Silver Lining

I wrote this for a contest entry. The theme was 'silver linings.' I hope you enjoy it.

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"I'm afraid I have bad news, Richard."

I braced myself for the worst, "What is it, doctor?"

I had not been feeling well for the past few weeks, and I decided to go in and have some routine tests performed. It had taken several extra days to get the results back, and I was now sitting in my doctor's office listening to him give me the results. I squeezed the expensive leather armrests of the chair I sat in with a death grip.

"You have inoperable stomach cancer, and it's quite advanced. You don't have long to live."

"What? How can this be? What can we do about it?" I sputtered.

"It's too advanced for treatment, Richard. I'm sorry."

I was speechless. "So this is it, huh?" I thought.

"I have to get my affairs in order," I mumbled.

I stumbled out of the doctor's office and onto the street.

"What the hell am I gonna do now?" I said to myself.

I flagged down a cab, and it took me to a little diner just outside of town. I loved the food there, and I was considered a regular by the usual crowd and staff. I needed to go somewhere familiar and comforting.

I pushed the door open and walked inside, and the bell on the door clanged to announce my arrival.

"Hey there, Richard. What can I get for you today?" A bubbly, pixie-cut, blonde bounced her way over to the booth that I had just slumped into.

Once she got closer, she could see how pale I was, "What's wrong, Richard? You don't look so good."

I wasn't sure that I wanted to share such personal information with my waitress, but I had no one else to confide to in my life. No one. Not even a pet.

"I just got some bad news, Kindra, and it's hit me pretty hard."

She frowned, casting a shadow over her usually cheerful expression, "I'm sorry, Richard. Is there something that I can do?"

I tried to put on a smile, and I partially succeeded, "I'd like a cup of coffee to start with, then I'll decide what I'd like."

She looked at me uncertainly, like she could tell I was putting on a brave face, "I'll be right back with your coffee." She glanced at me, frowning once more, before leaving for the beverage.

I sat staring at the table with my face in my hands, "This isn't happening. I'm not that old. Why me?"

Before I knew it, Kindra was back with my coffee. She sat the cup on the table and poured the rich brown liquid into it. She added two teaspoons of sugar and a dash of cream, stirred the contents, then pushed the cup towards me.

"Thank you, Kindra," I said with a weak voice.

"Richard, do you mind if I sit with you for a while?" She said, touching my shoulder.

I looked around the diner and saw that there weren't many customers.

She read the concern in my face and added, "Mary can take care of the customers."

I nodded, "Okay. Yes, please. I would like that."

She looked relieved and sat down in the booth across from me. She tentatively reached across the table and took my hand in hers. "Tell me what's going on, Richard. I can tell something is very wrong."

Kindra is, by my estimate, twenty-something. She'd been working here at the diner for a few years now, and she never failed to smile and make me feel welcome. She is a petite woman with a nice figure and a cute face. Her eyes are bright, and her smile is breath-taking.

I exhaled a shaky breath, "I.. I just came from the doctor. I've got cancer."

Her face fell, and her eyes began to get moist. "No, Richard... I'm so sorry."

"I don't know what to do, Kindra. I'm scared to death." I squeezed her hand.

"Richard, what about your family? How are they taking it?" She asked.

"I don't have any family. I live alone. There's no one I can rely on."

She looked into my eyes, and I could see emotions swirling in hers, "Richard. I've seen you come in here for years now, ever since I started working here. I've seen you treat your fellow customers and the staff with caring and respect. You've bought meals for the homeless, and I know you are a good man. You deserve better."

"I can't stand by and watch you go through this alone. I want to be there for you like you've been there for everyone here." The tears ran down her face.

I sat there looking into her eyes, contemplating what I should do.

"Kindra, you don't have to do that. I'm just a customer, and I've appreciated the service. You make everyone feel like they are family."

"That's what I'm saying, Richard. I feel like you are family. I want to help you."

I nodded, "Thank you, Kindra. You are a good woman."

* * *

A week had gone by, and I had gotten to know Kindra much better. She was a single mother of a smart-as-a-whip son, Billy. His father had cheated on Kindra with her best friend and ran off with her, leaving Kindra and toddler Billy to fend for themselves. She took the job at the diner to support them. She barely made ends meet.

"Hi, Richard!" Kindra kissed my cheek as she came into my house. She was dressed in a pale yellow sundress, and she had a cute hat sitting at an angle on her head. She looked so stylish.

