Epilogue
Ricky
Three Months Later
“YOU READY, MARIPOSA?” Leaning against the doorframe to our bedroom, I watched Aveline gently wipe the lenses of her glasses with a tissue.
That’s right, I said our bedroom. The very next time Aveline asked me to move in, I agreed. And that was the night my boys brought back my bike and we celebrated all the dreams that had come true.
Mama, Marcela, and Teresa were basically pushing me out the door. With Mama’s new job, the apartment was getting new furniture and became more comfortable every day. I knew Mama was fully capable of caring for the girls, and if they ever needed anything, I was right down the street.
It took me less than an hour to move in. I owned nothing. A couple pictures, yearbooks, clothes, and miscellaneous shit, and I was in. But man, living in that space with my butterfly, was a gift.
She took care of me and I took care of her. We were loud, messy, and full of laughter. We cooked together, made love, watched movies, and planned for our future.
Tomorrow Marcela would leave for college—a four-year pre-med program that was as much a goal achieved for her as it was for Mama and me.
Aveline walked to me, her hair pulled back in a low knot that she wore when she would be on the back of my bike, plus jeans, and a t-shirt.
“Bathing suit underneath?” I asked her, slipping on my backpack that held our towels.
“Yes. Tell me again where we’re going?” she asked, nose wrinkled in adorable confusion.
“Nuh-uh. Be patient, mariposa.” I kissed the tip of her nose and locked the door behind us.
I had a surprise planned, but first we had a visit to make. Mama had asked us to come to Papa’s rehabilitation center this evening, as a last visit with Marcela before she left town.
I straddled the bike, starting the engine, and securing my helmet. Aveline stood on the sidewalk, fastening her helmet before throwing her leg over and sliding up against me.
A short time later we parked outside the rehab building and held hands on our way up. Marcela and Teresa sat in the waiting room and we hugged, watching Mama hurry down the hall with a shaky smile on her face.
“Come, come,” she encouraged. “He’s ready.”
We followed her into the room and saw Papa sitting up in a wheelchair like the one he used at home, strapped in at the chest and head. Unlike at home, hooked to his wheel chair was a raised desk with an iPad propped up.
“Hola, mi hermanos.” A robotic voice filled the air, but clear as day we heard it say “Hello, my children.”
Whipping my head to Mama, she smiled, her chin trembling and eyes misty. “This amazing place has taught your father to use eye recognition software. It’s linked to this iPad and recognizes letters that he gazes at on the screen and then puts together words and phrases for him. It’s slow, but his therapists have helped him save phrases.” She sniffled, using a tissue to wipe her eyes. “And, I’m told, some things he prepared to say to all of you.”
My jaw dropped, and my knees were weak. I stumbled backward, connecting with a hospital chair. To my side, Marcela and Teresa clung to one another, tears running down their faces. A small, shaky hand landed on my shoulder and I looked up to see the comforting eyes of my Aveline.
“Go ahead, Papa. We are all here to listen to you,” Mama encouraged, her hand on his arm.
Papa stared at the device, blinking slowly. “First to Teresa.”
Teresa whimpered, moving closer to Papa’s other side. “I was already hurt when you were born. But I know my baby girl. I watched and heard everything important in your life. You are beautiful. You are smart. You are special. I love you.” The words were jarred and more like a robot than not, but they came from Papa.
Teresa sobbed behind her hand, looking up with startled eyes at Mama. “I love you too, Papa. So much.” Kissing his cheek, she stayed close to his head.
“Marcela, you are next.” Papa began. “I love you, my girl. I am proud of you. Going to be a doctor. Helping people like me. Thank you. I want to go to your graduation from medical school. It is my new goal.”
Marcela inhaled a shaky breath, trying to be strong. “Then you will be there, Papa, my hero. You are the reason why I will be a doctor. I love you so much.” Marcela kissed his cheek, holding onto one of his hands.
“My son. Ricardo,” Papa said next.
I stood up, walking to the foot of his bed, resting my hands on his legs.
“This might be toughest. You have been the man of the house. The man I would have been. You took care of our family. Thank you. I heard you have a business. Pedro’s. That day I wanted to cry from happiness. It is almost like I will always be with you. The hardest day, my boy, was the day I heard you turn down a football scholarship to help me and your mother. That day was the only day of my life I wish I had died.”
