A Sadly Ever After

“He’s leaving! Anne, Dan is leaving!”
Anne Flynn’s little sister, Christy, dashed through the doors of her room. Her yellow cotton curls stood on her heart shaped face in every direction from the winter statics. Her blue eyes were wide, cheeks flaming as blood smeared through her soft milky skin.
Anne turned from the wall and glanced at Christy. “I know.” Her soft voice cracked into a sob. She covered her mouth with a slander delicately boned hand, so Christy would not see her cry.
Christy’s shoulders sagged and her eyes darkened with confusion. “But why? Why is Dan leaving so early?”
“Daddy told him to leave.” Anne replied.
“Was that the yelling I heard?” Asked Christy cautiously.
Anne nodded. She did not know how much to tell her little sister. Christy was only eight, but she was smarter then she looked. She would soon figure out why Dan Bruno had left so abruptly.
Christy sighed, shoulders sagging. She ran to Anne and grabbed her hand, pulling her to the window.
“You can see Dan leaving down the driveway. He did not even say hello to you.” Christy shook her head. “I don’t understand it, Anne. I thought he loved you.”
“I know he did. But Daddy told him to leave. Dan is never allowed to return without Daddy’s permission.” Anne said.
The two Flynn girls looked outside at the long paved driveway snaking through the towering oak trees. In the big green lawn, their three brothers were playing football. They stopped their game and watched as the door banged open and Daniel Bruno walked out.
Anne caught her breath, her heart nearly tearing out of her chest. Bellow her Dan’s black curly hair shimmered in the late autumn sun like silky black feathers. His tall angular frame was dressed smartly in a dark coat and long pants. His olive skin glowed in the soft warm glow of the sun peaking through the trees.
It had rained earlier in the day. The green lawn was moist and the air was wet. The lazy sun glowed dimly through the thick oak leaves. Little birds sung from the trees.
Anne watched as Dan walked out bellow them. She knew her father was standing in the front door watching the young man take his leave. She held her breath as Dan stopped and turned. He took off his hat and pressed it against his heart, his face raised directly up to the window Anne and Christy were looking through.
Their eyes locked.
Anne caught her breath. Her heart leapt in her throat and ached with pain. She could see the thin traces of tears running down Dan’s face.
“Dan!”
Out of desperation Anne pressed her fingers against the glass. It fogged from the warmth of her breath.
Christy began knocking on the glass with her knuckles and calling. “Dan! Dan, no, don’t go! Please don’t go, Dan. Dan!”
But Dan could only look up at them, a look of helplessness in his movements, and shook his head sorrowfully. He pressed a big hand against his heart and held it there for a few minutes. Anne watched as he turned, placed his hat back on his head, and walked down the driveway. Out of sight. Out of her life.
She heard the front door closing and knew her father was sure the young man would not try to return. Anne pressed her face desperately against the cool glass until the last flash of color of Dan disappeared through the trees. She stumbled back and crumpled onto the floor leaning against the window seat for support. Sobs rocked her shoulders and she cried silently, tears streaking her face.
Christy fell down beside her and wrapped her small arms around Anne’s shoulders.
“Don’t cry Anne.” She soothed, sobbing herself. “Don’t cry. Dan will be back, you’ll see. He’ll come back tomorrow and take you to the lake. Don’t cry, Anne.”
Anne rested her head against her little sister. She wished she could believe her, and stop crying. But she knew it was the end. Dan would never return. Daddy had warned him not to.
Her heart felt as if it would shatter into a million pieces. Dan was her life, her dream, her everything. What would life be like without him? Anne cried harder at the thought of living without Dan. She had done it before she met him, and it was a life full of darkness and pain. A life of loneliness.
She did not want to return to that life. But it was too late now.
Why would God punish her like this? He was the One who had send Dan into her life. He was the One who made sure their paths crossed perfectly and everything turned out well. ..Or so she had thought.
Why would He punish her now? Was it something she had done that would cause this sudden heartbreak?
Was it her?

Anne still remembered the time she had met Dan. She was a delusional girl, the one in the family who always dreamed and wondered and wish. Her mother would often tell her that she was being too emotional.
“Stop living in your dreams, Anne.” She’d say. And when something bad happened and Anne grew sad, “welcome to reality. Glad you can join us in the real world.”
But when she met Dan, Anne knew that she had met the love of her life, her purpose of living.
There was a Mexican restaurant in town that served the best pork burritos. Her father loved Mexican food. So every Sunday after church the family went to eat at the Mexican restaurant.
It was a rather nice tradition, because in the welcoming warmth of the restaurant her family joked and laughed and had a great time. Mother even allowed herself to smile more then once. She was a very serious person, and the cause of not laughing often left a lovely soft face dark and unwelcoming.
Anne’s father was the same way. But in the restaurant he forgot about his life’s struggles and opened up more to humor. So it was a great time, worthy of the hours they spend there.
