Losing 15 years of my life.

Jones Talbot is a young man who just graduated school and was now holding a job at a local law firm. He has a very mundane job as an office boy, typing documents, faxing account sheets, getting coffee for the boss and arranging the piles and piles of office documents. He always thought to himself that this job would help him find his place in the world, and would be a stepping stone to greater things. It would only be for a few years , he thought, and someday he will get promoted to a secretary. A job that would pay much more and help him improve his lifestyle. "It will happen" he tells himself.

Some days, the job was easy and not much work needed to be done. Business would be slow, documents wouldn't be piled up to the ceiling, little things need to be faxed and the boss would not need so many rounds of coffee. But mostly, work at the office was always busy with people moving in and out, lawyers meeting new clients and time passing ever so slowly. There would be days when documents would pile up waiting to be filed, and the boss would scream from his office for a good cup of coffee. Jones never complained, but in his heart, he wished days would just be easy.

As the day gets more and more busy, Jones likes to take a break from his office work, and during lunchtime, stroll around the park, look at the tranquility around him. Jones loved to walk around the park, feeling and smelling fresh flowers and enjoy their splendiferous colours. Oh how it calms him down. He would usually sit on the park bench with a sandwich in hand and a bottle of water all by himself, taking a break.

Jones sat on that bench from Mondays to Fridays, without anyone to keep him company except for this one particular day. It was a day he would never forget. A young lady named Alba came and offered to sit with him. Jones wondered why, but "I guess i could use some company" echoed in his heart. She sat with him, and ate lunch together. They started talking about themselves, introducing herself as an avid painter who hasn't really painted anything notable, out in the park to look for inspiration and she found him. Alba was a sweet young lady who was around the same age as Jones, she had long brunette hair which stretched down to her shoulders, beautiful white skin and a heart-warming smile.

Jones never knew he would meet such an interesting girl on a park bench in the middle of town. Neither did he know she shared many same interests with him. Alba took him back to her studio which was nearby and showed him her paintings, many of which expressed her interest in emotions of people and the feelings of people. Jones was amazed at her talent and asked if she had won anything for her artwork. "Sadly, no" came the reply. According to the art critics, her paintings lacked depth and completeness. Alba always thought they were just some light headed buffoons but it turns out many critics shared the same opinions. She was out in the park just thinking about it, and she met him. Who knew.

Everyday, Jones would be sitting on the same park bench, and everyday, there she would be, always on time. They would ask each other about their day and just discuss about the interesting questions of life. As they looked around, they noticed many interesting things about their surroundings. They would see a child with his parents carrying an ice cream with such a smile on his face that would make the stars go blue. Nearby, a couple would be walking together holding hands and just enjoying the moment together. Opposite the street, an ice cream vendor, in his wonderful suit serving the kids that pass by with such vigour. Both of them thought long and hard about the question before them. What was the depth that was missing in the paintings of Alba? What is there that makes it incomplete?

As they thought long and hard and enjoyed each other's company, time was up and they had to return to their lives and work. Although they continuously thought about each other every hour of the day as they worked. Jones would return to the office and work till the end of office hours and after that, they would meet again and spend the entire evening together.

Years passed, both of them grew older. However, that bench was still theirs. They never forgot about each other. Everyday they would still sit on that special bench and enjoy each others company. In those times, Alba still hasn't been able to reach the depth in her paintings and Jones is still stuck as a busy office boy. They never really bothered about that, but enjoyed every moment they spent together on that bench. Over time, their relationship grew, and they were no longer just friends on a bench, but much more than that. Jones was no long as lonely as he used to be with Alba by his side, nor was Alba as lonely when her paintings got rejected. They were perfect for each other.

A few months down the road, as they were sitting on the park bench together, Alba was waiting all by herself, and Jones arrived late. Alba was a little bit disappointed in him but kept it all to herself. Jones started walking slowly towards her, got on his knees, and popped the million dollar question. All her disappointment immediately evaporated and she started crying. She agreed. Finally, both of them were to be together. There was nothing more special than this moment to them and it was a moment they cherished together. Jones took her in his arms and held her ever so tightly.

They started planning their wedding by selecting the church on 7th street as the venue. It was where Alba's mother got married. It was a very special place. The large doorway made of Oak wood, and the long aisle surrounded by beautiful monuments and pews. It was the perfect place for a wedding. Leading up to the magical day, invitations were sent out, decorations were put in place, and the bride groom were trying on their garments. They looked so nice together and it was thought by their friends and family that not a thing in the world, not even God's power could stop them from getting married.

