RD

ath do

the sun, pulling down the large sunglasse

the City that was once like a home to me dissipates as I walk to

ith one date and we were already planning our future and checking

Remin

as I try to recall the face of the younger man before me. He appears to be in hi

r my dad died last month. He told me about you." His glance shifts towards the direction of Anna's gra

t I've taken the time to study him closely, he bears an uncanny resemblance to

n he nods slowly, repea

d, still gleams under the sun. I slide off my glasses and kneel on the grass, placing the bouquet of lilac and hibiscus I bo

's dropping the roses on Anna's grave. He dips his hand into a

d sharing a drink wit

gotten how hot it gets during the summer here and had picke

tell you t

with Dodd, the subtle tilt of his brows as he appea

used to talk about you a lot and was rea

eady to leave my side yet. Dodd was like this too. He'd hang around but still manage to keep a certa

t a smaller space, or buy one and stay amongst friends. I turned him down t

nd she was to enroll in a culinary school

ed glass towards me. I offer him

feel I've known you all my life. Dad

. I was wrong

is throat.

of emptying the glass. I must be either thirsty

need a min

tone and steps backward. "I'll be some

ms on the stone. It's been nineteen years but the pains of losing the only woma

hed right into her Camry. She had died that night. My chest heaves as a vivid

y lashes. She would have been 39 now and probably running her resta

st tear

the s

uction company in China. I was so excited and itching to celebrate. However, the second I stepped into the bar and ordered

until your feet start hurting, then head home and sit on our front porch while I massage your feet and kiss t

er my head with thoughts of my late wife. I've refused to come to terms with the fact t

r my face, hiding it from view. It's been Nineteen years. I doubt anyone would recognize me. Dodd alw

o send them away,

ght

pants of the car are. Teenagers. They're c

hey lost their coach

Perhaps it's time to leave and face the re

wn and kiss the stone. "I'll co

k. The wine is still there. I pick them

glad you came by

around this part of the world for a long period of time I was twenty-six

ou sta

tretches to pat his broad shou

oe

er gently. "It's nic

h thoughts of Ann

s a mi

hoice by selling the townhouse and moving into a condo. Dodd w

She's wiping her hands with a white towel

ome, Mr. R

rce

if I serve yo

her apron. Agatha. Fitting. She does look like an Agatha. Her curly blonde ha

the movers to take Anna's belongings to a private storage. I

then the housekeeper appears and reac

it,"

d me you didn't want her stuff lying around. I was

o my bedroom. I need to change and get the documents I need for the meeting. If I must stay here, I have to make sure

lk

o return his emails and phone calls for over ten years now. I just co

ha calls out from out

I'm not hungry. Don't bother with

said you have less than twenty minutes

ing to stay positive. Take each day as it comes and h

m I'm on