Tears of Crimson

Her heart drops, the twinkle of her eye fades, her illuminating smile diminishes. “Yes, you do, Mort,” she says softly. Her eyes fall to the ground in shame. She walks over to the side of his bed. The chance of him having amnesia never dawned on Faith. All hope of her life gradually picking up the pieces is gone.

“I wish I could remember. Everything is so fuzzy.” Mort looks her in the eyes as if searching for the answer. “What is your name?”

“Faith,” she replies.

“Faith? Is that all?” Mort smiles at her.

“Faith Walsh.”

“Angelic.”

Faith returns his gorgeous smile.

“It’s amazing you know…” he pauses.

“What is amazing?”

“…that I could forget a face as beautiful as yours.”

Faith’s cheeks grow hot and turn a crimson pink. “Thank you.” Her voice is quiet.

“How did we meet?”

Faith looks down at her hands. “You knew my mother. We met at her funeral yesterday.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Faith looks up from her hands and into his chocolate eyes. Oh how she missed his eyes.

“For the passing of your mother.”

“Oh, thank you.” Faith thinks of her brr. r. A painful memory strikes her mind. Mort is partial cause of her brother’s death. ‘He doesn’t remember.’ Faith thinks to herself. That is one thing Faith will let Mort forget. ‘Focus on the future not on the past, Faith.’ Faith tells herself.

“Are we friends?”

Faith hesitates. “Yes,” she finally answers.

“I don’t believe you.”

This startles her. “You don’t?”

He smiles. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I could never be friends with you.” Faith’s expression turns to one of pain. “You are too beautiful. It would kill me.”

Once again this man has Faith blushing like a tomato. “You are very sweet, Mort.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-five,” Faith answers.

Mort looks down in shame. “How old am I?” He asks softly.

“I don’t know.”

“The doctors had to tell me what my own name is. I wish I knew how old I am.”

Faith’s heart wrenches for him. “I’m sorry, Mort.”

“It’s alright. I’ll remember eventually. I hope,” He whispers.

Faith stands up. “I will be right back,” she announces. She walks out of the door and looks around the hallway. She spots a police officer guarding the stairway door. “Excuse me,” she calls. The policeman looks up from his Gameboy and in her direction. He smiles and walks over to her.

“Need an escort?”

“Actually, I need to speak with my friend’s doctor.”

“What is your friend’s name?”

“Morton Rainey.”

“Just one second.” He talks into his walkie-talkie. Faith overhears him call for Mort’s doctor. He turns to her. “He will be with you in just a moment.”

“Thank you,” Faith replies.

“No problem.” The policeman walks back to his position at the door.

Faith walks back into the room where Mort is patiently awaiting her return. She opens the curtain and Mort smiles at her. “Where did you go?”

“I had to talk with someone,” Faith retorts. Two minutes later the doctor enters.

“Someone called for me?” He asks.

“Yes, I did,” Faith answers before Mort can ask any questions. “May I speak with you out in the hall?” The doctor nods. They enter the hall. “How old is Mort?”

“Thirty. Why?” He looks at Faith quizzically.

“Because he wants to know. Thank you, Doctor.”

“Uh, no problem.” Puzzled, he walks away.

Faith cannot help but smile as she returns to Mort’s side. “Guess what?”

“What?” He returns her smile.

“I know how old you are!”

“You do? How old am I? Break it to me easy.”

“Thirty.” Faith’s smile runs from ear to ear. Mort grabs his stomach and moans as if Faith socked him one. Faith laughs.

“I said break it to me easy!” Mort laughs. Faith giggles at his silliness. Mort admires Faith’s smile and laughter.

“What?” Faith asks as she realizes that he is staring at her.

“Was it like this when we met yesterday?”

“Like what?”

“So, perfect?”

“Yes, it was.” Faith smiles. “It was absolutely perfect.”

“Describe it to me?”

“Well, it was gorgeous weather. The sun was warm but the wind was a bit chilly. It was a very sad day for me and I’d imagine you as well. I had stepped outside for fresh air and a little while later you did the same, I suppose. You had left the ceremony early.” Faith stops to think. “I walked up to you to say hi. I didn’t know you but figured we had some type of connection seeing as how you were at my mother’s funeral. You told me that you met my mother at a book convention. We talked for a little while. I invited you to my mother’s reception.” Faith stops and looks down at her hands. Tears well up in Faith’s eyes as she thinks about the accident.

“What is it?”

“You never made it.” A tear falls down her cheek as her thoughts drift to Jeremiah.

“But I’m here now.” He cups her cheek with one of his hands. Using his thumb, he wipes away her tear.

Faith doesn’t know if she should tell him or not. ‘He has a right to know.’ Faith argues with her conscience. ‘But I don’t want to make him feel responsible.’

Mort can sense a struggle taking place in Faith’s mind. “Is there something else?”

“Y-” Faith hesitates. “Yes.”

“Well, go ahead and tell me,” Mort says softly.

“It’s hard to tell you this.”

“Please? Help me remember?” Mort pleads.

“I don’t think you will want to remember.”

“Just tell me, please?”

“Okay, okay. Well, you see. You know how you were in that accident?” Faith struggles with her words.

“Yes.”

“Well, there was someone else too. Someone else got hurt.”

“The doctors told me that. They said that they would be okay.”“The“They did?” Faith asks surprised.

“Yes.”

“They lied, Mort.”

“What?”

“The doctors—they lied.”

“The person isn’t alright?”

“Yes—I mean no, the person is not alright. He’s dead.”

Mort looks horrified. “What? No, you’re lying. Why would the doctors lie?”

“They didn’t want you to fell bad, Mort.” Faith grabs Mort’s hand in hers.

“Who was it? Who did I kill?”

“M-my brother, Mort.” Faith looks down at her hands again.

“Oh, Faith, oh man. I’m so sorrI- II- I don’t know what to say. Your brother?” Faith nods. Mort sighs.

“Please don’t feel bad, Mort. I wasn’t very close with him. But, just please don’t feel bad. I don’t blame you.”

“I want to believe you, Faith. I really want to believe you. But I just can’t.” Mort looks down in shame. Faith lifts his head by his chin. He looks her in the eyes.

“Mort, everyone makes mistakes. I know how it feels to be responsible for someone’s death.”

“You do?” Mort looks at her with disagreement.

“Yes. My mother committed suicide. I feel like it’s my fault because I moved away for so long.”

“Your mother committed suicide?”

“Yes. Not very many people know that. In fact, my brother and I were the only ones besides you.”

“I’m sorry. Faith I am truly sorry. I must’ve caused you so much pain. I wish I could have been by your side.” Faith gives Mort a reassuring smile.

“You are here now.”

“And I’m not going anywhere. It’s funny that I have only known you for so little time and I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

“It feels good doesn’t it?”

“Yes. I don’t want it to end.”

Faith smiles softly. “Neither do I.”