When I met Monica

I remember the day I met Monica. I had decided to take an evening stroll to clear my mind. Stepping onto the street, I was greeted by a cool breeze, it had just rained and that earthy smell after the rain was in the air. There were a few people in the street, the sun was setting and everything felt serene. This was exactly what I needed after the day I'd had.

As I walked down the street happily, I saw her walking up the street towards me, she wore a brown coat and a yellow scarf. I remember she wore a floral dress under her coat, her boots were covered in rainwater and she held an umbrella in one hand. I don't know what it was but I immediately felt drawn to her. When she was a few feet away from me, my mouth nearly fell open. She was so beautiful. It was the heart shape of her lips, the way her black lashes curled around her eyes that made me nearly step into a puddle of water.

"Watch out!" someone from across the street yelled at me. I stopped immediately.

She laughed, ever so gently and walked on.

"If you weren't so beautiful I would mind my step," I said after her.

That caught her attention, she turned and smiled. There was a playful innocence to her. "Thank you."

"I'm Chisha," I introduced myself, walking towards her.

"Monica," she said, smiling.

Her smile almost stopped my heart. "Are you from around here?" I asked.

"Yeah," she answered, "I live up the street."

"No way!" How had I never seen her before? "I live two houses up."

"Really," she said, "we're neighbours."

"Yes," I said, "are you heading home right now?"

"Yeah," she nodded. "I just got back from seeing my Grandma."

"Really," I took note. "You must be a family person."

"Kind of," she said, "my Grandma raised me most of my life, so I make an effort to see her as often as I can."

"That's nice," I said, "I've already learned something about you. Maybe we should continue this over lunch sometime?"

Monica raised an eyebrow. "Are you asking me out?"

I had to shoot my shot. I couldn't let her get away. "Definitely. You seem like a nice person."

She bit her bottom lip and twirled her fingers around her umbrella.

I could see a no coming my way. "How about I walk you home? If by the time we get to your house you think I'm a psychopath. Feel free to decline my offer."

"That sounds like a good idea," she said, "but don't you have somewhere to be? Weren't you heading somewhere?"

"I was just taking a stroll," I said, "I needed to clear my head. I had a rough day at work."

"Really," she said, "tell me about it as we walk."

She was game! Fireworks of triumph exploded inside me and that was the beginning of the best relationship I'd ever had.

Monica was the most amazing girl I had ever met, she was beautiful yet sweet. A very rare combination. She was smart too, she was a nurse but was studying to be a doctor. A beautiful doctor, can you imagine? The patients would get well just by looking at her. And I was head over heels for her. She was all I could think about, all the time. I hated hanging up the calls at night and looked forward to hearing from her in the morning. Any free time I had, I wanted to spend with her. She was absolutely mesmerizing.

As time went by, everyone I knew loved her too, my friends, family, colleagues...everyone. She had such a big heart, she had a way of making everyone feel comfortable in her presence. She was so loving, she gave herself completely to everyone without reservation. So I decided she was the one I was going to spend the rest of my life with. My kids would be so lucky to have a mum like her.

I asked one of my buddies to help me find a ring. It had to be beautiful just like she was. So we found a beautiful yellow diamond ring. Just looking at it blew me away.

But before I got a chance to ask my love to spend the rest of her life with me, she gave me devastating news. She had been found with severe stage four cancer; she only had months to live. Months!

Those few months killed me as I watched Monica's beauty fade away, she was so fragile and frail. But her love remained, everyone who visited her left feeling hopeful. It hurt me seeing her that way. I could see her life slipping away and nothing hurt more. The once fun and vibrant beauty, now laying in a hospitality bed needing to be helped. I never left her side. Not once.

"Chisha," she said to me one day, her voice was weak.

"Yes, darling," tears dangled in my eyes. I could never tell if this was going to be our last conversation.

"Do you remember how we met?" she asked.

"How could I forget?" I took her fragile hand and held it in mine. "You were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. You still are."

"You're so kind," she said. Words she often said to me.

"Do you know what I was thinking that day as I walked towards you?" she asked.

"No, darling," I kissed her hand, "what were you thinking?"

"I was thinking," she paused and took a long breath. "Wow, what a handsome guy. I wonder what it would be like to date him. And as I was looking at you, I nearly tripped over a small rock but someone across the street shouted 'watch out!'."

I sat up straighter. "I almost stepped into a puddle of water looking at you."

"I know, that's why I laughed," she said. "I know I was kind of cheeky that day but deep down, I liked you instantly. A lot. You've brought so much joy into my life. You've shown me what love really is. I know you would drop anything to help me out. I've never had that before."

"It's because I love you," I said.

"When I'm gone," she tried to stop the tears from falling.

"Don't speak like that," I said.

"When I'm gone," she continued, "don't let that passion inside you die. Don't lose hope. Don't become bitter or depressed. Move on with the same tenacity to love fearlessly and I promise you, you will be rewarded. The next girl will think 'what did I do to deserve this guy?' I know because...I ask myself that question every day."

"Don't say that baby," the tears I had been holding back for months, streamed down my face. "You're the only one for me."

"I know this feels unfair," she said, wiping away her tears, "but don't ever give up. Don't give up on your dreams either. Get that master's in economics you always talk about. Live your life and be great. It was such an honour to know you and I will love you till my very last breath." With that, she breathed her last.

"Baby!" I tried to shake her, "Monica!" But she was gone. I refused to leave her side, they had to forcibly remove me from her ward to take her body to the morgue. I couldn't believe my angel was gone.

We buried her with the ring I had bought her. No one else deserved to wear it.

Her death tore me apart for months, I almost lost my job because I couldn't get myself out of bed some days. It was so hard. But her words gave me a helping hand 'Live your life and be great'. That was exactly what I did, I got my master's and then my PHD, I even got a better job. I bought the car I wanted to buy for Monica but couldn't afford it at the time and gave it to her Grandma. I even bought the house we always talked about and moved in with my wife and kids. Monica may have died but, she was all around me, in the memories of my friends and family, in the house I lived, in my achievements. Her voice always beckoned me to go on and be...great!

~The End~