Page 100 of Last Letters to Ara
“Okay, Mr. Laugh-About-Canada, where wouldyougo?”
“Hmm. I would have to really think about it. Consider all options.”
I roll my eyes. “Just pick one for now.”
“Probably Japan.”
I groan and sort of...laugh? Igraugh. “Of course,you’d choose Japan.”
He nudges my shoulder, laughing. “And what isthatsupposed to mean?”
I giggle. “Nothing. Nothing!”
“What’s wrong with Japan!?”
“There isnothingwrong with Japan, it’s just unexpected. Most people would choose somewhere in Europe.”
“You chose Canada.”
“Touché.” I turn my head toward Theo. “I guess if I’m in Canada and you’re in Japan, we’d probably never meet?”
Theo turns his face toward mine, only a few inches away. “I would go to every continent. Every country. Every state. Every city. I would knock on every door to find you again.”
It’s so quiet, Theo can probably hear how hard my heart is pounding. “Would we recognize each other? In different bodies?”
Theo’s eyes bore into mine. “I think souls have a way of remembering each other. Even after death.”
I’ve never been a very spiritual person, but here in this moment, I know that I would recognize his soul anywhere. “I’ll be the one with the red flags, crippling anxiety, and giving my trauma an outlet with misplaced humor.”
Theo laughs. “I’ll check Canada first.”
I smile. “Sounds like a plan.”
Last Year - Theo
THE DRIVE WITHWilliam was quiet, yet comfortable. I’ve never met anyone like him. He never seems strained, but he’s not super talkative either. He looks at everything with a fond gleam in his eye as I wonder why it’s tinged with sadness.
“Where is Susan today?” By his familiar address, I assume that William comes here often.
“She took a day off, believe it or not,” the waitress says with a smile.
William returns it. “About time. I’ll have the waffles with a side of bacon and eggs.”
He looks to me and I follow suit. “I’ll have the same.”
The waitress leaves and I become very aware that I’m sitting in a diner with a man I hardly know and somehow, I’m already looking at him as if he could be my second father. Like I can already depend on him. William is the kind of person you meet for five minutes, and those five minutes just might change your whole fucking life.
“I apologize for the strange manner I’m addressing this with you, but unfortunately, I don’t have any other options at hand.” He brushes his brow, full of concern. “Please know that there is no obligation, you’re welcome to walk away anytime. I will just need to know now. My offer in regards to Phil will still stand either way.”
“Okay, well, I appreciate that. As I said, there isn’t much I wouldn’t want to help you with.”
William begins to look uncomfortable for the first time. “There isn’t an easy way to say this, but… I’m dying.” He laughs, humorlessly, and it comes out more like a sad rasp. “No matter how many times I say that out loud, it never gets easier.”
I should say something. I should respond. I shouldn’t remain silent, but that’s all I’m capable of. I’m supposed to be a master of words, yet here I sit, utterly wordless.
“It’s cancer. I won’t bore you with the details, but it’s not the type that I will survive.” The waitress walks up and sets our food down. He finds it in himself to grin and thank her, making sure she feels appreciated despite the dark cloud which has descended on our table.
A good man, even in the worst of times, that’s what William is.
