Unforgettable

Unforgettable

by A.J. Lawdring

weak tea

 “She’s in the activity room.”

“Thanks Betty.” Henry lingered a second.

“There’s been no change.”

“Okay, I was just hoping.”

“I know.” Betty went back to her paperwork.

Henry turned and made his way down the shiny hallway, sliding his hand along the worn handrail. The building had a lingering odor of bleach mixed with urine that didn’t match the cheerful decor. He turned the corner and stepped through the door to the activity room. He saw a row of wheelchairs lined up along the far wall. The activity director plunked a few keys on the old piano.

Henry walked over and tapped his hand on the top of the piano and the director looked up.

“Henry!”

“Hi Tabitha. How are you today?”

“I’m good.”

“How’s Roxie?”

“Same old.”

Henry sighed. “I was hoping.”

Tabitha pushed back the bench and stood, leaned her elbows on top of the piano. “We all hope.”

“I know.” Henry sighed. “Do you think she’d mind if I talk to her?”

“Only one way to tell. Edmond is right there, if you need anything.” Tabitha pointed to a strong man sitting behind a desk in the corner opposite the wheelchairs.

“Okay, I’ll give it a try.”

Henry started toward the far wall, then stopped, and turned back to Tabitha. He leaned in and whispered in her ear.

Tabitha thought for a second and then nodded. “Sure, but give me a second.”

“Okay, thanks,” Henry said.

Henry walked across the empty space to the wheelchairs and stopped next to a woman with snow white hair. The wheels of her chair were still. Her hands rested in her lap. The woman wouldn’t look at him standing there. He knelt down and took her hands in his. His thumb caressed her wedding ring. “Hi, Roxie. How are you today?”

“How do you know my name?”

“Tabitha, that lady over there by the piano, told me.”

Roxie studied the lady at the piano and shook her head.

“Would you like to dance?”

“I don’t know how to dance,” Roxie said.

Henry turned and nodded at Tabitha and then turned back toward Roxie.

“Are you sure?”

Roxie cocked her head, listening to the melody coming from the piano. Her eyes lit up.

Henry held out his hand.

“I think I can dance after all. “Unforgettable” was my Henry’s favorite song. Now that I think of it, I wonder what happened to him.”

And with that, Roxie pushed up from the wheelchair and into Henry’s arms.

About the author

 A.J. Lawdring writes feel good stories from the heart of Wisconsin, USA. Her stories have appeared in the Window, Carrier Wave, and Miracle anthologies published by Clarendon House Publications, Zombie Pirate Publishing, and at Spillwords and The World of Myth. Connect with A.J. at https://julieceger.wordpress.com/a-j-lawdring-author/ and on Facebook at A.J. Lawdring-Author.