Sophia

A new short story.


When he first saw her, Dominic remembered how beautiful her hair looked from across the room. It was a radiant red and curled all the way down her back. The moment their eyes met, his heart skipped a beat.

    Within a year, they were married. They tried to have children. She so badly wanted a daughter and had even picked a name. The IVF treatment had been unsuccessful and then she got seriously ill.

    He held her hand. Sophia looked up at him, afraid how he would cope once she'd gone. Dominic kissed her forehead softly. "I love you so much, my darling," he said emotionally.

    She felt scared, but wanted to reassure him that everything was going to be okay. "I love you too, sweetheart. When I'm gone, I don't want you to be too sad, as we had some wonderful years together. Please remember that, my love. And I promise I'll always be here with you."

    He couldn't take much more of this. "You are the best thing to ever happen to me, my sweet Sophia. A world without you is a world not worth living."

    Sophia could feel his pain and it saddened her very much. "Be strong for me, Dominic. You've enriched my life in so many ways, you have everything to live for. Find someone to love and have children. Please don't give up."

    Tears ran from his eyes. "My beautiful wife, you're what I live for. The moment our eyes met, I've been so blessed. What did you do to deserve such cruelty?" 

    With difficulty, she raised her hand to his face, then ran her fingers through his short dark hair. "Remember, I'll always be.............

    Her hand dropped suddenly to the bed.

    Dominic cradled her lifeless body, realising she'd gone.

....................

    The funeral of his beloved wife was 2 weeks later. Many attended as in life she was very popular and well liked. After the funeral, Dominic thanked everyone for coming.

    By 7.27pm he'd just arrived home from the wake. The first thing he did was pour himself a shot of whiskey, then sat down on the sofa in the living room. He missed her so much. How would he ever get over the loss? Only time would tell?

........................

    He went to work two days later and most of his colleagues were supportive of his situation.

    He and his wife were of a similar age. For Sophia to die in such a cruel way in her forties made some people, including certain friends, uncomfortable. When Dominic wasn't at work, he would lock himself away, as going out for a drink didn't interest him anymore. Occasionally a friend by the name of Gavin would ring him and try to get him out of the house. Dominic always declined, preferring to stay at home.

..........................

     It was 8 o'clock in the evening when there was a knock at the entrance. Who could that be? Dominic put the glass down on the coffee table, then proceeded to the front of the house. Once at the door, he begrudgingly opened it to be confronted by his mate Gavin.

    "Can I come in?" was all Gavin said.

    Dominic wasn't in the mood and made it known. "I'd rather be on my own, mate. In time, maybe I'll be ready," he replied.

    Gavin seemed upset by this. "You need to get on with your life, mate. It's not doing you any good shutting yourself away. Do you think Sophia would've wanted this?"

    "Please leave me in peace. You don't know how I feel. No one does."

    Gavin was adamant. "Look at the moment you need a friend. I'm not going to watch you while you drink yourself to death."

    "What are you accusing me of, mate? It's my decision what I do with my life and how I spend it," he said, clearly upset.

    Gavin didn't know what else to do and said, "Then tell me what's going on?"

    Dominic sat down in the hallway, his face in his hands, while saying, "Out there somewhere, my darling Sophia is all on her own. I promised to protect her, and I failed."

    Gavin joined his mate on the floor and placed a hand softly on his shoulder. "Look mate. I can understand what you're saying, but she's in your heart, she's in this house, she's with you everywhere. I'll do anything I possibly can to help you, but first you need to help yourself."

    Dominic sobbed and Gavin put two arms around him.

    "I need to know she's safe."

    "But how would you know?" Gavin asked.

    Dominic wiped his eyes, then answered, "Every night before I go to bed I pray for her to be safe. Once I know she is, I'll be ready to move on. I can't just abandon her. I watched her slowly die and there was nothing I could do to help. I failed her. I let her down."

    "No you didn't. She loved you very much, so stop tormenting yourself." 

    Dominic looked at Gavin. "I know it's a lot to ask, but maybe a bit of company isn't such a bad thing. So if you fancy coming in for a little while, I can pour you a drink?"

    "Most definitely," was all Gavin answered.

    The both of them headed into the living room to finish off the bottle of whiskey.

..............................


    Later that night, when Gavin had left, Dominic did the same thing he did every night before going to bed. He prayed for Sophia to show him a sign that she was okay because he was worried for her.

    Most night's while asleep, he had the same dream. Dominic would find himself in a darkened room. He would call out her name, hoping she'd appear. She never did. He then would awake in his bed alone, consumed by sadness. The dream now forgotten.

...............................


    Three months later, his hair had grown considerably. His dad remarked on this on Christmas day when they'd a small gathering around his older brother's house. The chair where his wife usually sat was empty. Even though he put a brave face on things, he was still distraught about what had happened. That night, he prayed for a sign. Like usual, nothing happened.

.............................

    Gavin would pop round at least once a week and both would talk about anything really. On more than one occasion Dominic spoke about his wife. Gavin would listen with a heavy heart, knowing his friend was suffering.

...............................

    Seven months had gone by since his wife's death and still things weren't improving. His mental state had worsened, and he now took tablets for depression. One of his colleagues at work tried to get him to go out on a date with his wife's friend. Dominic declined, as it felt like he was being unfaithful to his dead partner.

    Later that evening, he went through the same routine he always did, not like it made any difference. Dead on 11, he headed to bed.

    The dream that night seemed different. It was hard to explain. Like numerous times, he stood in the room. From the silence came a woman's voice calling his name.

    "Is that you?" he asked emotionally.

    From the far end of the room, a light appeared and within it was a figure that came closer. It was her, after all this time. She touched his face and told him to close his eyes, then whispered in his ear.

    "It's time for you to get on with your life, my love. I am safe. I've always been safe because of you. I hear you in my dreams. And one day I will see you again."

    Dominic felt her fingers run through his long dark hair, then said, "I've missed you so much, Sophia. Life without you is unbearable."

    She kissed his lips. "And me too, sweetheart. But I promise things will improve. It's time to move on."

    In a flash, she was gone.

    He awoke in his bed, the dream now forgotten. His hair tingled strangely. Dominic got out of bed, then headed to the bathroom. Once inside, he peered into the big mirror, with shock he realised his prayers had been answered. His hair had curls in it and also patches of radiant red that reminded him of her.

    Two months later, he'd met another woman and a year from that, they'd married. Even before their daughter had been born, they named her Verity, which was Sophia's favourite girl's name. A few months from this, Dominic and his wife noticed how red the child's hair was.


The End.