"Hello, Kindra. You look great. Very cute." I hugged her.

"Thank you! You look good, too. I like those shorts on you. Are you ready to go? Billy is staying at Amanda's house tonight."

"Sure, let's go."

We got to the festival with just enough time to make a circuit around all the booths. I won a big stuffed bear for her using my shooting skills, and she showed me up by catching the most goldfish. She was adorable. Her face was scrunched up in concentration as she stalked her goldfish prey. She stuck her tongue out when she caught me staring and laughed at me.

We maneuvered through the crowd to a good spot in time for the fireworks to begin.

We held hands as the sky lit up with beautiful shooting colors. The fireworks boomed overhead, like my heart in my chest. She leaned against me, and I put my arm around her.

She turned to me as the last flash faded from the sky and kissed me.

At my door, we stood holding hands again and looked into each other's eyes.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening, Kindra." I squeezed her hands.

"I don't want to go home, Richard. Can I stay with you tonight?"

I looked at her loving face, moved forward, wrapped my arms around her, and shared our first kiss.

* * *

I opened my eyes, and for a moment, I forgot where I was. I looked to my right. Kindra was there holding my hand. She smiled at me when she saw that I was awake, "Hey there, handsome."

I had to lick my lips to speak, "Hey, beautiful."

She pulled my hand up to her mouth and kissed the back of it, "How are you feeling?"

"Eh, better than yesterday. And a lot better, now that you are here." I said.

"Smooth talker." She leaned over and kissed me on the lips.

I grinned at her, "And it worked." I started off laughing, but then it turned into a violent cough. I coughed up some fluid and wiped my mouth. The handkerchief came away red.

"You need to settle down, Honey. Don't get yourself worked up." She squeezed my hand.

"You're right, Sweetness. You just have that effect on me." I smiled at her, and her eyes had that beautiful brightness. I love her wonderful smile.

"Would you like for me to continue where we left off?" She asked, waving the book she picked up from the stand next to the bed.

"Yes, please." I said and settled back into the bed.

I loved the time she spent with me. Reading, chatting, or just being together without talking.

Kindra read to me for hours, and I was getting exhausted. She saw me nodding off and stopped, "Okay, I think that's enough for today, my love."

"Yeah, I'm getting sleepy. Thank you for taking the time to come to visit." I smiled groggily at her.

She set the book down on the stand and got up and leaned over me.

"Anything for you, Richard. Sleep well, Love." She kissed me.

I kissed her back and shut my eyes for the last time.

* * *

Kindra sat in a chair in a suit with Billy beside her. He was wearing a little outfit, looking adorable and mischievous at the same time.

Kindra looked around the stuffy office, shifting in her seat.

A gaunt-looking older man sat on the other side of a large desk and addressed her, "Ms. Marron, I'm Mr. Rold, the executor of Mr. Barold's estate."

Kindra nodded her understanding.

"Mr. Barold's last wish was to leave his sizable estate to you and you alone. He also wanted me to give you this letter after his death."

Mr. Rold leaned over the desk and handed her a letter with her name on it, "I'll be contacting you later concerning the details of the estate. Thank you for coming."

Kindra took Billy's hand, and they went home.

Once she put Billy to bed, she got herself a drink, sat down on her couch, and pulled the letter out of her purse.

She held the letter for a moment, trying to hold back the gentle sobs. Her eyes were getting wet.

Her hands trembled as she opened the envelope.

She pulled the letter from the envelope, unfolded it, and began to read.

"My Beloved, Kindra. That day I learned about my cancer was both the worst day and best day of my life. I learned that I was going to die in the near future, and I was terrified. I also learned that at least one person was willing to care about me out of the kindness in their heart. That person was you, Kindra. My wonderful, beautiful, caring, Kindra. You gave me the strength to face each day as it came and went. You made the last weeks of my life better than the sum total of the rest of my life. You were my silver lining in my time of pain. You mean more to me than I could ever possibly convey with mere words. You will never want for anything, ever again, Kindra. You and Billy will be taken care of for the rest of your lives. Let that be the best gift I could ever give you for showing me the love you did. I love you, Kindra, with all of my heart and soul, and I can only hope that we will be together again one day, God willing. Thank you, my Love, thank you. Your loving Richard."