Memories

Tired and sweaty, Ken left the exercise room of his high-rise building to head back upstairs to his apartment. He was longing for a shower and was in deep thought when he bumped into a dark haired woman who was about to enter the gym. She smiled at him and her hazel eyes inspected his face briefly before she continued walking and the door shut behind her.

Dazzled by this encounter, Ken stepped into the elevator. For the rest of the day he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

His longtime girlfriend Emma had left him about a year ago. The reason for their separation was not a lack of affection for each other, but one problem that couldn’t be solved: Ken wanted kids, Emma didn’t. This topic followed them everywhere like a dark cloud over their otherwise happy days. Eventually Emma packed her bags, moved overseas, and Ken never heard from her again.

Left behind, Ken drowned himself in work, volunteering and physical activities. Raising a child would have been the only thing he would consider an actual meaningful challenge in his life, but he was quite certain that that ship had sailed.

A month later, he was going through his mail in the lobby and suddenly, he saw her again: That mysterious beauty of a woman! They exchanged a “Hi!” but then she hastily left the building. Slightly disappointed, Ken continued to go through the big pile of neglected envelopes when he found a thick one with only his first name hand written on it. Inside, he found a small black notebook.

He opened the first page and was amazed by the beautiful penmanship.

- Ken, it is very important that you read through this notebook according to the time-frames I am giving you. First, check the balance of your bank account. Read the next page after. -

Ken immediately saw that someone had anonymously deposited $20,000 into his account.

- Please read the next page in the first week of September and don’t use any of the money until I inform you why I want you to have it. -

Intrigued by the mystery of this book Ken decided to play along. He put the book into his desk drawer for the remainder of August and took it back out in the beginning of September.

- I moved here from Spain, where I lost my parents, my brother and my husband in a house fire. I was devastated but my neighbour Emma helped me to stay strong. We became close friends and l stayed with her for a while before she convinced me to move abroad to build a new life. You read that right: I am talking about your Emma. Emma told me about you and how hard it was for her to leave you. She described you as an incredibly kind person. Read the next page in the beginning of October. -

So Emma had moved to Spain. Ken still couldn’t make a connection between that information, the notebook, and why he received $20.000. However, he followed the rules and continued reading in October.

- My name is Paula and I don’t know anybody in this city. That is how I wanted it; nothing to remind me of my loss. However, I won’t be alone much longer. After I moved here I found out that I am expecting a child from my late husband. Two weeks later, I was told that I am terminally ill, but that won’t stop me from bringing a healthy baby into this world. Continue in November. -

Ken started to feel more sympathy for this stranger than he was comfortable with.

In November, the first snow covered the city and festive lights started to make it look magical. Ken turned to the next page of the notebook.

- Emma told me that her biggest wish is for you to have a child. I won’t be able to raise my son myself, so I prepared adoption papers for you. Continue in December. -

Ken was in shock. He ran out of his apartment to get some air. He tried to clear his mind but it kept spinning. As soon as he got home, he broke the rules and turned to the next page instead of waiting until December.

- I figured you wouldn’t be able to wait until December after receiving this piece of information. You need to know that my original plan was not to contact you. Even Emma doesn’t know about it. Be assured that you are not committed to being involved in this. However, in case you would like to meet me, I will leave a note with more information in your mailbox next month after the baby is born. -

It was like torture for Ken. However, he had no other choice but to wait. As announced, there was a note in his mailbox in the first week of December. In that note Paula asked him to look into the expandable inner pocket in the back. He found a small letter in there. It had been there the whole time and he only found it now.

- When I saw your friendly face in person for the first time, I knew that I made the right decision to contact you. Regardless of whether you raise my baby or not, please accept the $20.000. Those are my entire savings and I trust you will spend them wisely for him. I have nobody else. Meet me at apartment 502. Paula. -

She lived in his building! Ken knocked on her apartment door with shaky hands and when the door opened, it finally struck him: Paula was the mysterious beautiful neighbour. He hadn’t even noticed she was pregnant. She looked much weaker since the last time he saw her and when he gazed behind her, he noticed the newborn in a small crib.

Two days later, amid the holidays, Paula passed away. But Ken was reminded of her beautiful smile every time, he looked into his son’s eyes.