Anne looked forward to it every Sunday.
Her brothers were younger then she was. She was the eldest at eighteen, then a few years later Lukas was born. Her mother often told her that they had been praying for another girl, but instead they got a bouncing baby boy with yellow hair and piercing green eyes.
On Anne’s father’s side of the family, the Flynns had a gene which turned their eyes a fierce green, creating a great contrast to the silky yellow hair from Mother’s side.
They named their third child Patric. Then Jackson was born just a year later. When they thought they could not have another baby, her mother got pregnant with her fifth child.
Everyone was worried that it would be another boy, and her mother would be heartbroken. But they were met with a great surprise when a soft tiny baby girl with yellow hair and large blue eyes came out. They named her Christy, after Mother’s late sister, Christina Lee Hay.
Anne loved her brothers and sister. Christy was sweet, and Patric and Jackson were her energy pack. Lukas was always their and willing to crack a joke to make her laugh. Almost everything he said brought a smile to her face.
At the restaurant when they took their seats Lukas would began the lively conversation with a joke.
That day it had been raining earlier in the morning. A cold Spring breeze brought chills to Anne’s soft cheeks. The air was wet. Lazy blue clouds swam across the sky.
Inside the restaurant Anne had sat and listened to the Mexican music playing on the rodeo. She imagined herself wearing a long red dress, and dancing to the lively music.
But her father would never allow it.
On that first day Anne did not notice the Mexican waiter walking about as he served their food. When he served their food he smiled gently at her. She smiled back.
Everyone she met told her she had a beautiful smile. She wanted to brighten someone’s day with her smile.
The next time they went to eat at the restaurant was with a guest. She sat at a table with Lukas and their father. The guest was an elderly man named Mr. Stats. He was thinking of joining their church and needed to speak to her father about something.
As the men talked Anne tried to pay attention. Her father always taught that listening was one of the best things children could do.
But soon she grew tired of their conversation. Her eyes wondered around the busy restaurant. Voice filled the air, Mexican music blared from the speakers and the smell of frying food filled her nose. She breathed in deeply.
Suddenly someone caught her eyes. It was the Mexican waiter with the gentle smile. He was tall and angular with slim sharp lines. His skin was dark and fresh looking. His curly black hair glimmered in the light like feathers.
Anne’s heart quickened as she stared into his warm brown eyes. He smiled. She smiled back and tucked her head shyly.
“What are you laughing at?” Lukas was looking curiously at her.
Anne shrugged. “Nothing important.”
“Hey, I think that man over there is looking at you.”
Anne jerked her head back to the waiter. He smiled. She glanced away and looked at Lukas.
“He’s just a waiter doing his job.” She stammered in her soft voice. “I don’t care if he looks at us.”
A slow teasing grin spread across Lukas’s face. “Your cheeks are pink.” He told her.
Anne reached up and covered her face with both hands. She shook her head, closing her green eyes. “No! It’s cold outside.”
“No, you’re blushing.” Said Lukas. “I can tell when you’re nervous, Anne Flynn. And by golly you’er spittin’ nervous right now.”
“How would you know?”
“You blush when you’re nervous.” Said Lukas. “And I’m pretty sure its not because of the weather. You’er flirting with that waiter over there.”
Anne grabbed her brother’s arm sharply to stop him. She felt her cheeks warming and her eyes widen in horror.
“Luke! Do not talk like that.” She cried, glancing at her father. He wasn’t paying attention to them. He continued his deep conversation with Mr. Stats.
But every time they came to the restaurant after that, the Mexican waiter was watching Anne. He eyed her golden curls spilling across her shoulders, her fierce green eyes and slander fine boned stature. He seemed to stare at how delicate she was. Her skin was milky and smooth and she smelled of wild flowers.
When the man brought their foods to the table he smiled gently at Anne. Whenever she reached to take the plate of food from him, their fingers brushed. It was then that she began to notice his attraction to her.
Did anyone else notice?
Anne knew that Lukas did. But he said nothing more. Only gave her strange looks that sometimes she didn’t know what he was doing to his face.
Every time after that, when they came to the restaurant she saw the waiter. She found her eyes searching for him. Whenever he saw her he smiled. He went about his work with new energy. His steps held a lively gate to it, as if he were dancing to the music.
Anne began to wonder and pray about him. She felt an attraction to his lively vibrant spirit. She had always said that if she were ever to marry, she would marry a non-American. Someone from a different country. Someone ancient and tribal.
A French gentleman, an Indian man, a native African, a beautiful young man from Columbia. She also thought that she would jump at the idea to marry a Asian. She loved their olive skin and dark hair.
It seemed that her dreams were coming true. But only one thing stood in the way. Her father. Her father did not approve of every young man. He was very strict about dating, and whom they dated.
