Short Story > Always By Your Side

The air was refreshing as I walked through the park. I sat down at a nearby bench and waited for him to catch up and sit next to me. I watched as he walked towards me, almost as if each step he took were his last. Something within me clenched and I could feel my heart hurting just a bit more. I tried to smile, not just for myself, but for him. He faltered in his step and staggered towards a tree. I was by his side in that instant, making sure he was alright.

“Markos…” I whispered out. He looked up at me with such sorrowful eyes that I could feel the prickle of tears ready to spill from my own.

“Sophia, I can do it myself.” He grumbled out. I gasped lightly, knowing his stubborn streak. Slowly he used the tree for support and stood up. I shook my head and quickly grabbed his hand, giving it a tight squeeze. He looked up at me again with those eyes, those eyes in which could tell his soul to anyone who dared look. He looked to be struggling for something to say, what, I did not know, but instead of coming out and saying it, he forced me into a bone-crushing hug. I almost choked on a sob and hugged him back just as fiercely.

“I love you.” I whispered into his ear. As if it were possible, his hold on me tightened until I felt my bones would crush, but it do not matter to me.

“Don’t, you’ll only suffer.” He whispered back. A few tears leaked from my eyes before I roughly wiped them away. I would not be fooled by his words.

“Don’t be stupid, you know I’ll always love you.” Markos pulled away and looked at me. I felt his lips kissing away all the tears that ran from my eyes and I couldn’t help but shiver in pleasure. He always had that effect on me.

“Please don’t cry, I hate it when you cry.” He said. I could only nod.

Next Day

I quickly dressed myself in a long flowing yellow sun dress and left the bathroom. On my way out I stopped in the laundry room and grabbed a crisp clean white button shirt. Smiling softly to myself and walked into our room where Markos waited on the bed. He looked up at me with a faint smile. “Here you go, a fresh clean shirt.” I slowly climbed onto the bed and helped him into the shirt. “Thank you.” He mumbled, but I heard him perfectly clear.

“Your welcome.” I said leaning down and softly kissing his neck through his hair. Markos leaned back into the touch and bent his head all the way back so that he looked up to my face. I smiled down at him.

“Why?” He simply asked and I titled my head to the side, a curious glint in my eyes. Something that Markos always loved when I did it.

“Why what?” I asked back.

“Why do you stay with me, when you know what’s going to happen. You can have anyone in this world, more better then me and yet you stay…why?” My mind reeled to find the right answer to give him, while wondering why he would ask such a question. All that came up were memories of the past. And as I thought, I figured that from then and now, the answer would lye there.

FLASHBACK

A younger Sophia about the age of 19 stood in front of a tall brick building. Her arms hugging around her books. She quickly turned around not noticing the person behind her until it was to late. Both bodies crashed to the ground in a flurry of papers and cursed mutters. Sophia quickly noticed that she was the one on top of the poor person she bumped into and quickly stood up her eyes traveling to the other’s face. Her eyes widened at bit as she looked at him. He was the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen. His dark violet eyes stared back at her and his messy black locks flowed around his face with the breeze that seemed to pass by.

“Do you mind getting off me.” He said gruffly. All thoughts of him being gorgeous ceased of her mind and a scowl married her features.

“Well excuse me, I wouldn’t have bumped into you if you weren’t breathing down my neck!” she yelled out, standing straighter and lifting her chin. The boy across from just rolled his eyes and quickly picked up his books, while also getting hers.

“Here.” He said pushing her books into her hands. “The only reason I was ‘breathing down your neck’ was because I wanted to know if you knew where building 125 was?” Sophia’s cheeks instantly took on a red hue, as she avoided his eyes.

‘Oh, well um…I don’t know myself, I’m new here. I guess we could look for it together?” She asked shyly, still not looking into his eyes. Now it was His turn to blush.

“Uh sure…” He said slowly. Sophia nodded.

“Oh and by the way my name is Sophia, Sophia Pena.” She said, for the first time looking at him in the eye. He nodded back with a slight smile. And stuck out his hand.

“Markos Diaz.” Sophia looked down at his hand before quickly grabbing it and shaking it.

“We better hurry before we’re late!” She said tugging on his hand to make him follow her. Their hands intertwined through out the run.

3 years later

Sophia sighed as she snuggled closer to Markos. Her head tuck nicely under his chin while his arms were wrapped around her in a protective manner. They were under the great “God” tree. A magnificent willow tree on the school’s campus. The place where they had their first kiss.

“Sophia.” Markos whispered out, not trying to ruin the moment.

