InsaneJournal

1
It was one of those days. The skies are without any clouds; there was a gentle breeze in the air. It was a perfect day for a long drive in the country. The Corvette rode the wind, curving majestically with the road that lead to a wide gate. The compound they entered projected calmness; serenity. A place where one would rest when time turned his head white and gray…

“Thanks for coming with me, Brian,” Justin turned to him as they came to a halt.

Brian didn‘t reply immediately, his attention caught by two figures sitting next to the lake…

**************

2
Their arrival seemed to startled the old lady; she stood abruptly, Brian noticed. Justin, followed his gaze.

“That’s Ms. Allie and the old guy is Duke.”

“Huh?”

“The people you’re staring at?”

“Oh.”

“I appreciate you coming with me,” Justin said.

Now Brian’s looking at Justin.

“You know you’re gonna owe me a hundred blowjobs for this,” Brian grins pulling Justin closer.

The latter laughed.

“We’ll discuss the terms later, but right now I have to see my grandmother.”

They got out of the car and walked towards the pristine building not far from the lake.

Brian stopped walking.

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3
Justin looked at him, understanding his gesture. His grandmother is old, he’d be lucky if she’d remember him. He doesn’t want to confuse her by bringing Brian to see her.

“I’m just gonna say hi, stay with her for a little bit then-”

“Do what you have to do. I’ll be by the lake.”

Justin nods. Before turning around, Brian caught his arm. Brian brushed strands of locks away from his forehead.

Justin smiled and continued to walk inside.

Brian’s feet led him to where the two old people were. Now both sitting, ‘Miss Allie’ still didn’t seem too calm.

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4
“Why did you call me darling?!?” Alarmed and terrified, Ms. Allie once again got up from the bench overlooking the lake. Her arms firmly pressed on her chest.

“I was just-it was just-” Duke didn’t finish what he was saying. A staff came out, immediately taking Ms. Allie away.

“C’mon now Ms. Allie, you can rest in your room. Duke will read to you again later.”

“But, he called me darling…why did he call me darling. Do I know him?” Confusion’s very apparent not only in her voice.

Duke could only cover his mouth with his hand as he watches Allie walks away.

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5
“She’ll be okay.” Brian heard Duke said to no one in particular.

Brian hesitated for a second then replied, “She didn’t look too happy.”

Duke looked at him, surprised of his presence. He walked towards the bench facing the lake. Brian followed; they both sat down.

“A few more chapters and she will be.” He smiled, looking down at a black leather bound notebook in his old wrinkled hands. Brian watched curiously.

Duke opened the notebook, flipping through its crisp, golden leaves.

“She likes fairy tales?” Brian couldn’t help himself.

“And a very true one at that.”

The story began…

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6
Brian didn’t say anything.

Duke stared at the lake.

“Dementia.”

“What?”

“She has dementia.”

“And reading to her helps?”

“It helps her come back and remember who and what she is…”

“By reading her a story?”

“Of her life.” Duke smiled at Brian.

Brian have never heard of such a thing.

“Why bother? Only 10% of cases of dementia had been reversed. Do you think your friend has a chance?”

Anybody who knows Brian would usually call him insensitive and heartless upon hearing his words. But Duke stared at his hazel eyes and said, “Love, my friend, has no boundaries.”

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7
Love, Brian thought. He looked up the building and thought of Justin.

Duke held the notebook tighter.

“Allie was such a gorgeous, energetic spirit. Fell in love with a peasant miner, Noah Calhoun, who didn‘t deserve her. It was a summer fling. But nevertheless, their love grew into something tremendous.” Duke looked out the lake. “But Allie’s parents, especially her mother did not approve of the relationship. They parted without any proper goodbyes.”

Brian thought he saw a tear on the old man’s eyes.

“For the first year they were apart, Noah wrote to Allie. One letter for each day.”

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8
“Must be quite a man.” Brian commented.

Duke laughed. “He’d like to think so sometimes. Although, he just wanted to love Allie. That’s all.” Duke continued with his story.

“Then, one day Allie came to see Noah after he finished working on a farm house he once promised Allie that was going to be their house. She was getting married but she wanted to see him.”

“Let me guess, they reconciled?”

“It was the sweetest moment for both of them. But Allie is not free anymore…”

Duke flipped through the notebook, as if forgetting his words.

Then he looked up.

*****************

9
“That very day she left Noah for the second time, her mother gave her all his letters.”

“All 365 of them.”

“Yes, all 365 of them.”

Duke opened the book and found a particular page and read, “The best love weakens the soul…It makes us reach for more.”

Brian listened.

“Those were her favorite lines from one of Noah’s letters.”

Brian remained quiet, then finally asked, “They got back together?”

“Yes,” Duke smiled, eyes twinkling.

“And you read her this story everyday?”

“I promised.”

“She ever remembers?”

“All the time…”

A staff approached them.

“Duke, Miss Allie’s looking for you.”

***********************

10
Duke got up.

“Well, my friend, it was nice talking to you.”

Brian confused also stood up.

“Hold on, why do you this? I mean why do you bother reading her life story to her?”

“Love will show you the right path, I always believe and that’s what’s helping her to come back each time.”

“It still doesn’t make sense.”

Another staff came running looking for Duke.

“Mr. Calhoun, Miss Allie’s not very happy right now.”

“Okay I’m coming.”

Mr. Calhoun? Brian thought.

Noah looked back and gave Brian a wink, then hurriedly walked inside to join his love, Allie.

***************

11
Brian waited in the Corvette. Justin should be out soon. His mind still on Noah’s story. He looked out the lake, the same way Noah did. Images of Justin old and gray flashed before his eyes. It warmed him inside. It made his heart swell up. In his hand a box sat firmly. He knew this is the time. Is he truly ready to take this step? He’s been ready, he knew he has been. But he was just scared and terrified. Justin’s dancing blue eyes once again filled his imagination, comforting him.

I want to grow old with him.

***************

12
Justin opened the door only to be astonished with what he saw sitting on the dash board in front of his seat.

“Brian?” He sat down looking at the ring.

Brian didn’t answer but held Justin’s left hand instead; took the ring from the dash board and placed it on Justin’s ring finger.

Justin noticed he was wearing his.

Brian’s hazel eyes gazed on Justin’s face. His breath tightening.

“How’s your grandmother?”

“She’s well…”

Brian placed his hands on his fiancé’s nape.

“Good..”

“Brian…”

“I love you.” He whispered.

“I love you.”

He kissed Justin. He knew this meant forever.

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