before my dad died, but despite the things I went through..."

"What is it?" Oaklee encouraged.

"I wouldn't trade her for anyone or anything in this world."

Oaklee saw a rare sight in that moment. Shesensed in her partner something that hadn't been there before. It was peaceful.