Fate wasn't of the same mind. On the day of the wedding, as the smartly dressed Jones crossed the street and entered the church, a drunk driver sped across and did not stop. The car rammed into Jones and sped off away to the ends of the eye. Jones was laying on the road, bleeding from head to toe and unconscious. Alba never dreamt this even in her wildest imaginations or paintings that this would happen to her on her wedding day. She was truly devastated. As the ambulance came and carried him into the van, she could only look on helplessly as the only man she ever loved was unconscious in an ambulance.

Jones was kept in the ICU for many days. Doctors were not very optimistic about his chances of waking up. He had a very slim chance of waking up. As Alba waited in the waiting room, she glanced at the ring he gave her when he proposed and shed a tear. Praying for his recovery, she cried a bucket of tears and just continued to glance at the ring. Jones never woke up. Alba sat there, powerless to do anything. She entered the room, and saw him lying there, it was as though he were in a deep deep sleep. Not being able to open an eye or to lift a finger. She clutched his hand so tight and promise to wait until he woke up.

Weeks past, and Jones never woke up. It was as though he was trapped in a game of his own mind. Friends and family came to visit him. Alba sat faithfully by his bedside every night and took care of him. Her relatives encouraged her to move on because they believed that he would never wake up. Alba was adamant to stay by his side. She kept his engagement ring with her and hoped that one day , he would be able to put it on for her again.

15 years passed. Things have changed. However, Jones was still stuck in the hospital unconscious until one day, he started showing signs of awareness. His eyes started twitching and his fingers started moving. It was a marvelous occasion, for his doctors and nurses. Alba was not at the hospital. She had moved on. Jones made a full recovery after many weeks. He had to go through physical therapy to regain control of his muscles, and also had to stay in the hospital for awhile longer. However, throughout those weeks, Alba was not there. Jones was all alone again. Every night, he would glance at a photo of the night before their wedding. Both of them as happy as clowns and full of excitement. Now, there was only one.

About a month later, he was discharged from the hospital and allowed to return home. He made a miraculous recovery and was as healthy as ever. He went back to his job as an office boy in the law firm. The job never changed. Things were as busy as usual. The office was filled with the sound of clicking typewriters and the ringing of phones. His old office colleagues who still worked there welcomed him back home.

At lunch break, he sat there on that special bench by the park. Just waiting for her. Lunch time was almost over and she was not there. Days passed and there was no sign of her.

Finally, he decided to visit her at her studio which was also her apartment in the middle of the night. He stood outside the door, all dressed up, and not knowing what to say. His heart was racing like an F1 car and he just did not know what to do when he saw her. He reached up to the door and knocked it three times. As the door creaked open, there she was standing there right before his very eyes. She was just as pretty as he remembered her. Her brunette hair and her beautiful smile that still melted his heart.

She was so shocked. She did not know what to do and they just stared at each other. Alba never thought she would have to face this all over again even after she had just overcome it. She started shedding tears. She abruptly told him that she was sorry and she closed the door.

Jones was so distraught. Not only did he lose 15 years of his life, he lost the love of his life. He was alone again. Everyday he would sit by that bench, just staring into the blankness of life and everything seemed monochromatic. One day, as he was sitting on the park bench, she saw him from the opposite side of the street. She was carrying something in her hand. Slowly, she walked towards him, head facing downwards, and tears forming around her eyes. Immediately he embraced her in his arms, kissed her and held her so tight. He could not believe it was her. They sat down like they used to on that park bench. Turns out she decided to move on after thinking that he would never wake up. She married an artist like herself and had 2 children.

As they talked like they used to, Alba handed him a painting in her arms. It was a beautiful painting that made her famous all over the world. It was a picture that had so much depth and emotion that touched the hearts of many admirers who saw it. After she handed him the painting, she said her goodbyes, hugged him and kissed him goodbye. He sat down alone and admired the painting. It was a painting of both of them sitting on that special park bench, kissing each other as the world of ice cream vendors, children, and couples go on with their lives.

At the back of the painting was an inscription by Alba:

To the only love of my life:

Thank you for the great adventure you have given me.

I never knew how I could ever get on with my life after what had happened to you.

But then, I realized what my paintings have been lacking,

It was the experience with you,

Your tender love and affection that melted my heart.

I wished things could be different between us,

That we would have ended up together,

Maybe we will someday,

But until then , you I hope this painting would continue to be the depth in your life as you pursue greater things.

Never let go of that special love that you have.

Love Alba