Page 18 of Organized Chaos

With my eyes still closed, I let that warmth of hers spread through me, realizing that I never wanted it to end. How long had it been since someone hugged me or comforted me? Months? Years?

She had torn down every wall with one embrace, and I never wanted to put them back up. I could only hope that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way, that there were two lonely souls on that beach, not one. Because this thing flowing between us, it was more than sympathy, more than superficial attraction, and a lot more intense than anything I had ever experienced.

Maya stepped out of my reach with an unspoken understanding of what had to come next. I had suffered, lost, grieved... and then I had foundher. Now, that's all that mattered. It was time to put everything else to rest.

I tipped the urn, allowing the wind to take the course. For the first time in my miserable life, I prayed to God, hoping Maya’s words were true. That I’d see Dad again to convey everything I never had the chance to say.

With this goodbye, we heal all wounds, knowing this parting is temporary until you meet again to express all that was left unsaid during your time together.

The last of the ashes soared aimlessly, taking with it all Dad had done wrong, leaving only the cherished memories behind.

With that solace, we’ll remember James fondly, letting go of all memories filled with disappointment or hurt.

At long last, my cynical veil lifted, finally letting me see the world through Maya’s optimistic eyes, and it was... perfect.

Shewas perfect.

Chapter 6

“Oranges, eggs, bread,” Maya listed our food options for the weekend while I put away the groceries. “Oo, steaks and mushrooms.” She grabbed the two items. “Can we have this for dinner? Please. It’s my favorite.”

“Sure.” I smiled. A conditional promise, depending on the functionality of the grill. But I had no intention of dampening her spirit without exhausting all resources, not when she asked so sweetly.

“Yay! I’m so excited.” She nudged her head toward the bulky, ancient television. “By the way, does that thing turn on?”

“It should. Our groundskeeper would have fixed it otherwise.”

“Groundskeeper?”

I pointed at the white, rectangular device mounted on the kitchen wall, next to the stove. “You see that remote-control looking thing? If we ever need cleaning or something fixed around the house, we press the orange button to page our groundskeeper. But he still comes by regularly to maintain the property. He would have replaced the TV if it was broken.”

“Perfect.” Maya clapped her hands, practically glowing. “Then we can have a steak and movie night.”

Steak and movie night.

Sounded an awful lot like a date... an intimate one after the necessary formal ones had concluded, and you were comfortable staying indoors on a Friday night.