One Last Time

Chapter 17 | Twilight Zone

Reed wanted to keep his promise of working at the library. He also thought it might help him bring back what he lost if he relives the past months. His only connection is the library. And, apparently me. I'm clearing out and backing up data from the computers in the first floor while Reed's returning a trolly of books on the second.

Reed and I finished our tasks after we got lunch together. I told him the same things like the first we had our talk and he did as well. We decided to continue our talk at the library. While Reed went to get some water, I stopped by a corner that's been abandoned by a certain someone. I brush the table until it reached the edge where the chair's rested at. The small dust on my fingertips causes my heart to clench. I sit down on the once warm seat that's been used to support a hardworking writer, whose left without knowing he did. Suddenly, Reed grabbed a chair and sat across from me, "You haven't said much about yourself during lunch. Is there anything you're not telling me?"

"What makes you say that?"

Reed replied, "Well you see, I was searching through my apartment if there's anything that could help me recall any events that happened these past months staying here. Surprisingly, I found a photo of you and myself on a rowboat with the same background of a lake I passed by while driving my way in town. Care to explain?"

I tried not to gasp, surprised that he kept those photos in the first place. He never even told me he printed them. I wonder through my mind for a bit, "We met in June then hung out to get acquainted, we got close, and eventually became friends." Reed ponders for a moment. I interrupted him before he could say anything else, "Well, what do you remember?"

Reed furrows his eyebrows, "I remember working in California. I was supposed to come to Massachusetts later than planned, but my ex found out I moved to New Jersey which made me push up the date. I honestly chose to stay at Thornridge because I like how it's quiet and peaceful. Based on the dates it's been three months since then. Right now, I live in an apartment not far from this library. This is hard for me to admit but I'm experiencing writer's block for the first time in my career." He scratches the back of his neck shyly from his confession. A confession of things I already knew.

My eyes scan his face if he can pinpoint any moment we had together. My voice wavered, "I should introduce myself properly. I'm Maya Salvator. My best friend's Ronnie Val Dayes and I'm a librarian. My parents passed away when I was sixteen. My mom from a store robbery and dad after a stroke. I graduated with a Master's Degree in Counseling but later decided to work in The Salvator Library, a gift from my dad." I chose to retell a summery of everything I confessed to him from our dates, hoping it might trigger a something. There's nothing to lose now. This time, I want him to remember even if it will hurt me in the end. It might be too late for me, but at least I'm not backing down without trying.

No words have been exchanged after my outburst. Just when I almost lost all hope Reed stood up and head to the reception desk. I heaved out a heavy breath. I bend forward in my seat rubbing my face in stress. Then, a recognizable song blasts through the halls. I raised my head as quick as the sudden outburst of music. Reed shamelessly raised a fist in the air and posed as a diva. In all seriousness, he lip-syncs to the lyrics. A lump forms in my throat, nails digging into my palm as I held in the brimming tears. My shaky breath drowns away with the music. I covered my face pretending that Reed's dancing is embarrassing to watch. "I don't think you're doing it right!" I managed to say.

I need a man who'll take a chance

On a love that burns hot enough to last

Reed shakes his head in denial then struts to me with his pointer finger gesturing to join him. He knelt down holding my hand, leaning his head back while dramatically voicing the next lines of the song. Soon, he brings me with him to the center of the library.

So when the night falls

My lonely heart calls

Reed twirls me around, pulls me into his chest, then back out. We swayed our body with the rhythm and jumped with our hands up in the air making motions. I followed all of Reed's moves, snickering at how ridiculous he looks. He takes a hold of my arms and we dance in circles, bumping hips with Reed. My heart flutters over the sound of his melodious laughter.

Somebody oo Somebody oo

To hold me in his arms oh

We bopped our heads and took pleasure dancing through the end of the song. The empty library gave us enough reassurance to goof around as much as we like. Reed leads me in doing a few of 80's dance moves, and I lead him of what I know as well. We jokingly made fun of each other when we tripped with our tangled feet here and there, shaking too much from cackling.

Oh, I wanna dance with somebody

I wanna feel the heat with somebody

Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody

With somebody who loves me

I closed my eyes, head tilted up with my arms swinging side to side above my head. I enjoyed the blissful moment then Reed takes my hands and pulls me to him. I laughed loudly at Reed's attempt to dip and swing me. He raised me back up, "I told you I'm a good dancer." My mouth gaped at his grin. I don't know what's real and what isn't anymore. It's like I'm the one reliving my memories.

"What made you do that anyway?"

"I don't know.. Somehow in the back of my mind, there's a voice saying, "Dance with her!" and the urge came along with it. You had this look on your face which only gave me the determination and confidence to do it. It's kinda funny, though, how I suddenly commented about my dancing skills. For some reason, it felt like the most natural thing to say at that moment." What he said took some time to sink in. We gazed at each other for a long time.

Hope.

That's what I felt at that very second. There was a beam of light telling me I still have a chance. When I made the efforts for Liam to recollect what we had, he gave no sign of remembering them. There were no triggers, no familiarity, and no attempts for him wanting his past memories back. The love we had never rekindled. But with Reed, he was able to piece together the fragments of his life with me. And, he did it all on his own, all from his own will. He was the one making the effort.

The atmosphere between us becomes intimate. Something we both didn't expect. Reed glances from my eyes, to nose, then my lips. I caught visibly gulping, licking his own lips before going back to my eyes. Neither of us noticed how our faces were both leaning in. As our noses were closed to barely brushing, a voice broke our spell bringing us back to reality.

"Reed?"

We instantly pulled apart and snapped our necks to the person at the entrance.

Reed became rigid in his spot, "Carter?"