26 Goodbye
Anthon looked up to the skies and watched every plane that passed by. At eight -o- clock in the morning, the plane that would take Jia and his son back to USA was expected to take off.
His heart was heavy. They were only separated for few minutes and yet it seemed that he could not contain the loneliness anymore.
They were now leaving him for who knows would be until forever. Jia was obviously avoiding him. He saw her falling for him but also saw her fighting to hold back her feelings. He felt her tenderness as she yielded into his intimacies but also felt her struggles to resist. She boldly initiated a kiss every now and then but quickly retreated in regret.
"I did love you before and I love you until now. But it doesn't matter anymore. My life is no longer mine."
Everytime this scene replayed in his mind, he would flare up and smash anything in his hand. This statement always lighted up the embers of the burning coals inside his heart.
Why couldn't he just hold her forever? Why did she have to be owned by someone else? Why would their child need to be distant from his care? These were his desperate questions he knew he could never get any answer.
At about four - o - clock that morning, Jia was already standing by the gate when he arrived. He would take them to the airport later. She silently slipped into the front seat with swelling eyebags. She did not talk for half an hour. She just placed her head on his shoulder. Neither, did he talk. He just wrapped her in his arms. Soon, he felt her tears running after another, making him tremble deep inside. He wanted to take them away at that moment , but he respected her decision.
" Don't hold me back. It was not my fault. Neither, yours. Forget me, Anthon, and I will, likewise, forget you. Some things are just not meant to be!"
As the water of the rivers entwine with the waters of the sea, so did their tears as it blended together in their lips as they kissed long and hard for the last time.
"Goodbye, Anthon! "
As silently as she slipped inside, she went out in the same way without turning back. She no longer spoke a single word until they disappeared inside the airport.
He sobbed as he hugged and kissed his sleeping son tightly, no longer able to control himself.
" Daddy will see you, soon! "
To his son, he promised this. But not to her. He had to set her free to the man who was her hero. She could not be blamed.It was the cruel fate who refused to give them the chance.
Jia was thoughtful enough. During the last days of their stay, she gave their son all the time to spend with him. She wanted him to be remembered in happy memories.
At that short span of time, they went to different beaches and taught Jian how to swim. They watched movies and dine together as a family. They played outdoor games as well as those computer games. Most of all, she allowed him to tuck his son into his bed and sleep with him.
The time was never enough but as every story has always its finale, their most beautiful chapters had to close.
