Nothing is permanent in this world. No one will stay with us forever. We may have plethora of companions, friends or lovers today. But we might be alone tomorrow. I am telling you. It’s definitely a different day.
Once there was this young man named Kevin. All his life, the only woman he felt he needed most except for her mother was Shane. They were of the same age. He met her at a friend’s birthday party decades ago.
Kevin couldn’t forget the first time he saw her. A typical playboy, he never expected to love truly at a very young age. Upon laying eyes on her, he promised to himself and to her not to look on other girls granted she’d allow him to court her. A promise he would be vowing to forever. A promise she would be holding on to for the rest of eternity.
Not long, they were in a relationship more complex than friendship, a more complicated commitment. Shane introduced Kevin to her parents. And Kevin made Shane meet his mother. Almost bimonthly, they visited Kevin’s father in the cemetery together. They also met each other’s friends.
One day, unexpectedly, Shane contracted an infectious malady. Everyone who had a close contact with her was quarantined. Kevin really wanted to come to her, to make her feel his presence, his love for her. The warmth. Everything. But what could he do? He was one of those isolated from the masses.
This sickness initially slowly consumed the lower part of Shane’s body. But weeks after, her brain and nervous system got affected too until this sickness devoured her body totally. Until she finally surrendered and left all her loved ones including her Kevin.
Kevin felt like a bird trapped in a cage. He desired to flee to accompany Shane in her dilemma, suffering. But he felt his wings were damaged, hindering him to fly. After Shane’s death, he was discharged from being secluded, including Shane’s parents and friends. He was very irate. He was bereft of his right to join the one he loved during her predicament and difficulty.
Shane’s parents immediately arranged her two-day funeral. It was short because they were ordered to do it like that. They invited everyone who was close to their daughter. Almost everybody showed up except for Kevin. Shane’s parents felt a sense of disappointment because of that. They never thought of hunting Kevin too. Instead, they just let him go.
Since the demise of Shane, Kevin was always seen alone, grieving over his loss, by the River of Eternal Tears. Decades had passed, Kevin never thought of courting another girl. His heart beat only once. His heart beat for a single girl.
He was old now. He was almost deaf. He was almost mute. But he made sure that his story would be passed on to at least a person. He told the whole story to his caretaker but never mentioned why he didn’t show up on Shane’s funeral.
One day, the caretaker saw Kevin’s dead body on his bedroom. He seemed sleeping soundlessly and peacefully. On top of him was a piece of paper. Some phrases were written almost illegibly. The words read:
“People were asking me why I never showed up again on Shane’s funeral. I just kept the answer to myself. Why should I really show up? Why should I go to Shane’s house? I NEVER SHOWED UP BECAUSE I KNEW THAT SHE WOULDN’T REALLY BE THERE.”
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