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Body and Soul

17. Body and Soul

It was a hot afternoon and I believe we're running out of time. I must find his body as soon as possible. It could be a War Against Time. Edward followed me, not knowing that I'm planning to find Chip. The mastermind and might be the keeper of Ed's body. His body must meet his soul.

I stopped walking.

"Meg," He said.

"We're finding Chip."

"This city is too big to find him. And can we assure that he kept my body? What if I'm already dead? What if I'll not live again?"

"I'm trying to find a way, okay?" I bellowed.

He stopped talking.

"I-I'm sorry Ed. But we really need to find Chip. He can lead us to your body so you'll live again. Just like in some movie."

He nodded.

"It's been a long time since I haven't said you this, and I think it's not the right time to tell you this, but would you mind to walk with me?"

Those words led me to the night when he invited me to walk with him, the morning when he receives my sharp words and refusal of his offer to walk with him. Just a walk. A simple and inexpensive offer from a man. I felt how that moment meant to him, and how I wasted that important moment to be with him. I wonder how people, like me, won’t notice some kind of offer. I could feel that my heart tore a bit.

I smiled at him and said, “Sure.”

As I followed him, I realized that he was bearing too much pain, he was bearing the hope. He was hopeful and I am the one who introduce him the word hopeless. Choosing Chip was the biggest mistake I had in my life. He’s the F in my score card and Ed was the A+, he’s always been unnoticeable A+. They’re right; you’ll appreciate the person when it’s already gone. We walked side by side, noticing his smile made me feel so stupid for not able to save him on that night. I still grieve.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To the place where less people appreciate.”

“Where?”

He chuckled. “Are you in hurry?”

I shook my head.

Somehow, Edward was my model of patience. It is the most visible in his entire attitude to be reckon with. For seven years of sending me those letters, for seven years of waiting for me, for seven years of holding his love to me and his promise to keep me away from harm. He was whipped by time that gave him pain of waiting, but it turned out to be great. He became a martyr and a saint for me. A saint to be idolized with, the idolatry of now thinking if it’s a sin. A saint to be worship with for teacher me the true value of patience even though his heart was eaten by the change of seasons: the warmth of summer, the goodbyes of fall, the cold of winter, and the birth of temporary joy of spring. I finally decided the name of my novel. It would be simple, but intriguing, not that common, not that cliché. I smiled at him.

“Can you tell me why you gave me that smile?”

“I got now the title for my novel.”

“Really? That’s great.”

Ed didn’t asked for more questions knowing that we’re now in the place he’s referring to be the beautiful and unnoticeable. The Woods, that’s what people called that place. No one visited there for two reasons, they said there’s a bear and second it’s a family of bears and because of the bears, it’s off limits. But Ed told me everything about bears is a lie. He was granted by some old caretaker he knew for a long time.

“Ed, you’re the only person that is granted to go there. Not me, okay? I might be killed by that fictitious family of bears.”

He laughed. “Don’t worry, the old man knew you. Okay, here he comes. Just remember to tell your name.”

I gulped, looking at the old man. His skin was so dry but he got this beautiful brown eyes. I cleared my throat.

“Just stay calm,” Ed said.

“Hello mister,” I stuttered.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Megan. A friend of good friend of Ed. Edward.”

The old man stared at me and then he smiled. I smiled too.

“His smile is contagious, Meg.”

“Heaven’s name, so this is Ed’s beautiful friend, Megan.”

Ed smiled. I blushed.