Cries echoed the room, each of my favorite women saddened to their core. Me? I understood. If that was my son, I imagined I would feel the same.
“Now, I see God’s plan. You worked hard so that you were ready to meet your mariposa. I am happy for you. I am proud. My goal is to be at your wedding one day.”
I shuddered, holding back body wracking sobs. “Papa, I love you.”
Aveline’s hand rested on top of mine, her body pressed to my side. In our intense connection, I could feel her shaking. Putting myself in her shoes, what would it be like to be face-to-face with the man that saved your life and lost most of his in the process? Petrifying, I was sure. Yet here she was, front and center. Strong and ready for what came next, not willing to leave me standing alone.
“Aveline.” Papa’s eyes moved to my girl’s. “While you are probably the most scared, this is the easiest message to relay.”
Next to me, her body was rigid as a board. “I regret nothing from that day. Because if I did wish to change anything, you wouldn’t be here, the love of my son’s life. You are a good woman, Aveline. A gift. Thank you for loving all of us.”
“Thank you for saving me, Pedro,” Aveline spoke with firm resolve, though her bottom lip quivered uncontrollably.
“I have already spoken to Mama in private. I would like to talk to your parents next, Aveline, to thank them for the gift of this therapy.”
Aveline nodded.
Papa gave well wishes to Marcela going away to college. We huddled together as a family, a miracle happening before our eyes.
And that Monster was buried away even further, as the pain lessened, and a new hopeful life emerged.
* * *
“RICKY, I KNOW where we are,” Aveline said, handing me her helmet and shaking out her hair. Her eyes were red-rimmed from our hospital experience, and she looked paler than normal.
I hoped to God that my idea wasn’t the wrong one.
Wordlessly, I took her hand, leading her over to the grass by the lake. We sat facing each other, cross legged, the light of the moon and the stars illuminating the dark night sky. In my pocket, I pulled out a worn paper.
“I stole this list from your room. Here are the things we have done together. Obviously, the first kiss.” In celebration, I kissed her hard and quick on the lips. “And riding on the back of a motorcycle many times, and more to come.” I winked. She giggled, nodding back. “Dancing under the stars at Dean’s wedding.” She nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. “Working at a job where you can help others. Done. A non-profit translator and tutor satisfies that.” She blushed and looked so pretty I had to kiss her again. “Finding your own apartment, check.” Another quick kiss. “Falling in love?” I asked with a raised eyebrow. She giggled again, nodding. “That leaves two things. Having a best friend. I don’t want to assume, but you’re absolutely my best friend.” Like the first time I read her list, my voice cracked with emotion.
“You’re my very best friend in the world, Ricky. And my greatest love. How lucky am I?” Her eyes sparkled, and her lips curved.
I closed my eyes and gathered my courage. “That only leaves one thing on your list. Swimming at night with someone you trust.”
Opening my eyes, I saw her panic. She tried to stand, but I gripped her hands tightly, pulling her onto my lap.
“Not here. This is where it happened.” Her voice was a strangled whisper.
I kissed her forehead. “I know, and that’s why it should be here.”
Her hands clutched my shirt, tears filling her eyes. “Today is the anniversary. The accident happened exactly nineteen years ago today.”
I nodded again. “Tonight, we drown all the monsters. We start fresh. Swim with me, mariposa.”
I stood, yanking off my t-shirt and pulling down my jeans. Standing in swim shorts, I held out my hand.
She hesitated, looking out at the water and then back at me. “I’ve never been back here,” she said, her voice low, but getting stronger.
“Tonight, we drown the fear,” I stated again, louder and surer.
In response, she pulled off her shoes and unbuttoned her jeans, slipping them down before she pulled off her t-shirt. Placing her glasses in top of the pile, she stood before me in a tiny blue bikini, taking my breath away.
I extended my hand and she took it as we walked into the water. When we were waist deep she pulled a few lengths away and swam back toward me. I fell to my knees, capturing her as she swam into my arms.
“Swimming at night, under the stars, with the man I trust.” She spoke against my lips. “Drowning fear and monsters. I can do it because of you.”
Pulling back, I looked into her gray eyes. “My breath of life. You breathed life into me. You changed everything. It’s because of you.”
Crying, she pressed her wet lips to mine.
Two lost souls who, through the pain and glory of love, were finally found.
Because of us.
The End