Tears_for_Laura

Tears for Laura      The wind blew strong into my face, like fists of a boxer hitting me in a boxing ring as I struggled forward on to my old, rattling tricycle...with all my belongings. Belongings, it is such a strong word! What exactly do I have' A dirty old tarp with old newspapers, trash, bottles, and cans underneath. I used to own a lot, used to have everything I ever wanted. Now I think back to my past, I regret for all the things I have done, to myself and especially to her… The first moment I saw her, her eyes were of sea colors and glistened with beauty. From that day on, I swore I would cherish her with all my heart. It was a bright sunny day, with birds chirping, and soft wind blowing in my hair. I brought my book to the park next to my apartment, hoping to finish reading the last few pages of The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day. An hour later, I find myself asleep on the bench with the sun shining brightly in my eyes. My head felt heavy, as if someone tied huge rocks around my neck. While putting myself back into shape, I saw a young lady walking in my direction. She had long brown hair, with sea blue eyes.  She came up to me and gently said, “You have been sleeping for almost two hours, you might catch a cold lying here.” I was surprised she even noticed me, so I replied her politely, “Thank you for caring, so you have been watching me all these time'” “Well, I used to come down here every afternoon to do some reading at this very bench, I didn’t want to disturb you, so I sat at another bench for you to wake up,” she said gently. Her beautiful voice was like soft summer wind at the beach. I wasn’t shy to ask for her name or phone number, because I knew I would never met a girl like that again. We talked and talked as if time had stopped, and the world just contained the two of us. I never knew what love is, I didn’t think that dreams would come true, until I met her. What a remarkable feeling that was! We fell in love, fast and deep, I promised that I would always love her, nothing and no one could change that. I took her to meet my father, he really liked her too. One night my father called me into his room and told me, “It’s not easy finding a nice girl like Laura...don’t you think it’s time for you to settle down'  Besides, you know I’m getting old, I need you and her to take care of the company when I’m gone.” I saw a glimpse of hope and warmth in our future. I knew we would make the perfect family, and give our children everything they needed. Everything changed when Laura went back to her hometown to look after of her sick mother. I wanted to go back with her, but she insisted me staying to help my father’s company. A year went by, my feelings and thought for her grew more and more. I would call her when I wasn’t busy, but that just not the same anymore. I had a bad day at work one day; couple of friends called me to the pub to have a drink. I felt a little dizzy after drenched myself in the two bottles of whisky. I saw a girl that looked like Laura; in fact, she was even more gorgeous than Laura, her beautiful body attracted me. We started dancing, and making out. The next morning, I found the girl from the pub sleeping naked next to me. I couldn’t believe my eyes. What have I done'! The guilt gloomed over me! What am I going to tell Laura! I was afraid to call Laura now, every time I called her, I would say I’m busy or I have a meeting soon. As time went by, I felt less guilty and cared less about lying to Laura. All I have in my mind now was the attractive woman I met in the pub, Tina. We dated a couple of times after that day. One day, she told me she was pregnant. I had no choice but to leave Laura, and marry Tina before people find out she was pregnant with my child. My father disapproved on our marriage, but there was nothing he can do. He called Laura the day before my wedding, he told me she what she had said. All she said was, “Love sees with the heart and not with the eyes. Knowing you and loving you was the happiest thing that happened to me. I’ve never stopped loving you.” My eyes were filled with tears; I wished I could go back in time and change everything. In my heart, I know Laura was the one I truly loved, but greed and desire torn that love apart. Five years of marriage with Tina made me thought about Laura even more. Tina would do nothing but ask me for money to go shopping and wasting them with her friends. Finally I saw things clearly; all Tina ever wanted was my money and fame. My life was spiralling downwards rapidly. After my father left me with all his fortune, my assets decreased, shareholders were not happy with our company's performance. I knew father would be very disappointed if he saw me and the state the company in. Finally the day came, the stock in our company crashed, millions of shares burst into flame! I was declared bankrupt and the bank foreclosed all my estates. I have nothing; I stood outside...what once was my beautiful home, naked and stripped. Tina left me and took our son with her, I saw her couple of times with another man, but she pretended she didn’t know me at all. What have I done' Could someone wake me up from this nightmare! I missed Laura, every second of my life I thought of her. The day before my wedding was the last time I’ve ever heard from her. Even if I ever saw her on the streets, I would be too embarrassed to talk to her, or even let her see me like this. I’m just a homeless man with a tricycle and trash wandering around the streets all day. I hate myself, I hate myself for everything. God knows how to treat people like me. One cold windy night on Christmas Eve, the brake from my tricycle was broken, it was a cold and snowy day, and I lost control. I woke up in the emergency room; I couldn’t feel my body, the images of my memory flashes in my mind. All I can hear was beeping sounds from the equipments around me. I knew I wouldn’t survive, nor did I want to. I gently closed my fatigued eyes, and prayed for forgiveness, those were the last tears for Laura…and I saw her one last time as I took my last breath...