Derek:
I wasn't sure how I would feel when I saw Sophie again. I was sure it wouldn't be easy, actually I knew it would probably be pretty awkward. We had talked on the phone a few times, but I didn't know what it would be like to actually see her in person. I wondered if she looked the same, or if she had changed a lot.
She was to come to Ohio June 12. She would visit with her grandparents that night, and then the next day I would finally see her. She was coming over for dinner. I wanted to make things special for her. I couldn't cook, and she always laughed at me, she was an amazing cook. So my mom was cooking. Sophie's favorite, lasagna.
I needed this to be perfect. This was my chance to see the love of my life again, I couldn't mess this up. It was horrible the day before; knowing Sophie was here, just a few blocks away, but being unable to see her. It was torture. I just had to keep reminding myself I would see her soon enough, although soon enough seemed like an eternity to me.
Sophie:
Arriving in Ohio brought back so many memories. I felt like laughing and crying all at once. I didn't know how to feel; it was a rush. We got to my grandparents house just in time for dinner, I would spend the evening with them, and then the next day I would get to see Derek.
I couldn't even think about it. I had no idea how I would react to seeing him again. I just
wanted to see what happened for once though, instead of planning it out ahead of time. I needed to know how I actually felt, instead of pushing my true feelings deep down as I always did.
"Sophie! How are you, hun? I've missed you so much!"
"Hey Grams, I've missed you too," I smiled. I really was glad to see my Grams and Gramps.
Grams had spent the entire day cooking and it smelled delicious. I couldn't wait to share with them everything about my new life over dinner. We were all here. My mom, my dad, my sister, and me. We were all happy; for once we weren't arguing. I finally felt like we were a family again.
"I've got gifts for all of you, and lots. You know I can't resist buying things for you when I see something I know you'd love. You need to move back here so they don't spend months sitting in my spare bedroom. Let me just go upstairs and get them." Grams was known for buying useless knick knacks whenever she saw something she thought one of us would like. I missed getting those surprises every once in a while, for no special occasion, just simply to get a gift.
"While your Grandma goes upstairs, why don't you tell me about your new school, you playing soccer?"
"Well, no, I just never tried out at my new school," I blushed. I knew that Gramps would be disappointed.
"Oh, Soph-" But he didn't have time to be disappointed. That's when we heard a crash from upstairs. My first instinct was to laugh and think it was nothing. Grams was clumsy, she always dropped things, and we always laughed about it.
But this crash wasn't followed by the usual "Oh, silly me," or the clattering of items being picked up. It was followed by silence. Dead silence.
We all just stood there for a few seconds, not saying a word, until we realized we should go help her. We all rushed upstairs as quick as we could, finding Grams laying on the floor, unconscious.
"Quick, call 9-1-1!" someone shouted. I was too in shock to know who was saying what.
I pulled out my cell phone and somehow my shaky fingers were able to dial. I told them the address and what was wrong. It seemed like only seconds before the paramedics arrived. They took Grams away on a stretcher and put her into the ambulance.
My sister was crying and asking if Grams was going to live, my dad was hugging my mom, Gramps was riding to the hospital with Grams, and I was standing bewildered, speechless and unable to move. I couldn't think of anything but Grams.
We rode to the hospital soon after, to find out if Grams was alright. She had a stroke. My grandmother had a stroke. I didn't know what to make of this. Grams was such a healthy person, she couldn't have a stroke now, especially not now. Not when I had to be here to see her like this.
Grams was going to be ok, but for right now she couldn't talk or move the whole right side of her body. I bet she was scared. So I spent the whole day talking to her and holding her hand. I told her everything, every piece of my life from when I left until the minute I pulled in her driveway. I wanted to share my life with her. And I didn't want to leave her until I knew she was ok.
Derek:
Sophie promised she was coming. She was going to come over for dinner. 6:00 sharp. She said she would be here. She promised.
