Third Annual Wild Violet Writing Contest Winners (2005)
Fiction
— Second Place
The
Last Message
By Heidi Bolton
(continued)
He knew what it was like to be lonely. Not only had his wife been dead
a year, but for most of the year leading up to her death he had been away
from her for work. They had spent their relationship keeping in contact
mainly via text. He would never forget the day, a few weeks after he had
left, that she had texted him that she was pregnant. He had cried with
joy, and then cried with sadness when he realized he wouldn't be around
for any of the pregnancy and probably miss the birth, as well. They had
agreed that she would have to send him daily updates on the pregnancy,
and that was their main form of communication. That is why one of her
wishes was for him to always text Jasmine's news to her, just like she
did for him. It was their link to each other.
A
tear rolled down Alyssa's cheek. "I looked forward to those daily
texts so much, I couldn't bear to tell you the truth,
because I knew you would stop. I liked to pretend that Jasmine was my
daughter."
Craig
raised his eyebrows. It was certainly a strange admission. But this sad
woman in front of him tugged on his heart strings. He somehow already
felt attached to her. Perhaps because he knew that she had been reading
his texts meant for his wife, so she knew him intimately already. Perhaps
it was her wide innocent eyes. He wasn't sure.
"So
what made you finally decide to tell me that you were receiving the messages?"
Craig asked. He somehow knew her answer would lead him to find out what
his wife was up to in her last days on earth. It was so like her, to be
battling cancer, but still plotting a plan of some sort.
"You
said her name." Alyssa said this so quietly that Craig had to lean
forward.
"I
said what?" he asked.
Alyssa
sighed again "You said your wife's name, Lara. Until then, you had
never said her name, only yours and Jasmine's. But the other night, you
said 'I miss you so much, but things are finally getting easier. I didn't
cry today for the first time, but I will always love you Lara.'"
Craig
sat back suddenly. It shook him to hear his words come from this lady's
mouth. Especially those words, ones he felt both guilty and happy about
at the same time.
He shook his head as if to clear it. "And what does that have to
do with it? You finally figured out that they weren't for you?" His
voice was sharp, and Alyssa winced. He didn't mean to be like that, but
he felt strange with her reciting his messages to him.
"I
knew they weren't for me. But I thought you were a stranger the whole
time. When you said her name, I realized that it is possible that you
could be…" Alyssa's voice trailed off but she stared hard at
him. "You could be Craig Darling."
Craig
was silent. He studied the woman in front of him for a long time, trying
to place her pretty face. Was she someone he had known in college? Was
she someone who had known his wife? Even though she felt familiar to him,
he was sure he had never met her.
"And
if I am, how does that link us?"
Alyssa
closed her eyes tight and a small smile passed her lips. She took a deep
breath and looked down fondly at Jasmine, who was playing with Alyssa's
long hair. Then she looked up at Craig and stared hard at him.
"I
gave birth to your daughter." She breathed, barely audible above
the morning rush.
Craig's
head snapped up as he scowled at her. This bitch was just some prankster,
trying to get his money or something. But as he was about to yell at her,
the words died in his throat. Her long blonde hair, her big blue eyes.
The slight dimple on her left cheek.
He
had always commented that his daughter had never looked like either him
or his wife, that she was a throwback from another generation, with her
big blue eyes and soft blonde hair. Both he and his wife were dark-haired
with dark eyes. Was it possible this woman was telling the truth? Was
it possible that the connection between this stranger and his daughter
was why she felt so damn familiar?
Feeling
sick, Craig pushed his cup away and stood up. "This is sick. You
are preying on a man who has lost his wife, a vulnerable man." Shaking
with anger and hurt, Craig picked up his daughter and stalked from the
café.
It
had started to rain slightly outside. Craig was glad as he walked quickly
down to the water's edge. The rain covered the tears sliding down his
face. Stopping in front of the grey sea, Craig took a deep breath and
tried to calm himself. Jasmine had started to cry with all the commotion,
and he tried to comfort her.
Craig
heard a soft voice behind him. "I am not a rich woman, so I can understand
why you think I am here for the money. But I promise you, I am not. I
just want to explain. I think Lara wanted this."
