Page 108 of Years in the Making

The first time she’d clasped her arms around me at the lake I’d been terrified of doing something that would push her away. I don’t doubt things would have gone further if I’d kissed her then, but something in me screamed that it didn’t feel right. When she kissed me in the garden, though, that was a rebirth. A fresh start that I’d been desperately wanting, and she gave it to me and then some.

Tonight we plan on crashing in my bed. While I’d obviously love to do all the things with her, I’m most looking forward to just holding her all night long. Tomorrow we’re heading to her place so she can start preparing to rent it out. She let me know a couple of days ago that she was going to take the position in Marmot Point. Her boss had informed her that it was a role still within the university program due to the partnership with the region, so she’d still be able to return to her old job later if that’s what she wanted. She hasn’t said so, but something tells me it isn’t.

“Where are we?” Nellie yawns, her hand leaving mine as she stretches and rubs her neck.

I reach over and take over neck duties, earning a long groan that takes a little too much brain power to ignore. “About two hours from Bennett’s.”

She looks back at the sleeping huskies and smiles. “They are beautiful dogs when they’re quiet.”

“You do realize Betty’s place has mostly huskies, right? Sure you still want to do this?” I glance over at her, thinking I’d see panic. But no, she’s turned her head towards me and looks completely content.

“I think it’ll be fine if I’m not stuck in a confined space with them singing away.”

“That does make it more tolerable, yes. You being there with me will make everything more tolerable.” I glance over again, and she somehow looks even more content. Like the idea of being together chases all the worries away. A month ago this seemed like a dream that would never come true.

“Teddy?” My name is almost a whisper.

“Nellie?”

“I’m glad you got to explore the world. Even if it wasn’t with me, I’m happy for you.” Both of her hands are grasping mine. “But going forward, please take me with you.”

“You were always with me, Nellie, but next time I’ll make sure you’re right beside me.”

“I really would appreciate that.” She raises my hand to kiss my palm. “We’re really bad at—”

Nellie’s words are cut off by screeching tires and horns, and I’m momentarily blinded by headlights before the world goes black.

FORTY-TWO

NELLIE

It feels like my body was used as a crash test dummy. I’m so tired and everything hurts.

I remember the huskies howling and Kevin’s little whimpers, and then Teddy springing into action to get out of the truck, which had flipped and ended up on the driver’s side.

“Are you okay?” That was the first thing he’d said, and despite a minor headache and neck pain, I’d assured him I was fine.

We’d kicked the windshield out and crawled onto the road, the dogs following. One was limping, but otherwise they seemed fine. Kevin’s whimpers appeared to be from fear rather than injury. A transport truck lay on its side a few meters away, and two other cars were in various states of disarray.

“I’m going to go see if anyone needs help,” Teddy said as he turned and jogged towards the car that was still right side up, but before he got there I watched him slow down for a second only to shake his head and continue. By the time I had tied each dog to something so they didn’t escape, Teddy had helped two people get out of their vehicles. I ran to help the onewoman who was limping sit before following Teddy to the car that was on its roof.

“Two people,” he shouted over to me. He bent down and told the driver to cover their face before smashing the window.

“My wife,” the man sputtered. “She’s not moving. I’m not leaving her like this.”

“Sir, we can’t help her if you’re in the car,” I said calmly, kneeling beside the car, stones or maybe shards of glass cutting into my knees. “If we can get you out, then we can check on your wife.”

Sirens in the distance had me breathing a sigh of relief as Teddy continued to try and convince the man to let us help him.

“Nellie, can you…” Teddy started to say but stopped. I watched as he shook his head and tried to ask me something again.

Then, as if in slow motion, he fell to his knees and keeled over. My screams split the night.

Now, two hours later, my hands won’t fucking stop shaking. It shouldn’t be taking me so long to get into Teddy’s wallet. His license is already sitting on the table in front of me, but his health card is wedged behind some paper. Everything falls to the floor when I get it free, and I feel more tears gather.

“I’ve got it, hun,” a nurse whispers. She sets the wallet and most of its contents on the table in front of me, and I stare at them for a while. Two credit cards, and a very old stamp card from Subway.

Bending down, I unsuccessfully manage to grab the rip piece of paper which slides farther under the table and I have to drop to my knees to reach it. It’s not a piece of paper, though; it’s a picture. It’s from one of the very few games I was at with his parents. In it, I’ve got his mom’s hand raised in mine as we cheer from the stands. The rip runs down his mom’s left side,his father removed from the memory. I kneel there on the hospital floor staring down at a picture I never knew existed. A picture that, judging by the creases, has been folded and unfolded countless times. A picture he no doubt carried around the world with him. His mom and I from another time, cheering for the guy who made up so much of our worlds.

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