"It would have been better if I'd not seen you that day," he said, his eyes dropping on her lips.
"Which day? Have we met before?"
"Yes," he reduced the distance, "You...were my last wish."
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"Mrs. Maria!" I repeated, to make my heart believe that it was reality; It was Mrs. Maria's call. Immediately, lot of thoughts began storming in my mind.
Why has she called me after so long? Is she fine? Has she heard my recording?
I was not getting any answer.
"Um," the voice came from other side, little hesitant. "You_ you are quiet brave, I must say."
I blinked as I sensed smile on Mrs. Maria's face.
"Actually, I don't have words to express what I'm feeling right now," she continued and then paused as though collecting the words to put them in decent sentence. "You gave justice to my son."
My heart swelled with deep emotions by those words. Immediately Rick's face flashed in front my eyes.
I heard her gentle sob. It must have been very tough for her to say that.
"Thanks for everything, Abigail," she paused again. "Would you do me one favour?"
"Yes, ma'am," I replied immediately.
After maintaining a long silence, she said:
"Would you tell Rick that his mother misses him a lot?"
Grip of my hand on my mobile tightened.
What shall I tell her now? I thought. Rick met me one year back...and then he was gone. He had even said a final good bye. Would he come back to meet me? Impossible, I thought getting anxious.
"Mrs. Maria, I_"
"He didn't come to meet me," she interrupted me. "Um I'd felt his presence in my room six months back...but he didn't appear in front of me. Why? Would you ask him that?"
"But_"
"Call me back when he answers you, okay?" She was on the verge of ending the call. "By the way...he loved you very much; he proved to you that, didn't he?"
I hummed in genuine agreement. Mrs. Maria was right. Rick had proved his love to me by appearing in front of me after his death. But would he appear again for his mother? Why had not he met her? It was quiet odd.
"Mrs. Maria, I_"
"I'll be waiting for your call, dear. Bye!" And she put down the call.
Now what? What shall I do?
***
M
y mind was blank after my conversation with Mrs. Maria -- it was like gone numb. My head was aching.
When I told it to granny, she suggested me to spend some time alone, so that I could think with some sanity; and hence I was here on the beach, staring at rolling waves.
Rolling a pen between my fingers, I heaved0 a long breath and looked down at my book -- it was blank, just like my mind.
How shall I call Rick? Was the only question which was still unanswered. Blinking at the diminishing sun, I closed my eyes and whispered: "Rick." It was call from my heart, which carried helplessness and begging for help. It was a too genuine attempt. Nothing was mixed in it. It was only for Mrs. Maria...and to some extent for me.
All thoughts to call Rick accumulated in middle of my heart. Something wiggled in my body, creating the waves of something soft and serene. Pressing my lips together, I let it come to me and then I heard soft voice -- very soft.
"Don't open your eyes, Abigail." It was Rick's voice. I could see his gorgeous face. It was faint, but still my heart could clearly picture it.
"Rick_"
"I know you have so many questions for me," he spoke further, and I preferred silence. "But I'm sorry, I don't have much time. I am here to tell you only three things, Abigail."
"What are they?" Question smoothly came out of my mouth.
"First, I didn't visit my mother, because I didn't want to see her hurt. Her pleadings to stay would have not allowed me to go. It would have been hard for both of us, Abigail."
I agreed, understanding Rick's part.
"When you call her, tell her I'm with her, forever."
I nodded.
"Second, thanks for giving me justice; and sorry for your loss."
"Please, don't!"
"I must say, Abigail, that you are too brave to take such a strong decision. It's really appreciable."
I just smiled and then asked : "And what's third?"
Strong silence wiped between us. Clearing the fog of thick silence, he finally said: "I love you."
"I love you, too."
I didn't know whether he heard my words, or not; but one thing was clear that our hearts were connected. He was in my heart to not leave me, but to stay with me to help me fight against the odds.
I opened my eyes and smiled. It wasn't just a smile, it was relief; it was feeling of an extreme exaltation. I had got my all answers, and they were all within me.
Rick was in my heart and so did his feelings. I hardly knew him, but his genuine love for me had made a special place in my heart and life. His presence in my heart to uplift me from my past. He was there with me to push me forward. Physically he would not there with me, though he would be there in me with my heartbeats.
Same goes with my mother. Her thoughts and voice would always remain in my heart to guide me wherever I go.
Both, mother and Rick, was there in my heart to rub all darkness from my past. And hence I'd to hold their hands in mine.
Smiling to myself, I picked my pen and wrote on my journal:
There is nothing in this world as last wish. Our wishes are unstoppable and immortal. They stays with us when we are alive, and when we die they stays in the heart of the people we love. No-one dies in this world emotionally and mentally. Voice and thoughts can't die, and hence the last wishes doesn't exist.
Rick's wish wasn't the last one. It was his previous wish, which he accomplished after his death. Now, I had to look inside me to find my mother's wish; and had to tell Mrs. Maria that Rick was in him. Tasks were difficult, but not impossible.
To walk forward, I took decision to never look back. Time had come to stay comfortable with my new life, which I'd created.
THE END
Hey guys, so this was the last chapter of this story. Do share your views through comments. :)
