The Truth of Oliver Fray

What About You?

Dana didn't know what to say, or how to react. She watched William's face as he stared down into the picture in his hands. Dana knew how he felt. She had felt that way herself. She had felt the pain of losing someone that was really important in your life. She had always tried to hide her feelings. She tried to hide them from herself, trying to protect herself when it was only hurting her worse.

Dana looked down and saw one of William's hands resting down by his side. Dana reached her hand down and grabbed his hand with hers. William's head snapped up by the sudden touch, as he looked at Dana. He watched her as she stared down at the picture. It almost felt like Dana was trying to share his pain so he wouldn't have to endure it all himself. William rested his head down onto her shoulder. It felt good to have Dana there with him, by her side. She understood his pain, and he understood her's.

Dana heard movement from behind her. She turned back and saw the old lady set a plate of tea down on the small table positioned it the middle of the dining room. The woman started to turn out of the room when Dana stopped her.

"You said you wanted to talk to me?" Dana asked the woman, kindly.

The lady turned around and looked at Dana. Her face soft and thoughtful. "Yes I did but we can talk later if you would like." The old lay said to her not wanting to interrupt her and William's moment.

"Now is a good time. The tea is warm and it will be nice to drink warm tea while having a discussion rather than cold tea." Dana said making her way over to the soft, brown sofa positioned across from the small table. The woman sat down at a rocking chair in the corner. William sat beside Dana on the couch.

"What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Dana asked the woman.

"I wanted to learn more about you. We always end up running into each other at odd times. I wanted to know why you came here that one night. What happened?" The woman asked.

Dana was calm as the lady asked her questions. "Then I was like a bolted box. I didn't tell anybody anything. I don't understand the point of that now," Dana said, "There was a woman that I had lived with, I thought she was my mother, at thought she was the one who had given birth to me. I always thought that her husband that left her, was my father. I found out that night that I came here that she wasn't really my mither. I was mad, angry, and confused. I couldn't think straight. All I knew was that I couldn't go back there, after the way she had treated my like her personal slave."

"I am determined to find my real mother. I know she's alive, somewhere. I just don't know where, but I will find out. I am confident that I will be successful." Dana finished off her explanation.

The old woman and William stayed quiet thinking about Dana's words. Dana took a deep breath, it was hard for her to tell people that part of her life. It hurt to remember the painful memories.

Dana looked to the side over at William. "What about you? I told you my big secret, what's yours?" Dana asked him, not dropping her gaze.

William took a deep breath before he spoke. "When I was 10, my father left to go to fight in the war. It was hard for me because I looked up to my dad more tahn anyonse in dhe world, I wanted to be just like him. I had to take over the chores thatt my dad had once done. It was hard for my mother not having him there with her at home. although my mother and I struggled with him gone, all we could do was hope for his safe return." William paused as he look towards the ground, he continued, "After my father had been gone fora whole year, my mother had been diagnosed with the flu, st first it wasn't bad and it wasn't something to worry about. Then it got worse, and worse. I had taken over all of the chores around the house. Mother had become so weak, she could hardly move. I worried day and night about her. The condition that she was in, scared me. I worked all day for and income, while my mother was at home in pain or resting.

"A doctor came every week to see my mother. Each week he told me the same thing, 'It's getting worse, there is nothing I can do.' My mother and I had made it throught another year with her disease. Her last doctor appintment was the most heart breaking. He took me to another room and told me, 'She only has a few days left. I am sorry.' I spent those last few days at her side. I never left. She died in her sleep, she went to heaven peacefully." William closed his eyes and let a tear slide down. "The next day when I went into town I went to the post office. There was a letter for me. The letter said that my father had been killed in the war. I had lost both of my parents in less than 24 hours. I was crushed. Grandma was the only family that I had left." William who was looking down to the floor, brought his head up and looked straight ahead of him. Dana watched as a tear slipped from his eye and ran down his face. That one tear held so much pain and torture. That tear has been filled with love, hope, and happiness. Then it gets taken over by hatetred, discourage, and sadness. One tear can show more than words will ever be able to show.

Dana looked towards William's grandma. She was looking down sorrowfully at the memory of the tragic event. Dana could feel the spirit in the room immediately disappear and hide in a corner away from the emotions taking over the room.

Dana looked towards William, " I guess we do have something in common, we both don't have parents." William turned his head towards Dana. Dana watched the sadness in his eyes, he watched as it changed in a split second. He smiled a small smile at her.

"I guess we do." Dana watched as his shoulders began to slump, his head began to drop down to the floor, the sadness was returning.

Dana felt a hand touch her shoulder. She looked to her left and saw the old lady standing with her hands on both Dana's and William's shoulders. Williams eyes wondered away from the floor and they reached the woman's eyes.

"You both have me." Dana and William looked at her surprised. The spirit must have peeked behind his covers and saw the moment and decided that he was needed once again. The feeling in the room was enlightened, the pain and the sorrow forgotten as the three of them sat around the fireplace, laughing, joking, and talking. It was as if they had always been together. Dana felt happy knowing that the people around her were happy. Dana's eyes wondered around the room. Her eyes landed on something white that read the words;

Don't get too close. Watch your words.