Anne thought over the matter. She was eighteen now, and would be turning nineteen in a few months. Would her father allow her to date now? He had apposed the idea before.
The question troubled her every waking moment.
It was not long before Anne got her answer. One rainy Sunday afternoon she relaxed in her window seat reading a book. Long raindrops trickled down the window pane, and the warmth from her breath and skin fogged the glass slightly.
Low humming reached her ear. Christy was on Anne’s bed, crayoning in her coloring book.
Anne glanced up from the yellowed pages to rest her eyes. She glanced out down at the long driveway, stretching her neck. She stopped suddenly and froze. A tall figure dressed in a dark coat and long white pants walked through the trees. It was the Mexican waiter. He approached the house in steadied long strides.
“Christy, is daddy gone out yet?” Anne glanced at her little sister.
Christy looked up from her book and shook her head. “No. He was about to leave when you were sleeping, but it began to rain and he did not want to get the cart dirty.”
Anne had seen the cart parked on the lawn earlier when she sat in the window seat, but she just wanted to make sure. Their father always went out every Sunday afternoon to visit the sick at the hospital a few miles from their home.
Anne stood up and closed her book. She watched the figure approaching through the glass. Her heart quickened. What was he doing here?
“Oh dear.” She said out loud without thinking.
“What are you looking at?” Christy climbed off the bed and ran over. She shoved in beside Anne and pressed her face against the glass. “Hey, it’s the man from the restaurant.”
“You recognize him too?” Asked Anne.
“Yes, of course I recognize him. He’s the one who always brings our food to our table. He has the bright smile.”
Anne’s heart leapt into her throat. She was not the only one who had noticed the stranger’s smile. She did not even know his name!
Christy tugged at Anne’s skirt. “What is he doing here? Do we know him?”
“I don’t know.” The man was just below the window.
Anne grabbed Christy’s arm and pulled her out of the room.
“Let’s go tell father!”
They thumped down the stairs as quickly as possible, Anne dragging her little sister along. Their parents were sitting in the living room. Father was reading his Bible and mother was hemming a dress. She refused to use a modern sewing machine, claiming it was something worldly that would only crowd her heart against God’s Word. The boys laid around the room. Lukas and Patric played a game of chess.
“Daddy!” Anne leaned against the railings and called. “Daddy, there is a man approaching!”
Her father glanced up. The boys continued their game and their mother only nodded once to acknowledge she heard them.
“It’s the man from the restaurant!” Christy blurted.
Anne felt her face paling. She clutched her sister’s hand tightly to quiet her. “Christy. Shhh.”
“Oh. That man.” Lukas commented with a sly grin.
Anne froze, afraid that he would say more. More about the looks the man shared with her. But he kept quiet and only continued his game.
Her father got up and approached the door. The doorbell wrung. Anne turned and dashed back up the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest uncontrollably.
Christy came up after her. “What is the matter, Anne?” She asked curiously.
Anne’s fingers shook. “Go back downstairs, Christy. I want to be alone and pray for a while. Listen to everything they are saying and come tell me, okay?”
“Okay.” Christy nodded happily and skipped out of the room. She was glad to help her big sister. It was what she loved to do most of the time.
Anne watched her little sister disappear down the hall. The voices came up through the vent in the floor. She crouched next to it and listened carefully, heart raising like the wind.
First a warm male voice spoke in a thick Mexican accent. “I am Daniel Bruno. You may call me Dan.”
“Hello Dan. I’m Simon Flynn. What may I help you with?” Said Anne’s father.
“I was, uh. I came to ask you about your da-daughter.”
“My daughter?” Asked her father. Anne’s blood chilled. “Which one?”
“The older one, sir.” Said Dan Bruno.
A short silence filled in between them. Then: “do you mean Anne?”
“That is her name?”
“Anne is my oldest daughter.” Her father’s voice was laced with confusion and suspicion. “What do you want with my daughter?” He asked slowly.
“I only wished to ask you if I may have your permission to get to know her better.”
Another thick silence.
Anne held her breath. Her fingers trembled and she pressed them against her lips.
She heard her father speaking, as if in shock.
“You mean to say that you want to date my Anne?”
“Yes.” Dan’s voice trembled slightly. He cleared his throat and spoke in a stronger tone. “I am here to ask your permission, Mr. Flynn.”
“Hold on a moment.” Said her father. “Let me get Anne down here.”
Anne stood up from the floor. She knew she was going to be called to go downstairs. She shook out the ruffles in her skirt, and stared hard at her image in the mirror on the wall. Her cheeks were burning. Her eyes were a brilliant green.
“Anne?” Her father’s voice called up. “Anne, please come down here a minute! I must speak to you.”
What was she to say?
Anne dashed out the door. She slowed her pace when she came to the balcony. She glanced down at the faces staring up at her. She walked slightly sideways down the stairs, her long golden hair framing her heart shaped face. Her bare slim feet was soft against the wooden floor.
