Blue Flower

Chapter 50

-Chester-

            The car pulled up in a bridge connecting two main roads in Chicago. Under it was a river flocked with ships and yachts. Reese got out of the car first, barefooted. Why she decided into not wearing any footwear was beyond my concern, but on the contrary, I owed her my freedom with Naomi. While traveling, she clearly told us that she planned everything with Sam, Andrew and Hera. This was meant as a surprise so she never told beforehand.

            “Get out. We’re running out of time.” Andrew told us, his eyes trained on mine through the mirror.

            I quickly nodded and let ourselves out. Andrew and Reese got out of the car followed by Hera a couple of minutes later.

            Naomi launched her arms around me and sobbed. The three of them exchanged weird looks, and for a moment, I wrapped my arms around her, not knowing why she cried and what should I say.        

            “H-Hey, I’m not yet dying.” I joked. I hope this would kick the silence off. None of them seemed to absorb the joke which led me to believe that we were really running out of time.

            She pulled out and pecked at my lips.

            “I know I should thank you for everything. I’ll never get to marry Robert in a million years.”

            I laughed at her sudden explanation. I turned her over to Reese who was the brain of this escape plan. She thanked her and after a while of exchanging those cheesy statements, we got down into serious talk.

            “So, where are you planning to go?” Andrew asked with his arms around her girlfriend’s shoulders. Reese kept on scratching her right foot with the left. Her face had been misshaped in irritation and agony.

            “To Nashville. Sam said she rented an apartment here for us. I thought you don’t know about this.” I said.

            He rolled his eyes and looked at Reese. “Oh well, she didn’t tell me everything.”

            I sighed and mustered up a slight smile. “Take care, and maybe you should go now. Noah might be driving all around the city just to find us.” was his last words.

            I could sense the panic in his calmly modulated voice. I nodded and thanked him again, but Reese stopped us for a while.

            “Chester, before you go, I just want you to know this.” she said and took the steps closer to me. She ripped the bottom part of the gown that made us all stare at her in shock. It was surprising how she tore it evenly, and it made her look like she’s wearing a dress. She tossed the ripped part away and turned her face serious.

            She put her hands on both of my cheeks. Our eyes met, and the next words she said were the ones I never expected.

            “After everything you’ve been through, you’ve grown into a fine young man.”

            If I had the freedom and wouldn’t be ashamed, I’d kiss her lips as a token for her unwavering kindness. Instead I put my hands on hers and spilled out the words I’ve been dying to say.”

            “You don’t know how much you gave e and without asking for anything in return. You’re my hero, Reese. I love you.”

            She smiled and let me go. We bid our goodbyes to Andrew and Hera before we looked down below the bridge. There was a luxurious white yacht waiting for us, and of course, Sam. We had to jump to get there, and seeing it in somewhat immeasurable feet before our eyes, my legs wobbled crazily under my pants. For a moment, I wondered how many bones we would break.

            “Do you think we can make it there?” Naomi asked. She squeezed her cold hand on mine, obviously as nervous as I was of what we would do.

            I swallowed. Could we really make it? Now I was beginning to doubt myself. Would we just let fear ruin our bright future together?

            “We can. Just hold on to me.” I said and held on to her tightly.

            Sam shouted from her place. “Don’t worry,” she patted the huge white space beside her. “You’d safely land here.”

            But how? The yacht was dead white all over, plus the wide surface that seemed too hard for us to land on. My heart raced inside my chest. I was too reluctant to jump.

            “Chester, let’s go.” Naomi said, prompting me to lift ourselves from the bridge. I looked for one last time at the yacht below me. Then on the count of three, we sprang from our position and felt the gravity pull us down to where we should fall. In the exact second that we landed, we learned that it wasn’t a part of the yacht’s body. It was a mattress laid out for us.

            I let the moment freeze in my mind. I’m holding Naomi safely in my arms. Her head was buried in my chest, and we listened to each other’s breathing. We’re on a soft cushion, and the expectations of broken bones never came in sight.

            “Surprise!” Sam said brightly when we looked at her. I smiled and uttered a clear thanks to her.

            “I thought we’d end up in wheelchairs. You’re really not kidding when you told us it’s safe.”

            “I told you.” she winked and sat on the mattress beside us. We waved goodbye again to the three of them on the bridge, and soon the yacht roared to life and started its sail forward.