Borrowed Time: Saving John Lennon - A Beatles Fanfic

Chapter 30 - BLESS YOU

October 17, 2020

A knock on the door interrupted Tyler from the program playing on TV. It was a Saturday evening, and Tyler was alone in his house. Mike and their kids were visiting family for the weekend, but Tyler was unable to join them due to work constraints.

"Who the hell...?" he mumbled to himself as he stood from the couch.

Another set of knocks came from the door before Tyler was able to reach it.

"Jesus Christ. I'm coming, all right?" he continued.

He reached for the doorknob, expecting to see the face of a neighbor or perhaps even a coworker. Instead Tyler stood staring at a stranger in front of him.

"Can I help you?" Tyler asked.

"Tyler," the old woman said with a warm smile.

"Yes?"

"It's me," she continued in an eerily familiar voice.

Tyler's jaw dropped, and the blood drained from his face. He squinted, examining the elderly woman standing in front of him. Surely this couldn't be his friend that he watched disappear from the lab only two weeks earlier.

"Holly...?" Tyler stuttered.

With a nod, Holly confirmed his suspicions. "Can I come inside?"

Tyler stepped backwards, allowing the 74 year old version of his friend to enter. He watched her as she made her way into the house, still trying to understand what was happening.

"I wanted to come see you to let you know that I was okay," Holly explained as she sat down in the living room. "I wanted you to know that I made it back to John. I also wanted to thank you for everything you did for me."

Tyler sat down in a plush chair opposite Holly, unable to respond. He stared at the woman sitting across from him. Her hair was fully white and it was long and flowy, coming down well past her shoulders. Her face was lined with wrinkles, lightly covered by modest makeup. As Tyler stared, Holly sat quietly looking back at him allowing him to examine her.

"John wanted to come with me to thank you too, but I didn't think that would be smart," Holly mused, breaking the silence. "We just wanted you to know that I was okay, and that we're grateful for all you did to help bring us back together."

The two friends sat talking for over an hour. Tyler was relieved to find out that Holly was all right and that his efforts had all been worth it.

"I would love to stay longer but my driver is waiting to take me back to New York. This is my number," Holly said, placing a small sheet of paper into Tyler's hand. "I don't think it's safe for us to meet in person again. I wouldn't want to jeopardize your career any more. But perhaps we can keep in touch. Just know that you did the right thing, and I'm indebted to you forever."

And with that, 74 year old Holly slipped out the front door. Tyler looked down at the paper in his hand and then looked out the window. He couldn't help but smile as he watched Holly climb into the car, returning to her life in New York and leaving Tyler to process all that had happened.