COULDN’T FALL IN LOVE
Ladies, come on now, which one of you is Lily? the woman asked with a playful glint in her eye, surveying me and my friend.
Im Lily. Why? I replied, puzzled.
Here, Lily. A letter for you, from William, she pulled a creased envelope from her jacket pocket and handed it to me.
From William? Why couldnt he bring it himself? I asked, surprised.
Hes been moved to the adult care home. He waited for you, Lily, like a ray of hope. He looked for you every day. Gave me this letter so I could check it for mistakesdidnt want to embarrass himself before you. Anyway, I must dash, lunch is soon. I work here as a carer, she looked at me with soft reproach, sighed, and hurried away.
Some months back, during a ramble with my friend Sara, our wandering feet took us onto the grounds of an unfamiliar institution. Sixteen, hearts buoyant with the promise of summer and the hunt for excitement.
Sara and I settled on a welcoming bench, laughing and gossiping, oblivious to the world. Thats when two boys drifted over.
Hello, girls! Feeling a bit bored? Fancy a chat? One offered his hand.Im William.
Im Lily. Thats my friend Sara. And your quiet mate? Whats his name? I asked.
Leonard, the second boy said softly.
They struck us as slightly old-fashioned, a bit too proper. William, all businesslike, frowned and said,
Girls, why do you wear such short skirts? And Saras neckline is rather daring.
Oh, boys, dont stare where you oughtnt! Otherwise your eyes might wander off, never to return, Sara and I giggled.
Its hard not to look. We are men, after all. Do you smoke, too? William pressed, still in his prim way.
Of course, but only socially, we joked.
At last, Sara and I noticed something was off with the lads legs.
William shuffled slowly; Leonard noticeably limped on one side.
Are you here for treatment? I guessed.
Yes. I had a crash on my motorbike. Leonard misjudged a jump off the rocks into water, William replied, words practisedalmost rehearsed.They say well be discharged soon.
We believed their stories. Never imagined William and Leonard were childhood patients, destined to spend years within the care homes walls. To them, we were a breath of freedom.
They lived and learned behind closed doors. Each one spun their own talea crash, a fall, a fight gone wrongto mask their reality.
William and Leonard turned out to be interesting, wise beyond their age, and full of stories.
Sara and I started dropping in each week. Partly out of pitybut more because their company taught us new things.
Regular visits soon became a habit.
William took to picking flowers for me from nearby beds, Leonard always brought an origami creature hed made, passing it shyly to Sara.
Wed sit together: William at my side, Leonard with his back slightly turned, eyes only for Sara. She would blush and squirm, but it was obviousshe enjoyed Leonards gentle adoration. The four of us chatted away our afternoonsendlessly, aimlessly, joyfully.
Summer melted away in golden warmth.
Then came the drizzly autumn. The holiday over, final school year ahead. We all but forgot about William and Leonard, our accidental friends.
Exams, last bells, the farewell party. The summer beckoned againa season of new hopes.
Sara and I found ourselves once more outside the care home, keen to see our old companions. We sat on the familiar bench, waiting for William and Leonardfresh flowers, clever little origami, and perhaps shy smiles in tow. Two hours passedno sign.
Suddenly, a staff member darted out and handed over that letter from William. I tore the envelope open:
My dearest Lily! You are my fragrant bloom! My unreachable star! Perhaps you never realised how deeply I fell for you at first glance. Our meetings were my lifeline, my breath. For half a year I watched the window in vain, hoping for you. You forgot me. Such a shame. Our paths must diverge. Yet I thank you for showing me true love. I remember your velvet voice, your enchanting smile, your soft hands. Life feels so empty without you, dear Lily! If only I could see you one last time! Im suffocating…
Now Leonard and I are eighteen. Well be moved to a new home in springunlikely our paths will cross again. My soul is torn apart! I hope the pain of loving you passes in time.
Farewell, my one and only.
Ever yours, William.
There was a pressed flower inside the envelope.
Shame flooded over me. My heart clenched at the thought that nothing could be changed. The old saying rattled through my mind: We are responsible for those we tame.
I never imagined the storm that raged inside William. I simply couldnt reciprocate his feelingsI felt no great passion for him. He was a fascinating friend and conversationalist; that was all. Yes, I flirted a little, teased him, maybe fanned the flames of his infatuation. I never thought my playful flirting could spark such a conflagration of emotion in him.
Years have flown since.
The letters grown yellow and the flower withered into dust, but I still recall those innocent get-togethers, the carefree chats, the fits of laughter at Williams jokes.
The story didnt end there. My friend Sara was moved by Leonards difficult life. His parents abandoned him because of his differencesone leg much shorter than the other. Sara went on to train as a special needs teacher and now works at the care home for childhood disabilities. Leonard is her beloved husband. They have two grown sons.
William, Leonard told us, lived a lonely life. When he turned forty, his mother finally visited, saw her neglected son, wept, and rekindled her long-lost love. She took him home to her village. After that, their trail was lost
Reflecting now, I realise how easily one can become the centre of someones world without meaning to. The lesson: be mindful of the hearts you touchnot everyone can walk away unscathed.
