That girl in your class, she laughs. She has a smile that lights up an entire room. That girl in your class, she has great grades that it seems like she doesn't even have to try. That girl in your class, she has seemingly amazing friends who care ab...
The unknown texts have stopped and I haven't seen the lady at the cafe except when she left her baby on my doorstep seven years ago. She left a note that included her explanation:
Alex, I left Luke on your doorstep because I am running away. I saw my high school love a couple of days ago and he didn't recognize me. It was like we were strangers starting over...I just need a little vacation. I'll be back to pick up Luke in a couple days. Please take of care him. He is not my child but, I saved him from being abandoned. I love him so much so, please make sure he doesn't get hurt.
Luke is an intriguing kid. His words have so much depth to them than most adults. He is only fifteen years old and he sounds like almost Aristotle. I guess he gets that from the books I have laying around the house that I have seen him read and whatever he reads at the library.
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I set plates of chocolate chip pancakes, Luke's favorite on the table and take a seat. A lift up my fork and take bites of my pancakes as I watch him. He sets down his fork and looks at me with a puzzled look.
He cocks his head to the side and says, "Why are people so nice to people who are about to die?" I drop my fork and tell him, "Well we want to make their last few moments on earth happy. Does that make sense?"
He shakes his head, no and says, "Everyone dies a little everyday and sometimes we don't know when a person is going to die, so why isn't everyone nice because we never what's going to happen to someone."
I tell him that the world is full of mean people that make people want to die and that's why people die a little everyday. That he should be one the people that is nice instead of the cruel spirited people.
A tear falls down his face as he quietly says, "Is that what happened to mommy? Did a mean person make her die inside with their words to the point she ran away from the world?" I walked up to him and wrapped him in a hug to comfort him because I was speechless.
He whispers in my ear, "Was I not enough for mommy?" I look at him and say, "You are enough for me. I love you Luke. Your mom will be back soon. I don't know when but, I promise she will. But, right now I want you to know I will always love you and that you will never make me run away."
He nods his head and I ruffle his hair. "Hey little guy, it's going to be okay. Let's go get your backpack and shoes on so, you can get on the bus to school okay?" He smiles and runs to the coat hanger to get his backpack.
I walk over and help his shoes but, he swats my hand away to show me he already knows how. I can't help but think that he is going to become such a great person. He is so young and comprehends topics most adults don't understand.
He opens the door and we walk together to the bus stop. As the bus pulls up, a lady that seems awfully familiar is standing on the other side of the street and she looks at Luke and screams, "Luke! It's mommy!"
My instincts kick in and I pick him up and put him on the school bus. The door shuts before she can try to get on the bus and it pulls away.
She turns around and faces me with tears in her eyes. Tears fall down her face as her words choke out, "Do you think you can take everything from me and break my heart again Alex just like high school? You broke my heart then when you kissed Sage in that bathroom stall and now you won't even let me see my child."
That's when I realize what she meant seven years ago when she said her high school love didn't recognize her. She was referring to me. She was the sender of the unknown I miss you texts. When I left her unread she met me in person. She was testing me to see if I remembered anything from the past.
Luke
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