Lost

-Hey, wait. I want you to have something... You know, if there's really something that sucks about being trapped in an island is that we don't have any cameras or stuff to remember all the good times we've lived here. So I want to give you this. It's a small photograph of myself.
-You had it in your wallet? What don't you have there?
-Hehe, I told you. I carry everything around in here. That photograph was in case I had some unexpected administrative procedures to take care of. I don’t run that risk here. Anyway, it’ll give you something to remember me for.
-Don’t say that. We’ll meet again. You’ll make it out of here. I’ll send for a search team, they’ll find the island this time.
-No. You shouldn’t think that. This is a goodbye, Kath.
-Don’t say that.
-Look. I don’t want you thinking that. If we ever make it out of this island you know that maybe nothing would have happened between us. Maybe we would just broken up and go on with our own lives, trying to forget everything that went on here.
-That’s not true.
-You don’t know that. You’re living in a fantasy world. It doesn’t matter what you believe, I want you to think that what I’ve just told you is the truth. You know me well enough now. You know why I am how I am. I always choose to be happy, despite everything. That’s why we were happy on this God forsaken island. I don’t care about “what if”s, about how our lives would’ve been if we never crashed here, but how they could be. I care about what’s real, and that’s your happiness. So if we never meet again, I want you to think that what we had was nothing special, and to search for what makes you happy.
-Why are you saying this, Mike? Stop it, you’re making me hate you…
-In your heart you know it’s true.
-Tell me you’re just saying that. Of course it’s not true…- she gasped, on the verge of tears.
-I’m sorry. Please, go on and be happy, Kath.
They kissed and he let go of her hands. She looked at him turn around and walk away. She loved him so, but she was almost hating him now. Reluctantly, she looked away and got on the boat the islanders built. Her companions tried to comfort her, but she respecfully turned them down. She tried to think of home.

2 YEARS LATER

-Dr. Robbins. Dr. Robbins!… Kath!
-Send him to X-ray and pass him on to Dr. Schultz, my shift is almost over. What’s up, Rose?
-There’s a man on the phone that wanted to talk to you. It sounded important.
-I’ll get it in the doctors’ launch.
-OK, I’ll transfer it.
She fantasized so often. She would put the phone to her ear and she would hear his voice.
She changed her clothes and picked up the phone.
-Hello? Yes, this is me… Yes, I’m aware of that... What? What do you mean it’s been two years? It doesn’t matter. I told you: they are there.
-I’m sorry ma’am, but we have searched all around. We are almost convinced that there’s nothing in the area. Maybe the coordinates you gave us where wrong, or they just disappeared. There are just no signs of life there.
-You can’t stop looking. They are american citizens!
-We realize that, ma’am. But we’ve done everything in our power. We’re sorry. Have a nice day.
-Wait just a sec--.
She hang up, gently. She sat down and looked at the floor. It was over…
She searched in her wallet and took it out. The colors had faded slightly but she could still look into his eyes and think that the light blue background of the picture was the forever blue sky of the island, and that she was resting her head on his lap and looking up at him. She hated the state the picture was in. A tear from her crying had ruined it in the right, down corner, where his shoulder was, the very one she had rested her head on time and time again, for as long as she could until she felt her head go numb and had to switch to another position. Other memories where fading, just like the colors of the picture. The only real proof of her adventure was desintegrating, and with it her life. She couldn't hold it in anymore. She let it out as fast as she could. She didn’t like crying, she’d cried enough… but actually it never seemed to be enough.
-Hey.
A voice called out behind her. She wiped her face. She had heard that voice… many times before, but not for so long... For exactly two years. She turned around.
-Oh, my god! Is that really you?
-What's up, sis?
-Jonathan! What are you doing here?
-Ugh... Don't call me by my full name, why can't you just call me Johnny, like anybody else?
-OK, Joooohnny...
-Now you are making me feel like your little brother.
-You are my little brother.
-Yes, but I'm also a full grown man, now. Anyway... Ahm... Is something wrong? You look like you've been crying. Who's that in the picture?
-This is... The man I told you about, Mike from the island... I... They just told me I might never see him again... I just...- she was gasping-. I don't want to give up...
-Oh... I'm sorry, sis. But, you know, it's been two years now. You have to move on.
-I can't. I won't... I should. He'd want me to, but I don't want to...
-I say listen to him.
-You don't understand.
-Oh, I understand perfectly.
-Nevermind... Hey, you didn't tell me what you are doing here.
-I was in town. You know, business trip. You always bitch about not seeing me since you came back to civilization, so I thought of showing up and taking you to have lunch together. What do you say?
-OK, let me just get my bag...
-I'll get that for you. You go and clock out. I'll meet you in the parking lot.
-OK- she said and walked out of the room. The news still made her heart ache. She wanted so hard to just see him one last time, so at least she could say goodbye properly and for real this time. She looked up at the corridor she was about to walk along and she couldn't believe her eyes. Was her longing to see him so hard that she was imagining things now? He was standing right there, in front of her, smiling. He had the same tan he got in that island, but he was shaved and looked like he'd just gotten out of the shower, or from the waters of the sea that sourranded them back in the island. She didn't care if it was an halusination. She had the opportunity to tell him. She could finally say all the things she had saved for another time, now and forever.
-Mike... I...
-Oh- said Jonathan, interrupting her-. Where are my manners? I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. Kath, I'd like you to meet Mike; Mike, Kath.
-Nice to meet you... But I think I know you from somewhere, mh...- he said jokingly.
-Stop it, you fools!- she said, half crying, half laughing and ran to his arms. He opened them wide. The smell of her hair, the feeling in the back of her neck of having her arms around his waste, and her lips, and his lips, all so longed for, for so long-. But... How?
-We got tired of waiting, so we built another boat and we made it out, just like you did. I didn't care about the risks if I wasn't going to see you again. It was my only chance, my only chance at happiness, and it would have made me an hypocrite if I didn't take it. When we got to safety, I started searching for you, and found your brother. Nobody was left behind this time, but some of us didn't make it that long… I’ll tell you about it over lunch…
-I don't care, you are here...
-OK, now you made me feel my romantic life is meaningless- Jonathan said jokingly-. Come on, are we hungry or not?
-After five years of jungle food I feel I'll always be hungry- Michael answered.
-It lasts at least two years. Let's go!- Kath said, thinking that she was in a dream and about to wake up at any moment, the same feeling she had whenever something really good happened to her, whenever Mike put his arms around her and they watched the sunset lying on the beach of that beautiful island, an image in itself very dreamy. She knew she'd be having that feeling a lot from now on.





This story was inspired by the TV series Lost and the 4x4 photographs of myself that I always carry around in my wallet and that saved my ass today.