I had everything ready. We spent all day getting ready. My mom helped me pick out what to wear, and I even helped her cook. We made the lasagna, I made breadsticks, and prepared a salad. I made sure the house was spotless and even set out candles for our dinner.
When 6:00 rolled around, everything was set up perfectly. I knew she would love it. I was happier than I'd been in a long time, I wanted to see Sophie so badly.
I was already nervous, waiting for her just made the nerves worse. By 6:15 I remembered Sophie was always late. "She'll be here any minute," my mom reassured me.
By 6:45 I knew she wasn't coming. I called her grandparents' house. The phone rang and rang. No answer. How could she forget about this? I guess something that was so important to me meant nothing to her. I told my mom I was leaving; I just wanted to drive around, make some sense of this.
Sophie:
I was sitting in Grams hospital room, watching "Wheel of Fortune", when it dawned on me. Derek. I had forgotten all about Derek. How could I?
"I'll be right back Grams!" as I ran from the room, in search of a phone. My cell phone was dead, and I didn't have any quarters for the pay phone.
"Mom!" Luckily my parents were just coming back from getting something to eat, "Can I use your cell phone? It's really important!"
"Sure, honey, what's wrong?"
"Mom, just give me your cell phone, I forgot about Derek!" Of course she handed it over. All she had ever wanted was for me to see Derek again.
I fumbled for the numbers, not able to dial quick enough. All I got was ring after ring. I tried his house. His mom picked up.
"Mrs. Sweeney, is Derek there?.. No? Oh my God, tell him I'm sorry, my grandmother had a stroke last night. I couldn't leave her."
I decided to go to his house to wait for him. I couldn't just sit around here and worry, I needed to see Derek, and as soon as possible.
Derek:
I drove around town in anger, my cell phone buzzing in the seat beside me. I knew it was only my mom, wondering if I was ok. It wasn't important for me to answer. She would eventually leave me alone.
I drove and drove, never wanting to stop; until I found myself at Sophie's house. I didn't know what had possessed me to come here, but I stopped and looked at the house. It looked dark and empty. I noticed the For Sale sign in the yard. Just a couple of weeks ago, there were people living there. Now it was even less like Sophie's house. Her house was always bright and cheery. I sat in the driveway to collect myself.
I didn't know how she could do this to me. I had worked so hard to get things just right for her that night. I was so frustrated with her. Why would she just leave me thinking she was coming, and then just not show up? I didn't have an explanation for it. She seemed so happy to see me, I didn't see any reason she would just abandon me like she did.
And then I noticed another car coming toward the cul-de-sac; right towards Sophie's house. Not many people lived back here, and it was a car I had never seen before. Maybe it was the old owners of the house, I thought. I probably shouldn't be sitting here in this driveway.
And then someone got out of the car. It was a girl, she was tall and thin, with black hair. She looked kind of like -- SOPHIE!
Sophie:
Gramps let me borrow his car to go see Derek. I left the hospital and drove straight to his house. He wasn't home, his mom said. I waited for a few minutes and when he didn't come decided to go back to the hospital. There was no way he would forgive me for standing him up like this. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten.
I got in the car and started driving back toward the hospital. I didn't think about where I was going, I just drove. When I finally started paying attention, I realized I was back at my old house. I didn't know what had brought me here, but I had a funny feeling there was a reason.
There was a car in the driveway. I knew that car anywhere. Derek. I drove faster. I parked by the curb and got out. I was so happy to be able to see him again. I just stood there, and took a deep breath, not knowing what I was going to say to him.
As soon as he saw me, he quickly got out of the car. "Sophie!" He called out to me. He ran towards me.
"Derek, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Grams had a stroke last night, and I was just so caught up at the hospital, Derek, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I began to sob.
"Sophie, oh Sophie, it's ok. It's perfectly ok." He put his arms around me, and we stood there, me crying. It was deja vu, it was exactly like the moment I left him. Except this time, I was crying tears of happiness. It was all happening so fast.
I had always thought of that driveway as the end for us, but now, I could think of it as kind of a new beginning.
The End
