Waltz - by Anson Ong

(Here's another story I wrote quite some time ago. It's been a while since I wrote short stories. But here's one from a few of my works. Hope you like it too. :))

"What do you want in life?"

"I don't know.."'

That was always my reply whenever my friends, teachers or relatives asked me that. In fact, I didn't really know what I wanted out of life. The usual path would be to study hard, get a degree, get a decent job, have a family and have kids. Yes, that seems to be an ideal path anyone should have taken. For me, I thought that is a rather stereotypical measure of success. Mundane life. That's not what I wanted. We always think that way when we were young, brainwashed by our teachers or parents that a successful life should be that way. But when you grow up, your thinking matures along with you. You start to think differently. "I'm no longer a kid", I would always say whenever my parents want to decide something on my behalf.

And so, I'm on my own now. Life after college is not as carefree as I thought. In school, I always thought that schoolwork and examinations were everything and my maths teacher an asshole. I hated school, just like the other guys in class, and could't wait to get out of this living hell, to work, and to earn my own living. And then, it was finally over. I am all by myself. My studies were screwed. So much about getting a degree. I worked part-time at the cafeteria down the street. Slogged my ass out for puny salary that wasn't enough to buy me a wife. In the end, I had to take on another job at the music store where I worked overtime. And that was when I got to know her - Mavis. She's everything a guy could ever want. She has this long flowy hair, sparkling eyes that spoke a thousand words and sexy lips that was just so kissable. She was simply amazing and perfect. I was 21 then, and I met her, the person whom I want to make my wife. Well, at least, I paid a price to get my prize.

She must be the first person I ever set eyes on. I had girls back in college but wasn't really serious with them. Not that I didn't really love them. But I wouldn't want to spend the rest of my life with them. But Mavis was just so special, like an angel sent from heaven. She influenced me into music. Not pop or metal rock, but classical music. Instrumental music. Everyday she would play Beethoven's or Mozart's in the store, but her favourite were still Chopin's waltzes. Unconsciously she would dance to the melody and I would stare at her every chance I had. I just couldn't get my eyes off her. Of course, girls like her, being highly sensitive with their feelings knew very well that I was very interested, yet tried to feign nonchalance. That was when I had to do what a guy does - woo her. I dropped hints, asking her out for dinner, buying tickets and inviting her to movies. At first, she always seemed to be busy. But I would never give up. I planned surprises after surprises, giving her 99 roses on her birthday, and so on. She was touched. I won.

Years passed. We got married and bought an apartment by the beach. My mornings would not be complete without seeing her lying beside me each day I woke up. The smell of her hair reminds me of the fragrance of lavender, soothes me and tempts me to caress her, kiss her, and tell her how much I loved her. Days went on. I got a proper job at a big company and got a decent position. She, on the other hand, stayed at home on weekdays, did what a wife would do - tidy the house, did the laundry, cooked for me.

One fateful day, I returned home and I did not get to see her. I called her on her cell phone but the phone was shut off. She did not return by midnight and I called her every friend. Not a single person had news of her whereabouts. I got worried. I couldn't sleep with my mind thinking about her. And then, the phone rang in the middle of the night.

"Hello, Mr. Walkins?"

"Yes, speaking?"

"I'm the nurse calling from Central Hospital. Your wife.. she's met with an accident and is in the Emergency room. Can you come down now?"

My heart froze. My lips trembled. I grabbed my coat and rushed out of my house, drove the car at high speed and headed towards the hospital.

I waited outside the Emergency room and was pacing up and down restlessly. My mind was in a complete blank of state. And then the light from the Emergency room signal went off. 2 surgeons emerged from the doors. I ran over, gripping them by their hands in a frantic, couldn't wait to hear the results. They merely shook their heads and apologized. I dropped to my knees and my heart throbbed with pain as tears flowed continuously down my cheeks.

For weeks and months I cried each night while thinking of her. Flashbacks and memories came drifting across my mind like painful monochrome photographs.

Years passed. I remained a widower at the age of 58. My life went on as usual and I had made acquaintances around the estate. Yet, whenever I hear the waltzes of Chopin playing on the CD player, I would see her dancing in front of me. That graceful poise and beautiful sways never fail to captivate my heart.

Well, this is my life. Though this is not what I want in life, I am glad I once had what I wanted in life. Very soon, I shall dream of her. Very soon, I shall be with her again, for she was my wife. She became my life.