An Act Of Kindness

XI

Alice:

I stood at my door, looking at the unfamiliar guy standing before me.

The flowers and card in his hands peaked my interest but his face showed sadness.

"How can you not notice that it's me?" he asked, looking directly into my eyes.

I tried to survey his face but there wasn't anything which rang with recognition.

He sighed when I didn't reply and placed the flowers and card into my hands.

"Well these are for you."

His voice was so soft that I almost didn't hear him.

He turned around and walked away with his head hung low.

I felt a pang of sympathy in my heart as I looked at him walking away.

Did I really know him like he claimed I did?

When he was almost at the end of the walkway, he turned around and raised a hand to his head.

He pulled his hair back to make it look almost as if he was bald.

Bald

Instantly, I felt myself remembering the day that I had seen Leo without his hat.

But how could it be?

How could he have survived?

Before I could stop myself, I felt my legs carry me to him.

I hugged him tightly when I was close enough.

And I felt him hug me back tightly.

"You remembered," I heard him say.

"I'm so sorry Leo. You just looked so different."

I couldn't help the few stray tears which escaped my eyes.

"Don't cry Alice."

I smiled as he wiped the tears away for me.

"Thanks."

He shook his head as his smile widened.

"I should be thanking you; for all you've done for me."

Not long after, he left and I walked into my room with the flowers and card still in my hand.

I placed the colourful flowers on my desk and settled on my bed to read the card:

I was just a boy

Laying on his death bed.

With no one to look forward to seeing in the morning

But then you came on that fateful day

And you changed my world for the better

You gave me a reason to wake up

And a reason to keep fighting.

You don't know this,

But I saw you crying when I was in coma

And it broke my heart.

Seeing you like that,

Was what helped me to get through this.

Thank you Alice,

For coming to see me every day,

For smiling at me when no one did,

For caring for me,

Even though I was a stranger,

When no one did.

But most of all,

Thank you

For being my friend,

When no one did.

-Leo