AT THE FUNERAL
JOHN'S POV:
These 4 years I have missed Jenny a lot!!!. I have remembered her every memory in my mind... I wanted to see her again, feel her again... wanted to take her in my arms and love her. But I was bound by the duties and responsibilities. I was appointed as the Knight of WitchWorld, for which I have to leave to WitchWorld with Priam as his knight, after the death of King Nashall. The kingdom was mourning the death of its king. A lot was going on and Priam was the Crown Prince.
As a friend and as his knight, I cannot level his side back then. It was not that, I wanted to leave Jenny here alone, but I had not many options. I still remember when she asked me to promise her to come back.
I was broken and angry at myself, for not fulfilling the promise I made to her. After 4 years when I finally came back to Witchdom, I didn't waste any time rushing back to my home.
But to my surprise, I didn't find Jenny there. I was confused.
FLASHBACK A FEW HOURS AGO***
I was standing at the door with a bunch of flowers in my hand. I was nervous and happy at the same time. Each time was passed with lots of emotional frenzy in my mind. I will be seeing her after long 4 years. I smiled like a fool to remember her face. I wonder how beautiful she must be by now.
I am sure she had been grown into a beautiful woman. I hope she still loves me. I know she must be angry at me at first for not coming back all these years... But I know how to make her understand. I am sure she will understand.
I looked at the flowers I was holding on to, the white lilies. Her favorite flower. She must forgive me now. I knocked at the door impatiently, waiting for her.
A voice from inside echoed-" Who is it?"
It was no other than my mother. I know she had missed me too. The door opened revealing her shocked face. I smiled as I quickly hugged her. She was too shocked to respond right away. She was looking at me after 4 years. I asked while still hugging her-" Did you miss me, mom?"
She came back to her senses as she dropped her arms around me and caress my back. She broke down in tears as I broke the hug, looking at her. Tears were filled in her eyes. She put her hands shakily at my face to make sure I am standing right before her. She smiled with tears as she checked me from top to bottom. She said slowly-" J-John?... My son... Ho-How are you?"
I smiled as I replied-" I am alright, mom. How are you?"
She was overwhelmed to see me as she was not able to speak properly. She said with her shaky voice-" I-I am alright too... My son... where have you been? Why have you not returned?"
I said while kissing her cheeks and holding her shoulder-" I will tell you everything mom, but first tell me where is Jenny?"
Her face dropped as she looked at me with shocking eyes. I asked with a confused face-" What happened, mom? Where is she?" I tried to peep inside as I push her slowly and came inside. I call her-" Jenny? Jenny.....? Where are you?"
I turned back to mom with confusion, when I didn't get her reply. I asked-" Is Jenny not at home?"
She stood there like a stone. Guilt was clearly showing in her eyes. I walked towards her as I asked in a serious tone-" Mom, where is Jenny?"
She looked down as she said-" S-she is not here...."
I frowned at her words as I asked-" Then where is she?"
The next sentence made me fall to the ground. She said how they made Jenny leave the house when she was pregnant. How they had misunderstood her. My eyes turned wide hearing all these. How can she? She was the one who chose her for me... then why? S-she was pregnant? Oh my god... What had happened?
I didn't wait for any second longer as I rushed to the address she said Jenny is residing right now. Tears a=were rolling down from my eyes. This was all my fault... How can I? How can I leave her like this? She must have gone through a lot... Don't worry Jenny... I am here now... I will make everything right now. You have given birth to our child. I am so unlucky, as I didn't know about my child... She/he must be grown up now... I am sure Jenny is a good parent.
I was feeling guilty and impatient on my way, as I rode the horse faster towards her home. Finally, after some time, I reached there. I saw a small house. is she staying here? I have failed you, Jenny... I was supposed to make you happy, give you all the things you deserved but I failed... Will you forgive me, Jenny?
I came down from my horse as I rushed inside the house. But it was empty. I started looking at the rooms but everything was scattered. My heart started to feel scared. Is she alright? Where is she? Did she leave from here too?
I was thinking all this when a lady came inside with a frown on her face. She asked-" Who are you? What are you doing here?"
I looked back at her as I thought she must be a local... She must know about Jenny... I quickly went towards her and asked in a worried tone-: Do you know Jenny? Where is she? She lives here right? She is my wife... She must live here with a child... Do you know where is she now?"
She looked at me with a confused face as she said-" You are John?"
I wonder how she knows my name... But I thought... Jenny must have mentioned about me... I smiled to see she still remembered me. I nodded as I asked once again-" Where is she? Can you tell me?"
But her face was sad... she slowly said-" She is not here...."
I frowned as I asked-" What do you mean by not here? Did she relocate somewhere else? Do you know where is she now?"
She looked at me with a sad face... she replied with a broken voice-" S-she is no m-more..."
My world crashed as I still cannot believe my ears...She told me how she died and she is having a funeral. I rushed from there like a mad person as I can't believe her words anymore. I went inside the church and saw there was a coffin. I froze at the place, my legs gave up as I cannot feel my legs move further.
END OF FLASHBACK***
I burst open the door. I said-" Jenny....!! I am here... " While looking here and there to find her. There was still a hope that this was all a lie.
I saw Brad was standing there... they were attending her funeral. I slowly walked towards her as I saw her lifeless face in the coffin..... NOOOOO!!! This is not real... Tell me this is a dream...
