Zara’s Dream
1
Zelda eyed the man on the doorstep.
“Yes, can I help you?”
“My name is Elijah Duncan. Is Zara home?”
She looked him up and down and couldn’t remember if he was among the throngs of people who had been coming and going for two weeks. They had finally tapered down to one or two over the last three days and she had been hoping for a day of peace and quiet.
“Are you a friend or one of his family members?” she asked.
“A friend.”
“Hold on.”
She shut the door and locked it and left him out there. Her sister was in her bedroom, sitting in the large overstuffed chair, staring out at the back yard.
“Zara, there’s a guy named Elijah at the door.” She waited for Zara to turn around but she didn’t. “Do you want me let him in? You feel like talking?”
“He can come.”
Zelda waited a moment longer for her sister to turn around, make eye contact, do something. She had been sitting in that chair just staring into space for hours. Zelda didn’t know what to do for her anymore. It hurt to watch her.
Zelda opened the door and stood back to let him in.
“She’s in her bedroom.” She looked at the shopping bag in his hand. “She said you can go back there and see her.” Zelda reached for the bag. “I can take that.”
“No, thank you. It’s for her.”
“I’m sure it is, but--” she locked the door and turned around to him, “just the same…”
He held the bag close to his leg. “I’d like to give it to her myself if I may.”
Zelda’s eyes narrowed as her nostrils flared, but she led him down the hall to their room -- it was still their room -- and stood aside to let him pass. She watched him from the doorway.
He put the bag down beside the dresser and laid his jacket on top of it.
He knelt beside her, touched her cheek. “Zara.”
She sniffed and turned to him. “Hi.”
“I found out when the obit came through, but I wanted to wait until the time was appropriate.”
“I got your flowers,” she whispered. “Thank you.” Zara took a deep breath and tried not to cry but the tears came anyway. He picked her up out of the chair and sat back down with her as she pressed her face in his shirt.
“I’m lost!” she sobbed. “I’m so lost!”
“No, baby.” He put one hand in her hair and pressed her close. “You’re not. I’m still here. I’m still with you.”
Zelda watched them a moment longer before she pulled the door shut against her sister’s grief. She wiped her cheeks on the way to the kitchen. It was two hours before he stood in the doorway again.
“If either one of you needs me for anything,” he handed her a business card. “And I do mean anything. Don’t hesitate to call me.”
Zelda watched him walk to his car before she shut the door.
She got in bed with her sister and watched her sleep. Zara had on a new fluffy white bathrobe and a thirsty white towel wrapped around her head. She looked warm and smelled like sweet lemons. Zelda kissed her nose like she used to when they were kids and shared the same room.
