When Fairytale and Reality Collide

Chapter Two - The Hospital Witnessed It All

“So, where does that leave me Mr. Lexington?” I started, breaking the tremendously distressing hush between us as we strolled wearily at the park grounds.

There were no other people, probably because the cold winter air softly but bleakly strolled around the place. Everyone had agreed, it would be best if Mr. Lexington and I took this chance to ‘get to know’ each other.

        “Why does everyone knows about this and I did not have a single clue?” I continued, reluctant.

He heaved an unenthusiastic sigh, averse to answer me. “I wanted to tell you… but I’m really sorry I didn’t.”

He sighed once again as he continued speaking. “I didn’t want to get ahead of your grandfather. You’re too young for these things.”

I suddenly felt like crying. But I fought it. Definitely not in front of my handsome teacher. “I am too young. I can’t be pushed into these stuffs.” I told him. “In the future, everyone in school will worry about what to wear in prom or even which teacher they’re going to pull a prank with while I’ll worry about what to cook for dinner or even how to cook, to start with.”

No reply came out from his lips. He just stood a feet beside me, staring at my face intently. When I realized he wasn’t exactly preparing and planning to respond, I spoke again.

        “How about you, Mr. Lexington? Don’t you want to disagree with this stupid oath and live the most out of your youthful years?”

He shook his head. “I don’t.”

A scoff involuntarily escaped my lips, presently at loss for words.

“Ms. Knightley…” He pronounced my last name carefully. “You wouldn’t probably believe if I tell you, that back when we were in Phoenix before we found you and your family, I attend nothing but set-up dates. Meaning, arranged marriage is already up my lane. And secretly watching and observing you the past two years, I know you are better than anyone else in the market. So I wouldn’t dare miss this wonderful opportunity and be miserable for the rest of my life with someone I know I would never get in tune with.”

        I shuddered at his words. So he’s basically saying that he’s agreed with our grandfathers? He is mad.

        Once again, my whole self felt like crying. I felt like a baby, a third-grader coming home from school to complain about the English teacher that had given a five-page essay due the day after, that no one seemed to understand I was just a kid, that it was just too hard, and how could something so adult be expected of me?

“I’m sorry this came to you as early as now. But marrying me wouldn’t make much of a difference. It’s just paper. It wouldn’t get in the way of your teenage years.” He promised.

That night came off entirely different. After Mr. Lexington and I had headed back to the hospital, my grandfather was chatting with Grandpa Charles like they’re talking about something I wasn’t supposed to hear.

Grandpa Tom Knightley’s Point Of View

“We’ve got to do something.” I declared.

        Eira, my granddaughter, seemed like she’s determined not to go through with this. But I love her, and it’s because I love her that I’m pushing her to do this. Charles is my best friend, and I am confident that he would never let Patrick hurt her. I have confidence in that kid. I’ve seen Charles brought his son, Georg up, and I’m just about sure that Georg had brought Patrick up just how the way he was.

        I don’t want to put my little Eira out there and get hurt. With Patrick, I’m sure she wouldn’t. I hope she understands my plead. And if she won’t, I’d do anything to make her.

“Dad, I don’t think this is fair for Eira. She’s sixteen. She can’t be put into these adult stuffs right away. She has yet a lot more things to know… to experience. She’s my baby.” Esther, my son’s wife, said.

I sighed. “You’re right, I can’t deny that. But all I want is to be sure that Eira will be in safe hands from the beginning. And with Patrick, I’m sure she will be. I know this is entirely selfish of me to ask but it’s for Eira.”

“How are we going to make this happen?” Charles, my best comrade, interjected. “She seems not so stirred by your hospitalization. You can’t pretend on being sick forever until she agrees.”

I sighed again. Sometimes, I don’t even know why we became best of friends. “You’re right. The doctor said I have a hundred more years to live. Your hospital’s not running out of rooms in any case, right? I think I may have to use my last tactic to make her agree. Quick, quick, they’re here!”

Eira Knightley’s Point of View

“Eira…” My grandfather slowly pronounced my name before coughing. “I’m sorry for having you pushed into something you don’t want… I promise I’d never do it again… at least I can’t in heaven.” Then he produced another cough.

“Pops, don’t say that. You’re not going to die. Everything will be fine… so long as you agree to that surgery.”

He shook his head faintly. “No, no, no.”

Then, at that time, a loud, disturbing beep echoed through the hollow room…

“Grandpa!” I cried, mindlessly shaking him at the bed as he lay motionless. “Grandpa! Nurse! Mom! Grandpa Charles! Mr. Lexington!”

Tears were like falls that uncontrollably flowed through my bum cheeks as I tried to wake my unconscious Grandfather up. I couldn’t believe what was happening in front of my eyes. The man that had showered indulgence into my childhood was slowly deteriorating into nothing in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything else to stop it.

I’m sixteen. Things like these aren’t supposed to be put in my hands… my decisions. I was supposed to be out partying with my friends or studying hard for a long History quiz for tomorrow. I would give anything to do normal teen stuffs like that and not be deciding for the lives of others in this situation.

The next event happened in a blink. I was blinded by the fact that my Grandfather was dying and here I was sitting beside him doing nothing… and deciding what to cook for dinner in the future was way out of my field of thinking. My decision was fatal… but I had to do it.

“I’ll do it!” I shouted as tears went superfluously running down my cheeks. “I’ll marry him grandpa, just please let them proceed with the surgery. Please,”