Promise
Author: IMUHPINAY
Summary: a promise never kept…
It was a gray and sullen morning. No one would exactly be outside at a day like this. The sun was trying to find its way from behind the clouds but it fails. So there was no sunshine on the hillside today.
Lea stood on that murky hillside, trying to admire the day even if there was nothing to admire. She stared past the skies her mind, lost in memories. If only she can see Harry one more time, to talk to him. To tell him how much she loved him. But that chance seems to be so far away. She won’t rest until she was forgiven.
“Oh, Harry…” she whimpered, the tears brimming her eyes. She inhaled deeply, closed her eyes, and slowly let it out. There was no point in crying. No, she wasn’t going to cry. She already wasted so many tears over the same memory. That one stormy night…
“Lea,” a familiar voice said from behind her. She turned and her heart skipped a beat. There he was. Harry stood right beside her. She smiles and looks up towards the sky, Thank You! She stared at him once more. God, he was handsome. Perfect. Then she noticed the tears slowly forming in his eyes.
“No…please don’t cry.” Lea began but he kept on crying anyway.
“Lea, do you remember that night?” he said, his voice trembling. He cleared his throat and went on, his eyes looking forward, never meeting hers. “That night where you promised…”
“Yes…” Lea’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“You never did keep your promise,” he said in a guttural voice, trying to prevent himself from crying. “I was so angry first. I was angry, confused, and sad all at the same time. Why did you do this to me?”
“Harry, please, you have every right to be angry but—“she was about to respond but he continued on, cutting her off.
“But then I realized how stupid I was. You were always a kindhearted person, always willing to sacrifice yourself to make others happy. You did a good thing…and here I am being mad about that promise…”
“I’m so sorry…no, you were right, I should’ve listened to you…”
“It’s just so hard for me right now…it’s so unfair…” Harry said, wiping away a tear on his cheek. How she wanted to hold him in her arms but that might not have been the best thing to do.
“But I’m here now to say I’m sorry. And that I understand now. I hope you can forgive me…” he sighed. Lea smiled despite the tears that were falling. For the first time, she saw him smile as well. And what a coincidence, the sun has finally decided to appear, bringing back that much needed sunlight on the hillside…for the whole world.
“I didn’t get a chance to say how much I love you, Lea. So here I go…” Harry said in a quiet voice. “I still love you, Lea, no matter what happens. I always will.” Then he placed the bouquet of flowers on top of a plaque on the ground, it read:
Lea Harmony Nichols Mercado
May 6, 1979 – August 17, 2006
Daughter. Sister. Best Friend. Wife.
“That’s all I needed to hear,” Lea said as she looked down at her own gravestone. Now, she can finally rest in peace. So she walked down the hillside towards the horizon, the brightness of the sun lighting her path towards her home…
“Harry, I’ve got to go. They need my help, the shelter is flooding and the team needs help getting the children out.” Lea said for the last time, she was getting exasperated as she was looking for the keys to her car.
“It’s storming outside!” Harry argued.
“One reason why I have to help! The-Shelter-Is-Flooding,” she emphasized, giving him a glare.
“Alright, alright, fine. Go!” he said, turning his back from her and staring at the dark stormy night outside the window. He couldn’t help but worry. Lea sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.
“I’ll be fine,” she whispered in his ear. He turned and kissed her gently on the lips.
“Promise me that you’ll come home?”
“Psh! Don’t worry!” she laughed then stopped and said exasperatingly, “I promise!” He smiled his approval and she gave him a hasty goodbye. Before he could even respond, she was already out the door going into her car.
It has been five hours since Lea’s departure. It couldn’t possibly take that long! The shelter wasn’t even that big. But he didn’t worry about it, knowing Lea can always take care of herself. Maybe she slept over at a friend’s house knowing it would be hard to drive back home since the weather was getting worse. Harry sighed and slept over it.
The next morning, loud knocking was heard from the door. The storm finally cleared up. Harry grumbled out of bed and shuffled his way towards the door.
“Who is it?” he said through a big yawn.
“Sir, this is the police,” a woman’s voice said from behind the door. Harry was awake by then. He slowly opened the door only to be greeted by two solemn looking officers.
“Hello, um, are you Mister Mercado?” the woman officer said.
“Yes, yes, I am…” Harry ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, “Am I in trouble?”
“No, no, sir…we just wanted to know if your wife was Lea Mercado.” the male officer said.
“Yes, she is. Is she alright?” Harry’s heart was pounding against his chest.
“Sir, I think you should come with us…”
“Alright, Let me grab my coat.” Harry went back inside, grab his wallet, keys, and put on his shoes. Still dressed in his pajamas, he was led towards the police car. They drove off and about five minutes later, he found himself on the highway. There was an area that was blocked by yellow tape and as soon as he got out, his heart sank. Officer Silveo, saw him grow pale, and gave him an encouraging push. She led him towards the scene and there he saw Lea’s car all smashed against a tree. She led him towards the ambulance and a medic appeared. There on the ambulance stretcher was a body bag, the medic unzipped it and Harry heart sank even lower and everything seemed to have stopped. There lay Lea, her pale face all covered with bloody scratches. Officer Silveo approached the distraught husband and gently put a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Mercado, you’re wife is gone…”
You’re wife is gone…you’re wife is gone…echoed in his mind…She’s gone…she’s gone…He stood there along with sixty other relatives and guests at Serene Haven Cemetery. They were a dreary looking bunch all huddled under black umbrellas surrounding Lea’s coffin. Harry couldn’t here what the priest was saying, but all he can register in his mind was that he was burying his wife today. Slowly the coffin was lowered into the ground till it was out of sight. Harry saw the men covering the hole with dirt and once every inch was covered, his mind shut down.
She’s gone…forever.
The End
hahaha hope you guys liked it! i know, i know, another sad story but i couldn't help myself...my fingers wouldn't stop typing!! okay, okay....NEXT I PROMISE! i will write a HAPPY story, NEXT TIME!