She stood on the last two steps. “Yes, Daddy? What is it?”
Her father jerked his head towards the Mexican man. “Do you know this young man?”
Anne turned her face to him. Dan’s warm brown eyes were on her, glowing with awe. His handsome face was sincere. His boyish lips curled into that flashing smile of his.
“Anne.” He whispered softly in wonderment. “Anna. Anna.” He repeated her name as if tasting it on his tongue for the first time. He changed Anne into his own language, Anna.
And Anne loved it.
Her father looked quizzically at her. “Well? Do you know him or not?”
What would her father do if she said she knew Dan? Would he grow angry? Throw her out?…
Anne nodded. “I know him. He’s the waiter at the Mexican restaurant.” She could never bring herself to lie to her father’s face. And if she had said she did not know Dan, Lukas would know that she was lying.
Her father looked a little surprised. He fingered his beard restlessly for a few seconds. He looked closely at Anne, his eyes locking with her’s.
“This man is here to ask my permission to date you.”
Anne reminded silent. Emotions washed across her face and Dan glanced at her.
“Well? What do you think about that?” Her father asked.
“I do not know.” Anne glanced at Dan. He stared at her with pleading eyes. But he seemed to have a layer of calm and confidence about him, as if he trusted her deeply to make the right decision. Would she choose him too?
He had come all the way over here, walked through the rain, and asked her father with a confidence she had not seen in many young men. Anne felt a tug on her heart.
She glanced across the room at her mother. Her mother’s eyes were serious as usual, but she showed no other emotions. Christy and the boys all hovered close by listening, the chess game forgotten.
Didn’t Mother care? Anne felt a rush of confusion.
She took a deep breath. “Daddy? Am I allowed to…”
“To date?” Her father finished her question. He farrowed his bushy eyebrows and thought for a long moment.
Anne held her breath.
“I believe it’s possible.” Her father looked up at Dan and nodded. “You were a good man to come here and ask my permission.”
“Yes sir.” Dan bowed slightly.
“I must pray more about it, but Anne is eighteen now and old enough to make some of her own decisions.” He turned to Anne who was watching him with stark attention. “I will let her decide. I am alright with you dating, or at least getting to know the person. But I must decide who you get to date. You can choose if you wished to start that process now.”
“Yes.” Anne nodded firmly. Her eyes pooled with heavy tears. “Daddy, I want to get to know Dan better.”
“Alright then.” Her father spoke slowly. He glanced across the room at his wife. “Samantha?”
Anne’s mother stood up and approached her father. “It is alright with me. Whatever you say, Simon.”
“Then it is final. Anne, you are allowed to date this young man.” He turned to Dan who was beaming with pride. “Daniel Bruno, I gave you permission to date my daughter. But watch yourself. If anything bad ever happens to her, I’m coming after you first!”
“Yes sir, Mr. Flynn!” Dan gave a short polite bow. “I will protect Anna forever .”
“I never said she was staying with you for that long.” Her father said, face serious.
Dan only threw back his head and laughed.
It was a wonderful sound, like the rhythm of raindrops on the rooftops. It made Anne feel warm from deep inside, unlike anything she had ever felt. She threw her arms around her father and hugged him.
Then she turned to Dan and held out her delicate, slander hand. He took her arm gently. His hold was soft as her warm skin touch his cold one. Anne’s skin was white and smooth against Dan’s olive skin. She smiled, and she was happy.
After that day she was happy for many more to come.
Dan became like a member of of the family that had been missing for a long time. Even mother warmed towards him. Nobody treated him with cold suspicious stares like they had done on the first day when he came to ask for her father’s blessing. They spend five 'holly jolly' Christmases together. It wasn't a surprise when the talk of marriage started between them. Everyone who had eyes to see and hearts to feel knew it would all come down to that.
But then there was the party. Then the fire.
Anne glanced down at her slander arms. The white scars climbed over each other to be seen. The skin was stretched slightly at her wrist but it was not noticeable from afar. She pulled down the neck of her dress. Her fingers traced the two skinny scars on her collar bone. From her throat up to the nip of her neck, heavy plastic looking scars stretched over her skin, morphing it so ugly she could barely glance at herself without tears springing into her eyes.
Memories of the fire gouging at her skin flashed through her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut as her own screams filled her ears. Her teeth chattered. But it was only a memory. The pain from the burns were gone but the scars and the scratches of memories were still very much there.
And the pain of loosing Dan was raw and real.
He had broken his promise. He could not safe her from the flames. He could only blame himself. She squeezed her eyes shut and sunk into the darkness, unable to breathe…or care if she did or did not.
She would never see Dan again.
Never hold his hand.
Never sing a Christmas carol together.
Never argue about the things that mattered the most.
Never again, would she be so happy.