“Hmm?” She said her mind in a haze of sleepiness.

“I was wondering, seeing how we both are seniors now, if you wanted to…move in together?” Sophia’s haze of sleepiness was completely gone with that question. Slowly she pushed herself up so that she could stare into his eyes, the very eyes of the man she fell in love with a thousand times.

“Really?!” She asked her voice a bit on the squeaky side. Markos could only grin and nod. That’s when Sophia dove into to him and gave him a huge bear hug. “Of course I’ll move in with you, wherever you want to go, I’ll follow you to the moon!” She said. Markos smiled and brought her head down for a quick yet sweet kiss.

A Few Months Later

“Sopia…I’m…I’m home.” She heard Markos sort of choke out. Her first reaction was to be scared and then worry. She quickly ran from their room to the living room where he sat, a piece of paper in his hands. Slowly he raised his head to her. Blood shot red eyes with tears still streaming down his face looked at her and she couldn’t but gasp out loud.

“Markos…what-?” she asked out, racing to his side. Her own tears starting to fall. “What’s the matter?”

“I-I went to my…doctor’s appointment…a-and-” He couldn’t finish and so he shoved the paper he held into her hands. Sophia looked down at, already loathing whatever was written on the paper to make her Markos like this. She opened the folds it was in to see the name of his doctor and the name of the hospital. Some other things were scribbled on that she thought weren’t important until she read the bottom. In blue ink were the words that no one in their life would ever want to see.

“HIV…positive.” She said aloud. Her tears coming out stronger until she resembled Markos state. “B-but…how?” She said shaking her head as the paper slipped from her fingers and onto the ground.

“He said it was genetically transferred to me by either one of my parents and that it could escalate. Meaning I could get AIDS. I want you to get tested as soon as possible too! I just hope, no pray, that you do not have this!” A flood of tears streamed down her face at what he said and she ran into his arms as they both cried their hearts out.

The rest of the night the two never once had let go of each other.

END FLASHBACK

That was two years ago, and sadly the doctor had confirmed that Markos had AIDS and with or without treatment, they weren’t sure if he would make it to live another year.

“Why…because I love you and you’re my soul mate.” I said my gaze returning to his. “And I swore that I’d always be there for you, no matter what.”

“You don’t have to lie you know.” he said getting up from his spot from the bed.”

“Markos why are being like this? You know that from the day we met I was in love with you and you with me, or were you not?” I asked tears already spilling from my eyes. Markos looked at me before tightly closing his eyes. He knelled in front of me and took my hands into his.

“I’m sorry, I just don’t want you to suffer, do you understand. I want you to be happy.” I smiled, my hand coming up to touch his cheek.

“And what makes you think that I’m not happy?” I asked. Markos bowed his head and kissed my knuckles.

“C’mon let’s lay down together, I don’t feel up to going anywhere today.” I nodded and helped him into the bed. Markos spooned me from the back and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist. For a couple of hours we stayed like that, none of us saying anything, to comfortable with just the feel of the other. That’s when Markos slowly raised a little to get closer to me. I felt his breath next to my neck and shuddered lightly.

“Markos-?” I started but was cut off by his voice.

“Shhh…don’t speak. I just want you to know that I love you Sophia. And that I swear also to always be there for you. Please promise me you won’t cry?” I was glad that he couldn’t see my face and nodded as a single tear escaped my eye. Slowly I brushed at it.

“I promise. I love you.” I said as I felt him go back to his spot, his heart beat thumping behind my back. “I love you.” I whispered. I knew this would be the last time he would ever hold me like this.

Two Days Later

Sophia slowly raised herself from the ground her eyes scanning the area around her. The flowers in her hand hanging by the stem. She knelt down and bit and put them in front of the tomb and kissed her fingers to it.

“I promised I wouldn’t cry and I won’t Markos. Just remember to never forget me for I would never forget you. I love you.” she said. Taking one last glance at the tomb she walked away down the path towards the long field that lead to the parking lot. Her hair was flowing with the wind and her long black dress did the same. Her heart was gone but her happiness would remain, for him. As she walked the path a bright glowing figure appeared next to her. His black hair shining brighter then it ever had and his white clothes looking cleaner then white.

“Don’t worry my love, I could never forget you and I will always be by your side.” The figure whispered.

“I know Markos, I know.” Sophia whispered to herself. Her gaze moving heaven-wards. “I know.”

FIN

My Notes: I got the inspiration to write this from the song/music video “No Me Ames” by Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez. So if you notice similarities, that is why. Sorry for the jumping of points of view, hope it wasn’t confusing. =)