A second chance- Original story

                                     

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John sat at the kitchen table drinking his morning coffee. He was still tired. Lately he hasn't been sleeping well. It has been nearly a year since his wife died, and life has been miserable ever since. 

He still had his vet's practice, where he worked four days a week, but after Marinda died, he was forced to hire in an extra vet to do consultations a few days a week. 

He needed time to mourn. The kids wanted him to move in with them for a while but he declined.  

"Just to make sure that you eat healthy dad." 

He had to get used to living alone, but he had to admit, it has been difficult. Marinda did everything for him. She cooked and she cleaned and she made sure there was always food waiting for him when he came home, but now he had to learn how to look after himself. 

They had been married for forty six years and when she died, a part of him died with her. He dreamed about her almost every night, but when he reached for her there was no one. Everything was worse at night. When he woke up, and saw the empty side of the bed, the pain overwhelmed him and then it took hours for him to get back to sleep. 

Living alone in this big house made no sense to anyone else, but for him it did. At least he felt her here. He was scared to move on and lose that part of his memory. Everything in the house reminded him of her and he was not ready to let go. 

After he finished his coffee he took a shower and dressed for work.  It was Saturday and only half day but most of his old patients came to visit him on a Saturday.  

For the last three months Mrs Friar has brought her cat in for a consultation every Saturday. He had stopped charging her after the third one as he realized that there was nothing wrong with the cat. 

There had been many ladies trying to get his attention over the last year, but he was not interested.  He was doing fine on his own and if he wanted to find a new wife, he would do so on his own terms.  He was just not ready.  In any case what would anyone want with a sixty nine year old man? 

Lydia his assistant was already waiting for him when he walked into the office. The waiting room was full of owners with their sick animals and he walked straight through to the consultation room. He called Lydia to send in the first patient, but told her to let Mrs Friar wait for a while, as he knew that she would keep him busy the longest.  

He did all the consultations and when Mrs Friar walked in, there was no one else left in the waiting room. He sent Lydia home and told her that he would lock up. He had nowhere to go so he could take his time examining the non-sick cat.  

"John, I've hoped that you would have recognized me a long time ago" Mrs Friar said. "As you have noticed there is nothing wrong with Minx.  To be honest she is not even my cat."

John looked up. "Recognize from where?" 

Mrs Friar said: "We went to school together. I moved here quite a while ago...nearly at the same time your wife died.  I am so sorry for your loss."

"I'm Sylvia Baxter."

Sylvia Baxter.... The first girl that he ever kissed, and they promised that they would be together forever.  He even carved their names on a tree. Her family moved away when they were only sixteen and he never heard from her again.

John stood there remembering that moment when he declared his love to her, at such a young age. You never forget your first kiss. 

"You are just as beautiful as ever" John said, and suddenly did not see the wrinkles and the grey hair. His mind drifted back to that spot next to the river. It was a day that he would never forget in his whole life. 

"Thank you John, I had a good life and my husband was very good to me, but he died nearly five years ago.  I moved here and now live in the Golden village for seniors. "

"My kids wanted me to move in there when my wife died but I am not yet ready."

"Would you like to come over for lunch later then I can show you around?"

John hesitated but suddenly decided differently and agreed. 

Six months later, he phoned his son to tell him that he was selling the house. They had to come help sort out their mother's things.  

"Why do you want to sell the house now dad?"

John smiled although his son couldn't see it. 

"Son I'm getting married"