My companion

by ChiHaru

11 Jan 2019 795 readers Score 8.8 (29 votes) PDF Mobi ePub Txt


Around a year or two ago I took notice to a few couples moving into my neighborhood, some of which had children which was new because this was a retirement type of neighborhood.

No one paid any mind though, at community meetings most of the older house owners were glad for the change. To break it down the neighborhood was to peaceful, it needed some vibrance.

Why not families with kids and their pets, a lot of vibrance with the constant house parties and holiday parties plus people come to your house with baked goods. There's more than that but that's the main events.

Now I Ryan Wayne have gained such a special friendship which I absolutely cherish, one of the families had an elder son named Oliver Reece.

Never held back especially when he walked from across the street from his yard to say, "How's the weather up there, I bet it's warmer than the weather down here."

The boy at an average is in his late teens because of his refined facial features, but then again his body and skin looked looked anemic. I couldn't help but laugh as he stood face to chest with me on my worn wooden porch as I was watering my flowers.

It was a tad rude to me and I had always taken an offense to comments about how bizarre my height was, that's why I'm apparently the neighborhood giant grouch.

To me you don't go around fucking pointing out the obvious, it's worse when it's a feature of a person's body. Extremely rude too, like you don't see a bomb and decide to cut all the wrong wires.

That was our first encounter though, our second encounter was when I was outside having myself a little cigarette time. Oliver was outside with the other children whom didn't hesitate to point out that he was the weakest link, they seemed to have an argument before Oliver walked away.

By the looks of it they did upset him, as he walked away he was wiping his face in his sweater sleeve. I genuinely wanted to take my leave but I sat there and waited, he eventually found his way in my yard yet again.

I didn't acknowledge his presence but instead shifted over, offering him a seat next to me which he took. 

"Cigarettes aren't going to make you leave any longer old man.", glancing over he was just staring at me without a break to blink.

"Listen kid I'm not that old and everyone has a vice they partake in, what happened with those kids there?"

I got a shrug by now I had put out my cigarette with a suspicion of Oliver being terminally ill, "They're just asses all I wanted was to make a friend, how old are you?"

I was right and I was also right with him being ill when he started wheezing,"I'm 56, you?"

"I'm a home schooled nineteen year old, Oliver Reese and you?", little cough came not a second after his introduction to me as far as I can remember.

My intention was not not push the subject of his health so I didn't mention it at all, "Retired police officer, Ryan Wayne and it's nice to meet you kid."

"Like wise Ryan."

Ever since day we've shared many bits and pieces of our lives to one another, I did find out that Oliver just had very weak lungs. Lived with both parents and three elder siblings, his mother thought him his school lessons. Father is a businessman.

In return I told him that I had no children or partner, five siblings though who occasionally visited. All true, all choices I never had regrets for.

Over the next couple of weeks we've spent almost every afternoon in each other's company, I had expressed to Oliver that my siblings and I often went camping. Hiking and even visited the beach when I was around his age, he of course wanted to hear stories and in return expressed he had dreams of doing those same things.

His mother wouldn't allow it but I did get the opportunity to take him to the beach, that was a fun day watching the frail brown hair and blue eyed boy have fun in the shallow water while the sun shone in all it's brilliance.

The day that followed after was another warm one but we spent it on my porch having ice cream, it all might seem abnormal. Our bond but his father did thank me at one point for making Oliver's life much more fun, he also said to ignore his wife's ways.

Now fast forward to a month of me making everyday worth it, Oliver was trying to braid my over grown black hair which went well pass my shoulders.

Our conversations finally landed us on a sensitive spot, "You know I've never asked but how tall are you Ryan?"

A little chuckle came out but I was no longer insecure about my height, "I'm actually 6ft'7 Ollie."

"Oh wow, am just 5ft'6. You worked out because of your job?", I noded.

Once he was done he'd shown me his work in a hand held mirror and I'd praised him for it, not to long after he left as it was nighttime. The days that followed I spent them alone until his father came to my doorstep one late evening, he didn't seem to be withholding happy news.

His features were fixed in pain, he had come to tell me that the last time I saw Oliver he actually collapsed after a coughing fit. He even coughed up blood and had to be rushed to the hospital, the lung problem is at a critical point. He said at this point they didn't want to let the kid suffering and they were going to tell the doctors to disconnect the equipment, he'd advise to visit the very next day which I didn't question doing.

That morning I had to use my policeman perks to get in as it wasn't visiting hours, but once I was in the room Oliver's father sent me to my heart broke.

Seeing how he was wasting away, knowing that I was going to loose him I bit back my over powering emotions and bid fair well to my companion. I knew that we'd probably meet in another life, I'd hope actually.

Later on that day once I was at home I remember breaking down and crying for what felt like the first time in my life, being a policeman made me have steel emotions but this time they turned to liquid. Soon after the days flew by and then it was the funeral, a small yet intimate funeral on a rainy day. I distinctly remember that Oliver's mother was inconsolable, her husband held up for his wife.

I on the other hand didn't show any emotions as I stood under my umbrella that is until I got home, I broke down pretty much like I did the first time but choose to do some gardening. Yes it was still raining but I didn't mind. A couple days after my new routine began which was making various colorful bouquets of flowers and taking it to Oliver's grave, I still do it at my age of 60.

I still do it because I'll never forget the impact of Oliver on my lonesome life.