FLORENCE JOHNSON

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I finally arrived at the lobby of the airport. I inhaled and exhaled deeply.

"Alright. Time to hit the road.", I said to myself as I dragged my luggage with my left hand and held a small blue ribboned box with my right hand. I took a taxi and looking at the places that passed by, it looked so nostalgic. I passed by our school back in the day. The school was empty like a ghost town. It was a sunday after all. Passing through many shops, I spotted the music shop where she bought her flute. The driver pulled over infront of the shop and I paid the bill. Taking my luggage with me, I entered the shop.

"How may I help you?", a voice of a guy around my age greeted me.

"Hey.", I greeted back in the hope that he still remembers me after five years. He looked and observed me really closely and he smiled.

"Good to see you're doing well Florence.", he said.

"Good to see you as well Jordan.", I replied.

"How are things going for you back there?", Jordan asked. I sighed and smiled at him.

"It's fine.", I replied.

"I bet you've graduated from college already.", Jordan teased.

"Of course I already did just a year ago.", I replied.

"Awesome. What did you take back in college?", Jordan asked.

"Music Arts Education.", I replied.

"Oh so you're a Music teacher already?", he asked and I nodded.

"I plan to work here; back in my old school.", I said.

"Putting that aside, how are you with Sophia?", Jordan asked. I sat down on the seat Jordan offered me and I frowned.

"Truth is, even I don't know the answer to that. We haven't been able to communicate since the day I left.", I replied.

"What?! Why? I mean, I thought it was going great?", Jordan asked in surprise.

"Now that I have the chance to live here again, I wanted to make things clear between Sophia and I.", I replied.

"I see. Sophia just came here the other day. To be honest, she's not looking that good. I don't know why because I don't want to invade a personal life of another person.", Jordan said. After hearing what Jordan said frightened me and it made me worry.

"I hope she's okay. You have to go and see her.", Jordan said and I nodded.

"Can I leave my things here? I promise to come back.", I asked.

"Be sure to come back here with her.", Jordan replied. I smiled at him and I dashed out of the music shop. I ran as fast as I could and I arrived infront of Sophia's house. It looked like it wasn't tended for a long time. I knocked on the door but nobody answered. I then tried to open the door and it did open.

"Hello?", I called out if there was anybody home but I didn't hear any reply. The house was dirty and it looked abandoned. Wait, did she and Mrs. Wright move out or something? I snapped myself out and I searched through the kitchen and living room but I didn't find her. I went upstairs and I first tried to look for her in her own room. I twisted the door knob and it was locked. This caught my attention. I observed the door to see if I could push it down and I can see that it was kind of old and the edges were rusty. I mustered my energy and hit the door with my right shoulder. The door moved and I pushed it again. The door was now loose and I opened it. I looked around her room and it was messy. How on earth did this happen? Knowing her, she'd be freaking out if her or someone's room was dirty. Then I noticed a shadow behind the curtains. I slowly approached it. Gently removing the curtain in front of me, I spotted a skinny girl sleeping next to a window.

"Sophia?", I said. She didn't budge. I removed the long hair that was covering her face and placed it behind her ear. Her eyes twitched and slowly opened. She slowly sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She looked so pale and skinny. It was like she hadn't eaten or slept in a long time. She looked and stared at me for a long time.

"Florence? Is that you?", she slowly asked with a weak voice.

"Yes. It's me. I'm back.", I replied. She weakly raised her arms and I leaned in near her because I knew that she wanted to hug me. Her face was emotionless and she looked so sad.

"Welcome back.", she whispered in my ear. I unconciously started to silently cry. She was waiting for me after all this time. I hugged her tight and I could hear her soft sobs.

"I missed you. You don't know how much I was hurt because I was lonely.", she weakly said.

"Shh... I know. I know because I love you even after five whole years. I felt lonely without you. I even yearned for you. I begged them to let me live here and after five years, they decided to let me go.", I replied.

