Back to Where I Started
Cali enjoyed going down the bridge. She felt harmonious with nature as the world bragged in colors and designs. Wind flew through the trees as they shook each hand as if making a deal, “I will stand with you.” The waves slid across an infinity of sand. Already, she could see the teenagers building a bonfire and laughing, dancing right before the coming sunset.
Soon, so soon…
Cali remembered when she was a youth. The world seemed to have been a xanada in the past, touching her for a moment. She recalled her friends spitting cheap red wine into the fire, creating vibrant flames, knocking each other over and running in the sand to the ocean that sparkled in front of them, be it day or night. Even the clouds couldn’t cease their joy.
She felt unsturdy and grabbed a rail, pulling herself up. Her mind went blank. Under the sun, she saw her white skin, the kind that cannot be absorbed. It beat her in a way, and the tears chilled her brown eyes. She sat down.
“Oh, how I wish I could be free and not just a body waiting until the end. I’ll go where I began. Grab the time, my dear Lord.” She felt better when she sang. She picked herself up and looked at the kids again. The deep red colors of the sunset told her what she didn’t want to know but knew.
As soon as she reached her car, she saw the keys and her phone on her seat. She cursed and turned around. Unfortunately, the Pop That Lock people are not open until seven the next day, “Leave a message.’
“Do you live around here?” The woman in a white car asked. Her skirt dripped with cheese and sauce.
“Yeah, thanks, down on Robert Street. I’m sorry, but I am very grateful. Old women like me shouldn’t drive alone. We bring disaster everywhere really.” Cali let out a sigh. She knew her husband would scold her the moment she came in, the damn dog would betray her.
Damn dog.
Cali loved her husband, and he loved her. They bickered in their old age in a playful way. Both were old bones waiting to die in the company of Old Arthur. She croaked and let out a moan as she got out of the car and walked into her small apartment. Sure enough, Willis barked and barked and barked, not caring about her prostration.
“You just like getting me in trouble, don’t you?” She patted his head, and his drooling mouth and tongue slipped out. Old mutt. In a weird way, she loved him. When Alan brought him into the house, they’d fought.
“I don’t want a hound dog.”
“I do.”
“Well, one of us is going to be right. Gotta dig stuff up on each other for
the judge.”
“I’ve got plenty of dirt on you, buddy,” Cali said. “I know where you live.”
They both chuckled and hugged the whining dog. A feeling of tranquility rippled between them as it did during their marriage. Unlike other couples, they stayed together by the grace of true love.
Alan jumped up, frightened.
“You scare me, woman. And where’s dinner deeeeeeearrr?”
“Cali,” he questioned. “You don’t look so good.”
“I’m in my prime!” She replied but began to vomit. Willis ran up to her, trying
to help her. She coughed heavily.
“You’re so intransigent,” he said.
“You’re using big words now?” She smiled with a light green ooze out of her mouth. “You’re always trying to sound smarter than me.” She coughed again.
Alan picked her up. Cali felt her bones under her clothing and Alan’s still strong arms cradled her. They’d married in HS, Cali pregnant with his daughter, an oops that turned out true enough to be good, no, wonderful...
Once they were in the bedroom, Alan slowly undressed her, put a robe on, and tucked her in with her favorite blanket. The vomit and her face were angelic as always. Her brown eyes shut.
“You know, I’d like to make a bonfire, dear,” Cali said. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “We could dance and spit our finests wine we keep for that “someone” who never comes, so we wouldn’t be embarrassed.”
The moment passed between the two.
Alan thought for a minute. He went into the living room and lit a log in the fireplace. He knew the summer’s heat would come into them both, a fanatic fever forever.
Alan put Cali in her wheelchair and they danced, and they sang.
“The wine,” Cali whispered. He got it out of the small kitchen.
“Ah, yes, for that someone. You go first. I’ll hold you.”
“Blues and purples responded as she spit. She giggled like a school girl and grasped Alan’s hand.
“It’s time,” she said.
“What?”
“To go back to where I started.” Alan began to cry, and he peacefully placed her rigid body back into the soft bed, where he cradled her for the last time.
