Something More

A Commitment

Sunday Afternoon

Christian Anthony's POV:

After her mysteriously miraculous...umm...transfiguration this morning, I felt a sudden jolt of shyness to talk to Imee. It is starting to prove to me that she is indeed a servant of God...that doing something stupid might stain her reputation. So I keep caution right now to talk to her...

"Anthony! Anthony!"

"Whoa! Ye-yes, Imee?" I quickly heed her call and sit at her bedside.

"I've been thinking...I hadn't repay you for the time that you protected me from the critics a few weeks back." Imee told me. "Can you think of something where we could finally be even stevens?"

"Hmm...seriously, the only thing that I could think of...is to take you out of your room, tour around the city, and give you a treat."

"Hmm! That's not how you even the game, you know?" Imee pouts at me. "But...since I didn't know some random places around the city for a long time, let's do it!"

"Well, okay then. But...what if you got sick again because we go out? I've been traumatized by the first time I took you out."

"Well, that's your problem now! Hmph!" Imee scolds me a bit. "An assistant knows how to anticipate the problems of his client and how to deal with it!"

"Oh! Sorry! My bad!"

As I apologized to her for the commotion, Imee smiled at me...and eventually giggled. Yes, I've seen her so many times making words of wisdom, praying devoutly and doing miracles...but it doesn't impedes her in making friends with others...and bringing smile to our faces. That's make her extraordinary to me.

Imee Therese's POV:

Silently, Anthony carried me from the bed to my wheelchair, strapped me in, and takes me out for a walk in a park. I smelt the cool breeze that enters my ventilation machine and into my lungs. Isn't that weird? Well, my paralysis took away my ability to breathe on my own through my nostrils...making it virtually useless...

"How are you faring right now, Imee?" Anthony assessed my condition.

"Oh! I'm fine. Don't worry about me." I smiled in reply.

I don't know where Anthony is heading me right now in my wheelchair. Through the darkness of my blind eyes, the only things that I could here is...the struggles of my ventilator to breathe in and breathe out for me...the little creaking sounds from the rolling wheels of my wheelchair being pushed by Anthony...and things that happened around me: people walking and talking to each other, vehicles passing now and then, chirping of the birds that flies above us, and the rustling of the leaves as it reacts to the breeze. I wonder who I could make a picture of it? Hmm...

"Imee, we had just arrived at the park."

The wheels of my wheelchair continued to roll for a few moments before it came into a full stop. Afterwards, I felt somebody buckling me off before carrying me up. And then, I was laid into something hard...a bench perhaps. At first, I was slipping down...since my paralyzed body cannot balance by itself...and nothing's stopping me from falling...until I bumped on a shoulder...then two hands began to hold me.

"Umm...Anthony. Where am I sitting?" Worriedly, I asked him.

"You're sitting in a bench now, Imee. It would be so bad to you if you're stuck in a wheelchair for so long, you know?"

"Hehehe! Point taken."

The atmosphere of the place is serene...peace and quiet...if I was alone here...I could savor this all day. Or perhaps...this calmness motivates me to do whatever I want...like singing! Hehehe! I have this song in mind...I hope that my voice won't fail me now!

"Wow, Imee...your voice...I'm always amazed by your voice." Anthony commented after I finished with my favorite song. "And your song...it really inspires me."

"Oh, thank you. That's just my favorite song...for I believe that there's something more in life...even you, Anthony." I turned to him and smiled. "I am grateful...that you are my one of my first friends who accepted me for who I am. I hope that God is already touching your life and believe that there's something more in you."

"Yes...I'm already aware that God is interfering in my life...and that because of you." Anthony happily replied. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing me back my hope and faith to God. I wish that we would be more than friends now."

"Huh? What do you mean?" I became curious about this "more than friends" thingy and asked him.

"Umm...we-well...we have already formed...a tight bond...of friendship and trust to each other...so...so..."

I felt that Anthony is too shy to tell his feeling towards me...perhaps because of the things that happened to me yesterday.

"Come on, Anthony. Please tell me what you feel about me." I motivated him with a smile. "It's alright...just tell me. If you don't, I will be mad at you."

"U-umm...Imee, I sta-started to fa-fall in love with you..." Anthony finally confesses to me. "From the first time we've met, I know that you are very special. Everytime you do something great, I've always think that I should treasure you...take care of you...protect you...for you are sent by God to bring hope and faith to all...and I'm the first person who witness these wonders..."

Then Anthony holds my body...and helped me to stand up. For the first time, I felt my cold feet...stepping on the ground. As I endure the little pain from spasms on my paralyzed body, I smiled at him.

"Imee...I will commit myself to love and protect you." Anthony promises to me.  "I will help you to bring the mission that God is given to you. I promise...I will never leave by your side."

After all was said and done, I just giggled and smiles again for him...

"Anthony, I accept your love for me. But helping me in my mission requires you to forego material things...and endure sacrifices just like mine. Do you still want to do so?"

"Of course, milady. I have kept my promise to you..."

Christian Anthony's POV:

After I said my reply...Imee closed her eyes and silently uttered some words. Within moments, I began to felt a sudden jolt of calmness in my heart...perhaps Imee prayed to God to help me...in preparing to share the mission that He had given to His beautiful servant...whoa!

"Imee!" Her spasms grew so strong that she collapsed...but I caught her on my arms. "Imee, are you right?"

She opened her eyes and shows me her timeless smile

"Yes, Anthony. Thank you for your concern." She then closed her eyes before slipping out of consciousness. "May God bless you...Anthony..."