"Mom died last year. I was all alone. I felt numb. I stopped school and I didn't take college. Mom fell ill for three years and I worked to pay for our house bills and hospital bills but then she gave up and stopped fighting. I was all alone. You weren't there. I decided to shut myself out and feel numb. I felt like life hated me. I wanted to die. I knew in my head that you weren't coming back. I was fired from work because I fell weak. So I didn't have any money to pay for the bills so our electricity and water got cut off and I didn't have the money to sustain myself. Everything was breaking apart. But seeing you here, feeling your warm hug has turned my cold numb heart warm again. ", Sophia said. She's been through so much. This time, I cried and I felt her cry with me.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. If only I had been here sooner. I'm an idiot.", I apoligized. Sophia shook her head and looked at me. Her emotionless face turned into a happy smile.

"You came just in time.", she replied.

"I love you so much Sophia and I'm sorry you had to go through so much.", I said. She pulled away from me and looked at me.

"Don't worry. What's important is we are together now and I won't be lonely anymore.", Sophia replied. I smiled at her and I kissed the tip of her nose.

"Me too. I love you even more.", Sophia said and I pulled her into a gentle hug.

"I'll take care of you until the end. No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you.", I told her. She looked at me with teary eyes. I wiped her tears away.

"Alright. Since I will be taking care of you, I will cook something for you. What do you want to eat?", I asked.

"Curry.", she replied.

"Cool. I want you to sleep while I'm cooking, okay?", I asked and she obediently went to bed and slept. I closed the door and headed to the kitchen. Every closet I opened was empty. I rushed to the grocery shop nearby and bought the necessary ingredients. I needed to do something for leaving her behind here. I want her to feel happy and I want her to be herself again.

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"Hey. You're food is ready.", I whispered in her ear and she slowly woke up and sat up.

"Thank you for coming back.", Sophia said. I took a chair and sat beside her.

"I promised, didn't I?", I said and she smiled.

"You did.", she replied. Should I give it now? Maybe she'll be shocked. I thought of a perfect time to give it to her.

"This tastes good.", she complimented.

"Thanks. By the way, let's take a walk later. Will that be okay?", I asked.

"Okay.", she replied. I finally thought where and when I would give it to her. After she ate, she took a shower and changed in a purple floral dress and high black boots. She wore a knitted creamy white hat and just left her long hair down. This time, she looks healthier and prettier.

"How do I look?", she shyly asked. I stared at her from head to foot and seeing how pretty she is made me blush.

"You look like spring; pretty and adorable.", I replied. She smiled at me and held my arm. Resting her head on my shoulder, she felt happy and smiled.

"I can't believe I still love you so much even though we haven't talked and seen each other for five years.", Sophia said. What she said was true. The same goes for me.

"I guess because we've been best friends for a long time and falling in love with each other just made ourselves yearn more for each other.", I replied.

"I guess so.", She said. Sophia lets go of my arm and stood in front of me.

"You have to say Hi to mom later.", Sophia said. I smiled at her and nodded. After talking, we went outside of the house and Sophia felt weak when we got out.

"I haven't gone outside in a year. Though I went to the music shop the other day but I went home right away since I fainted.", Sophia explained. Then I had an idea. I knelt down.

"What are you doing?", Sophia asked.

"Let me give you a piggy back ride.", I said.

"Florence, we're not kids anymore.", she replied.

"There will be kids in the future.", I told her. I was giving her some kind of clue.

"Huh?", she asked. Knowing my best friend, she can be dumb sometimes. I laughed.

"What?", she asked. I chuckled. I stood up and kissed her head.

"Nothing. If you don't want a piggy back ride...", I paused as I took her and lifted her up, "I'll carry you like this. You're my princess anyway.", I replied. Blushing and somewhat embarrassed, she lightly punched me on my chest.

"Stop it.", she said.

"Mm... 'kay.", I replied as we started to walk. It was autumn and the leaves were turning brown. She closed her eyes and I hugged her like how you would hug a baby in your arms. In my case, she is the love of my life. We arrived at the music shop a few minutes later.

"Welcome back.", Jordan greeted us.

"Hey.", Sophia and I greeted back.

"Good thing you kept your promise.", Jordan said.

"Of course. I don't break promises. And with that being said, Jordan, may I?", I asked and he nodded. Sophia was wondering what Jordan and I were doing.

