He was a typical college student pursuing a typical college life; nine months were preoccupied with school out in KU studying Chemistry with the remaining time spent back in Barstow. Barstow had always been a particularly quiet town, at least the portion that this man lived in with his parents for those three months every summer. It was almost completely quiet all the time were it not for one exception.
“When are you coming over?” She asked.
Silence.
“Zane, why won’t you say anything?” She prodded.
Still silence.
“Zane…I--”
“Yeah, I’m here…just tired okay? I don’t know if I can manage to come over tonight, Ol--hang on I have to take another call.”
The phone was set down a moment and there was silence once more. The next sound to be heard was that of the cell phone turning off. He smiled and collapsed from exhaustion. It had been one of those days.
Once more silence was disturbed, the house phone rang disturbing the rest of the peaceful. He looked over at it and sighed, it continued to ring. It rang three more times and then nothing…silence. He rubbed his hands through his hair and looked out the window at the clear blue sky and started to daydream.
He spoke aloud to no one, “Things used to be different. I remember those days…as if they were just yesterday.”
With that, he pulled the cord out of the phone and fell soundly asleep.
She was a hurricane of emotions, never resting in one for long enough for most to find reliability in her. Between utter joy and cold misery, the sky was the limit with her. She was still in High School, though desperately anxious to get out. Her life was not intended to be a quiet one, always motion and sound must be going on in order for there to be a balance in her mind. She couldn’t stand it any longer, she had to call him.
“When are you coming over?” She asked.
Silence.
“Zane, why won’t you say anything?” She prodded.
Still silence.
“Zane…I--”
“Yeah, I’m here…just tired okay? I don’t know if I can manage to come over tonight, Ol--hang on I have to take another call.”
She threw her phone down on the bed, she knew what that meant when the words “take another call” were mentioned. Her pillow carried her tears and did not resist being gripped fiercely by two usually gentle hands. Today was going to be one of those days.
She picked up the phone again and tried the other number, biting her nails, desperately waiting for an answer. Four rings, one more till the answering machine, she didn’t have the right state of mind to leave a message so she hung up. Once more she clung to her pillow and cried and cried.
“Why won’t he talk to me?” She said between her tears.
"Why?"
She cried herself to sleep staring out at that clear blue sky.
He woke from his nap startled, “Why can’t I face her?”
She arose and clung to her sheets, “Why can’t he face me?”
They both started to walk to their doors. It was about 9pm and both thought it best to put on some shoes. He thought also to bring a jacket, she was too flustered to think of one. One turned left and the other turned right. They both intended to walk to the other’s door and do something, what that was exactly neither were sure. He had his thumbs in each pant pocket with his collar flipped up. She had her arms crossed, visibly cold. Both were looking down at the ground trying to figure out what they were going to do next. They both looked up with a gust of cool wind,
Their eyes met.
She stopped and turned her head to the side, looking away, desperately thinking what to do then. He stopped as well, almost thinking she didn’t want to see by her head turn and started to turn around but his heart felt otherwise and he started walking towards her even faster. He was just three steps from her when he stopped. She began to cry ever so softly and looked up. He took those three steps and embraced her with a tender kiss.
“Olivia…I--” he was cut off.
She put her finger to his lips, “Don’t speak now, enjoy the silence and the moment.”
They stayed in each other’s arms, silent. She ran her hands through her hair finally while peering into his eyes and he met her hand and gripped it gently. She smiled and wondered what would happen next on such a perfect night. The wind picked back up once more and the sound of fireworks could be heard across the neighborhood. It was time to celebrate the Fourth once more.
Zane looked up to see a sparkler, “Do you remember what you said last year?”
“Yeah, I said how much I had regretted not spending the Fourth with you. At least we are here now this year,” Olivia said with a smile.
“Hey, let’s take a walk, what do you say?” Zane asked while looking out at the night sky up the street.
So they began to walk. He took off his coat and put it around her shoulders, though she attempted to refuse it at first not wanting to let him get cold either. He continued to insist until she took it willingly and they walked arm-in-arm. They walked about five blocks, staring and watching the stars and fireworks together in silence. Then the silence was broken.
A man rushed up to them, “Give me all your money and valuables now!”
Zane, not seeing his aggressor clearly said, “A stick-up? in my own neighborhood? That’s royal! Who put you up to this prank buddy?”
The man became aggravated, “I’m not joking around here, Kid! Now don’t make me repeat myself!”
Olivia grew frightened, “Zane…I don’t think he’s kidding around!”
Zane laughed aloud and responded, “On the Fourth of July, I sincerely doubt this is--”
The next two sounds to be heard were that of a fired gun and Olivia’s body hitting the ground; Zane didn’t finish that last sentence. His mouth opened in horror but no sound echoed from it. The next action was Zane charging forward at his love’s murderer, another gunshot was heard follow by a gasp from Zane as he collapsed to the ground. As he lay there he looked over at her motionless body and various thoughts ran through his head as his assailant stole his wallet.
“Why now? Of all the days why today?”
“…I never told her how much…how much I loved her.”
“Is this the end? Will I ever get to kiss my love again?”
All the lights around him began to blur into one steady glow, the picture was still there just not in focus. The thief took off into the night and the sound of sirens could be heard from the distance. They were coming but they would not arrive in time. The blur and siren were fading, like a piano striking its last chord with the house lights dimming down. Silence.
“Wake up, Zane, Wake up!” the voice said as a bright light hit Zane’s eyes.
“Wha-where am I?” Zane said painfully as his eyes closed shut from the bright light.
“You’re with me, Silly!” the voice replied.
Zane opened his eyes once more with less pain this time, finding himself in a bed in a large white room. Olivia was there beside him smiling. He felt where he had been shot. Nothing was there.
Zane grasped the covers, “I was shot!”
Olivia touched Zane’s face, “I bet, you were having some nightmare there. I could hear you all the way downstairs. That’s the last time I let you fall asleep to one of those horror films.”
He kissed her and smiled, “I’ll be downstairs soon, just need to splash some water on my face and shake that dream.”
“Okay,” she said, “I’ll meet you halfway with breakfast, you can make the eggs while I finish the pancakes.”
Zane looked at a picture on the table of both of them five years ago, “Okay, I’ll meet you halfway.”