To Infinity and Beyond

Too good to be true

Mark's POV

Meeting Alice was a refreshing experience. I had been far engrossed in tackling life's trick balls; I almost forgot what heartfelt conversations, meeting new people and unwinding in nature's ensembles meant.

This morning when I woke up, I felt optimistic. The shadows of the past failed to weigh me down today, and for the first time in months, I looked forward to my day.

"Dad, coming Tuesday, it's Mother's Day. Miss Studley said there would be a flameless cooking competition for all students and their mothers. I wanted to take part too." Mia stuttered nervously.

Mia had been unexpectedly quiet since morning. She was sulking over something, and even when I asked her repeated times, she refused to tell me. Now when she finally got it out, I understood the worries that were overwhelming her fragile heart.

I immediately decided to treat this as an absolutely normal situation, and replied rather enthusiastically,  "Wow Bunny, that's great. What are we going to cook? Any ideas?"

"No Dada, I cannot participate. It's for students and mothers. And I don't have one."

Mia choked on her words and gave me a repulsive look. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she was almost at the brink of crying. I immediately pulled the car over and parked abruptly at the side of the road before turning to her.

I cupped her face in both my hands, forcing her to look up, "Bunny, who says you don't have a mother. You have me. I am your dad, your mom, your best friend. Isn't it?" She shook her head as a stream of tears left the corner of her green eyes and traced down her chubby cheeks.

"I will speak to Miss Studley after dropping you at school. Bunny and Dad will participate and make a great team. Don't worry sweetheart. I am always there for you." I gave her a tight squeeze after wiping her tears off using the back of my hand.

Her sobs felt like a bitter sting, and no matter how hard I tried, she always felt a void.

All I wished was to somehow take her pain away.

After dropping Mia at school, I drove to my office. Suddenly, I felt my phone ringing. It was Rose.

"Hi, LoverBoy. How was your date last night?"

"Hey, Rose." I heaved a deep sigh.

"What happened Mark? You sound low. Was Alice that bad? Did she not turn up?" Her voice lost all it's spark, and she suddenly became serious.

"No. Alice was great. It's just Mia... she was very sad today."

"Why? What happened?"

I let out another sigh, before I summoned the strength to reply, "Coming Tuesday, it's Mother's Day, and her school is organising some fun event planned for students and mothers."

The moment I explained her the situation, a lingering silence followed our conversation. After some time, she finally muttered, "Ohh, she must be missing Avery."

"Of course, what else do you expect Rose? She will always miss Avery, no matter what I do." My pitch took a gradual ascend. I felt a tight knot in the pit of my stomach.

No matter how much I run away or how much I deem our lives as normal and perfect;
This was the harsh reality. This was the truth of our existence. This hole was irreplaceable, and it was going to haunt the both of us, for the rest of our lives.

"That's why I want you to find a partner, Mark. That's why I am always after you. You deserve love, and Mia deserves a mother." Rose snapped in retort. She and Casper were the closest to understand the agony that destiny had imposed on us, and I knew of her intents, even though she never explicitly said it before. Not until now.