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SOPHIA WRIGHT

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I wondered what they were talking about. Jordan gestured me to sit and so I did. To my surprise, Florence sat infront of the black grand piano. I remembered that if we meet again, he would play the piano for me. I was so overjoyed over the sight of my best friend and lover playing the piano again. I missed this feeling when I listen to him play the piano. Jordan approached me and handed me a box. I opened it and to my surprise, I spotted a flute. I looked and smiled at Jordan. Florence signalled me to stand beside him and told me to play the song he last played. When he played the intro, I could already tell that it was the song his mom made. I positioned my fingers on the flute and began to play. The harmonious tune we both made felt so good and sounded so beautiful. Jordan then joined us with his violin. It was like a symphony. It was so fun. I felt alive. After a few minutes, we finished playing the song. All of us took a deep breath and exhaled deeply.

"That was so fun. It felt so nostalgic.", I said.

"I'm glad you liked it.", Florence replied. Jordan then played another song. It sounded so romantic and before I knew it, I wondered why Florence knelt infront of me.

"What are you doing?", I asked. Somewhat, I felt nervous and anxious.

"Have you noticed that I hadn't used my bike lately five years ago? That's because I sold it and bought something precious.", Florence replied.

"You sold your bicycle? No wonder we just walked the last time we went home together five years ago. But what did you buy?", I asked. Then Florence took out a small blue ribboned box from his pocket. He handed it to me. Slowly untying the ribbon, I opened it. To my surprise, it was a ring.

"What's this?", I asked. I was ultimately surprised to see the ring on the palm of my hand.

"Sophia Wright, I love you so much that I want to be together with you forever.", Florence said. I just looked at him in utter surprise. Was he going to propose to me? I mean sure we're old enough to get married but this is just so sudden.

"Sophia Wright.", he said my name and I looked at him straight in his serious eyes that were looking at me.

"Can I have you for the rest of my life?", he asked. He's proposing. He is actually proposing to me. I felt confused but the happiness that I felt in my heart was overwhelming that it dominated my mind and body. I knelt down beside him and hugged him so tight. Tears were coming out of my eyes and it were out of my control.

"You told me five years ago that when we meet again, I wouldn't be crying tears of pain but with tears of happiness with a smile on my face. You were right and yes, my answer is yes."

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FLORENCE JOHNSON

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The sky was dark and I decided to enter our old house. It was still the same as it was back then and the furnitures were covered in dusty white sheets. I walked around from the kitchen, living room and Michael's room. It all looked the same as it was then. Only the dusts made it look older than it looks. I checked my old room and when I opened the door, it felt so nostalgic. I watched tge sight of my old dimly lit room and I saw the window. I opened my window and I saw Sophia's closed window. The room behind it was lit up so I was guessing that Sophia was in there. Then I saw a sudden movement of the window. To my sight was the most beautiful woman in the world.

"Hey..", I said.

"You finally opened your window.", she replied.

"I guess I did.", I replied back.

"Can you come here?", she asked. I smiled at her and closed my window. Hurrying down the stairs, I went to the garage and took the ladder. I went outside and even though it was so cold, I didn't care and I placed the ladder in line with Sophia's window.

"What is it this time?", she asked. I just smiled at her and I started to climb up the ladder.

"Are we going to play with the leaves? Because last time, we played with snow.", she said again. This time, I was now infront of her. She looked at me with those beautiful eyes and that smile that completes my day.

"You wanted me to come so here I am.", I told her. She crossed her arms and I saw the ring that I gave her today. She's wearing it. I can't believe how happy I am right now. She noticed that I was looking at her hand.

"Oh. This?", she raised her hand, "I'm going to wear this all the time.", she continued. I smiled and I really appreciated what she did. In return, I showed her my right hand.

"You have one too?", she asked.

"Yeah. It's to keep girls away from me.", I replied.

"Really? Is that a charm or something? I could use one of those.", she asked. I wrapped my left arm around her shoulders and I

pulled her close to me. Taking and raising her left hand to the level of my sight I replied,

"This ring? This is a charm too. It's to let boys stay away from you. Also,", I paused and I kissed her. Pulling away, I sweetly smiled at her, "It's to let them know that you're mine."

After that, we kissed under the bright full moon where leafless trees sway with the mild autumn breeze. The echoes of the crickets I could faintly hear, but our hearts were the ones I heard beating the loudest as this kiss we share is the same as exchanging whispers of I love you. Two best friends in love under the cold season of Autumn.