LOST LOVE: A SHORT STORY

By Eniola Fase

  "Hey, Williams! Just waking up?" Mr. Patterson, the old blacksmith, shouted from his shop as I walked out of my cabin.

"Good morning to you too, Mr. Patterson," I answered sarcastically, walking towards him.

"Doing fine?" He asked with a faint smile, and I understood what he meant. Of course! I wasn't doing fine, but I was fed up with everyone's pity, especially Mr. Patterson's. I gave him a slight nod, returning his smile with a fainter one.

"Hey! Thief!" I turned to Mrs. Smith, who yelled after a boy of about twelve years who had her bread in his hand. Must kids always steal from her? Shaking my head, I turned around to walk away when I saw her.

      My heartbeat stopped briefly as I stared at my love, my wife. I watched as she walked to Mary, the florist, and stopped next to Mary's shop, a broad smileplastered on her face. Her blue dress hugged her body, revealing her perfect curves. Her long, natural brown hair flowed down her shoulders like a river of honey, and her favorite sky-blue bag was held close to her side. I smiled as I watched her bend to pick up a red rose and bring it to her nose. Thanks to her, we had a garden filled with red and white roses in our backyard.

"Ana." I took a few steps toward her as her beautiful name rolled out of my tongue. Ana gently turned her head to me, tucking her brown hair into her ear. My stomach twisted at the sight of her beautiful blue eyes. She smiled broadly at my sight, her deep dimples revealing themselves. "My Ana." I breathed out. The beautiful smile on Ana's face was immediately replaced with a frown, and before I could utter any word or take any step toward her, she turned around and ran through the crowd behind her.

"Ana!" I shouted her name as I ran, searching for her inthe crowd, but she was nowhere to be found. "Ana!"

"Williams!" I heard Mr. Patterson's voice, but I ignored him, still busy searching for my wife, whom I couldn't see any trace of. "Williams!" A hand grabbed me by my arm, and I turned around to face Mr. Patterson.

"Ana. I swear, I saw her right now." I said, a small smile on my face. Mr. Patterson returned my smile with a worried look.

"Williams, listen to me." He said.

"I am sorry, Mr. Patterson. I have to look for her. She..."

"Is dead!" Mr. Patterson snapped.

"No. What do you mean by "she's dead?" I laughed bitterly. "I saw her..."

"Get your shit together, Williams. Ana is gone forever. She died last week in the fire." I stared at him as the memory flashed back to me. The night my house caught fire, burning my precious wife to ashes. Nodding my head, I cried bitterly in Mr. Patterson's arms.