Rewind - A Short Story

Rewind

"Rewind. What does it mean? It means going back into the past and unravelling that which has already happened. Just like one can rewind a tape and go back right to the beginning, similarly our brain too can rewind and go right back to the beginning of any memory that it has retained in its mind," said Mr. Richard Smith, the biology teacher to his students. After having taught them this, he gave them a piece of exercise to do as part of their homework and then left the classroom as the bell rang, indicating the end of that day.

As he drove back to his house and parked his car on the quiet and deserted street, he looked extremely tired and there were dark circles under his eyes. Teaching at a school with fifty unruly children was a pretty challenging task and he was yet to completely overcome that challenge. He entered his house with slow, forceful steps where he plopped his bag on the sofa and sat heavily on the armchair beside the fireplace, letting his mind and body muscles slowly relax. His gaze suddenly turned upon the picture above the fireplace, of him and his best friend, Jason Harris and he was suddenly reminded of that painful day at the hospital, five years ago, that had left him mentally shaken and still had the power to bring tears to his eyes.

It had all started with a letter. It was a Saturday evening and the breeze was cool and refreshing and felt good as it blew on his face, especially after the unnaturally humid afternoon. He was happy that the weather had taken a turn for the better. He had just returned from the grocery store to find a single letter in his mailbox. He wondered who could have sent the letter to him especially in this small town of Wilmington, North Carolina. But his curiosity soon won the war against tiredness that had been going on in his mind and made his feet move even faster than before. He dropped his bag on the kitchen counter and sat near the fireplace in his favourite armchair. He tore open the envelope and read the letter.

The envelope, he had noticed earlier, had neither a return address nor the sender's name which surprised him. But after reading the content of the letter, he needed neither the sender's name nor the return address. The letter said, " I need you, Richie." He was shaken by those four words. Only one person had ever called him Richie and that was his childhood friend, Jason Harris. They had been best friends all throughout middle school and high school, and having the same study interests, had even been in college together. But time had separated them and to further pursue their career, they had changed paths. Now, after ten years of being away from each other, and managing quite well, if he was to believe what the newspapers said about the famous author, Jason had contacted him, asking him for his help. Part of Richard felt angry that Jason had never bothered to keep in touch with him and the other part of him had a desperate desire to help the man whom he had long considered his best friend. And with that desire overpowering his anger, he packed his bags and set sail for New York, the city that never sleeps. On reaching the apartment where Jason had been living for the past ten years, he rang the doorbell, but he received no answer. He tried again, but was greeted by the same response. So he went to the neighbouring apartment, where the housekeeper informed him that a week ago, Mr. Harris had been admitted in the hospital after having had an attack.

This left Richard thoroughly shocked and he quickly rushed to St. Mary's Hospital where Jason had been admitted. On reaching there, he asked the receptionist about his room number and a few minutes later, a doctor came down to meet him. He said, " Hello, Mr. Smith. I am Dr. Paul Jameson, an oncologist and I am treating Mr. Harris. How can I help you?"
"Hello, Dr. Jameson. I am Richard Smith, an old friend of Jason. I had received a letter a few days ago from him saying that he needed me. Can I meet him now?"
"Well, you're certainly lucky. It's visiting hours right now and so, you may meet him. Please follow me."
With that he led Richard down the hall into Jason's room. On seeing Jason for the first time in around ten years, he was shocked. Jason was lying on the bed, the sheets covering him right up to his chin. His face that had once been round and red as if he loved eating, was now pale and too thin. His eyes, the most expressive in the world that could never manage to hide any emotion, were now a glassy grey. Just looking at him like that turned Richard's heart cold with fright. He watched as Jason's eyes rolled and focused on him with obvious effort and he smiled. He beckoned him to come nearer. Richard started moving towards his bed with a force that surprised even him and within a few seconds, he was by his side, holding Jason's hand as he grasped his tightly in Richard's as if he needed his strength desperately. And through his touch, Richard tried to transfer some of his energy and love into him. And they stayed that way for the rest of the night, Richard staring at him and remembering all those happy memories they had spent together, till the world closed in on him and he fell asleep.

In the morning, Richard woke up to find Jason staring at the ceiling, his eyes devoid of any emotion. As the reality dawned in on him, it was he who was now grasping his hand as if he needed him to be there with him, alive and breathing.

With that, Richard realised that Jason, his best friend, had died. However, near him lay a letter which said, "Richie, my last wish has been fulfilled. I have now died with you by my side and that makes me joyous. Thank you for all the time that you took out from your busy life to devote to me. I love you and always will. Cherish life because it is too precious. Love, Jason."
As if in response to his sobs, a slight breeze from the open window gently ruffled Richard's hair and the earth became too still, as if it too was mourning the death of Jason Harris.

As he was broken out of his reverie by the answering machine, Richard sat up straighter and realised that time had, once again, brought him back to the present. As he went over the memoirs of Jason, his eyes filled with tears. But these tears soon ceased because he had never broken his friend's promise to cherish life and he got up from the armchair to answer the phone, his mind strengthened with a renewed resolve to live each and every moment of his life like it was his last.