I screamed-" NO..... NO... This is all a dream.. tell me... tell me this is a dream... Jenny... wake up... See I am john. I came back... Please forgive me... Please... This was all my fault... Please talk to me, Jenny... Please wake up... please"
I broke down on my knees while hugging her coffin. I cannot think anything right now... My world had stopped... How can I do such a thing to her? She doesn't deserve this... This was all my fault!!!!
Everyone was looking at me with silence and sadness on their face. I was sobbing thinking all the good and bad memories of her when a small hand touched my shoulder. I looked up at him with my red puffy eyes. A small kid was standing in front of me. His eyes were so much similar to Jenny's. I looked at her confusedly, as he said with his little face-" Jenny... is sleeping.. she is sick... She will come back again... don't cry"
I looked at him with confusion as I can't understand who is he. Brad came towards me slowly as he took the kid in his arms. I was looking at them with a confused face. Brad said while looking at him-" This is Jonathan, Jenny's son... and yours too."
My eyes widened as I heard he is my son... My hands were trembling as I looked at the kid with happiness and guilty at the same time. He is my son? Mine and Jenny's child... the symbol of our love. I stood up as I looked at the kid. He was looking just like Jenny.
Tears started falling from my eyes with happiness. He is my son!!! I cannot believe it. I slowly put my hands towards his cheeks. I was overwhelmed to see him. I touched his baby cheeks which were so soft. My heart flutters as soon as I touched him.
I forwarded my hands towards him to which he responded. He came to my arms. I caress his cheeks and said with a broken voice-" I-I am you, dad!!!"
He looked at him with his little doe eyes. I chuckled at his behavior. I am sure he is as shocked as I am. I smiled at him weakly as I said-" you are my son... Ca-can you call me dad once?"
He was still looking at me with a confused face ass this time he turned his face. I looked at the wy and saw he was looking at a lady standing there. He called-" Mumma!!!! Is he my dada?"
She nodded as Jonathan looked at me with his happy face now. His little hands wrapped my neck which made me chuckle in satisfaction. He said -" Dada!!! I miss you"
I smiled as I tighten the hug taking him in my embrace. I replied-" dad missed you too"
I cannot describe my feeling at that time. He was my son... how unlucky father I saw,... I never knew about him.... how bad a father I have been... I sobbed while taking him in my arms. But why did he call that lady, Mumma? there were a lot of things going on inside my head.. lots of questions...
Brad understood my confusion as he gestured the lady to take Jonathan from me. Brad said-" Come with me"
I nodded and followed him. He explained Patricia's sacrifice and her love for Jonathan. I must thank her for taking care of Jenny and Jonathan these years.
We came back home where Jenny used to live. Patricia showed me her room. She said-" That was Jenny's room. You can stay there... I will put Jonathan to sleep. I will bring food after that"
I nodded as I replied-" Thank you, Patricia, for taking care of them"
She smiled as she said-" I love them as my family... I have just done what a family would do"
she left as I sighed. I took a look at the room. Just as I expected... The room was full of Jenny's vibe. Books, pens, papers, ink.... and.... my picture...
Without my knowledge tears escaped from my eyes. I sat on the chair as I looked at the books. I can feel her presence. I hugged the book and started crying. Suddenly my eyes fell on the box kept nearby. I took the box and opened it, there were letters!!!
Was it for me? I opened the letters one by one.
They were indeed for me. jenny's letter.!!!
" John...
It has been almost a week now... where are you? When will you come back? I don't know your address, So I will write letters till the day you come back. Please be safe.. and come back to me soon...
Your Jenny"
"Dear John...
Don't get angry with your parents, It was just a misunderstanding... I am sure everything will go alright as soon as you return. Come back soon. I am waiting
Your Jenny"
"John
I am pregnant!!! I am so happy... I wish you are here... Come back, please... I miss you
Your Jenny"
"John...
It has been almost 10 months.. our child will birth soon... Please come back now... I love you.
Your Jenny"
"Dear John...
It's a boy... He is almost 6 months now... Do you know he looks like me? I know don't get mad at me... he looks like you too. We miss you
Your Jenny"
" Dear John...
Did you forget about me? It's been 2 years... your son is growing up... He needs his dad. Please come back soon...
Your Jenny"
"John...
I am sorry... I broke our promise forever... I have a heart condition... They said I don't have much time... but I want to live. Please come back... I need you
Your Jenny"
"John...
Patricia is a good and kind girl... She is taking care of us. She had taken responsibility for our child... I am at peace that Jonathan will no longer be an orphan after I leave.
Your Jenny"
"John
Know that No matter what... I will always love you... Jonathan is 4 years old now... he sleeps with a pout... he is just like you... brave and handsome... I miss us... The day I have known what is love... I know I have only loved you.
Forever your Jenny"
I was reading every letter she wrote for me in these 4 years, tears were not stopping flowing from my eyes. I hold the letters to my heart and cried for a long time. 'I lost her... It was all my fault.. my negligence... I am sorry Jenny...' I sobbed
I took out the last letter as I read.
"Dear John
I went to the physician today, she said I have only a few months left. I don't want to die... I wanted to live a happy life with you. But I have to leave... Know that will leave within ur son. There is one last wish I have. Please marry Patricia. She is the only one who can look after our son and you. I know you have a lot of things in your mind... when you read this. but if you are reading this that means you have come back... Patricia is the only one who can take care of Jonathan as a mother after me. give her respect. Give her what she deserves.
I love you
Your Jenny"