What Took You So Long

I'll be your lighthouse

I'll make it okay

When I see your monsters

I'll stand there so brave

And chase them all away …

Cassy closed her eyes to feel the song even more. She can feel the cold-like emotion that surrounded her heart. “I know, someday, I will be someone’s lighthouse.”, this is what inside’s Cassy’s head. She hopes that someday someone will be in her life, take her hand, and run away with her.

“I will be waiting for you and be patience until the day that you come…” she can already imagine a scene. One day, they will bump to each other and feel that slow-motion effect like in movies…….

“Cassandra!” – this loud voice from a man ended her daydream.

Leon entered her room without even knocking. What an attitude really, he has? He has been so comfortable doing everything he wanted just because he is her childhood friend. She met Leon when they moved here 13 years ago. Since they are the same age, they became friends and inseparable at times, but this guy started to irritate her recently.

“Leonardo, don’t you know how to knock?” she screamed showing her irritated face to him. If he is not just her friend for a long time, she will not hesitate to throw the glass on the bedside table.

“Cassy, stop! Don’t give me an attitude today.” Leon exclaims to her.

“Woo, so I am the one that gives you an attitude now? She said exasperatedly. She turned off the music. She lost her good mood already. “Leon, how many times do I have to say that please knock when you enter my room?” she said as she tries to calm herself down.

Leon just stared at her. He gave him a curious stare in which at the same time gave him an amusing look.

“It sounds like we are grownups. “Leon said in an apologetic voice. “I am sorry Cassy. I always forget that we aren’t kids anymore.”

She let out a deep sigh. Yes, Leon is too comfortable with her. “That’s okay. What do you need from me?” she asks.

“I came here because I wanted to show you something and you have always stayed here in your room,” Leon said. He looked around her room.

She furnished her room in pink, showing how delicate she is behind the tigress attitude she shows to Leon and the other people around her. This room is her shrine. This is where she imagines the beautiful story that God writes for her. Different plots come into her mind every time.

Again, she let out a deep sigh. To end the conversation, she stood up, “Okay, let’s go.” She said to Leon.

With that said, Leon grabs her hands and took her outside.

“Aunt Lisa, we will just be going out.” He said to her mom.

“Alright, just ensure she will be back by dinner,” Lisa responded without even looking at them. That shows how comfortable her family is when she is with Leon.

Leon covered her eyes with his hands and guided her walk. She gasps her breath when he removed his hands from her eyes. She is seeing a small, beautiful rose garden. Roses abound in this garden. She can tell that each one of the roses has different scents based on the fragrance she smells which truly captured her heart.

“You have been so gloomy recently, Cassy,” Leon said in a soft voice. “We have been together since we were little kids and no matter how you shout and show irritation to me whenever I look into your eyes, it is as if I can still see a window of sadness in your eyes.” He continues.

Silence.

Sudden sadness filled the atmosphere. Leon knows her very much. He might know her more than herself.

“Since that day, you never have been the same, Cassy”. He said as he stares sadly at her. “I know that you love roses, so I planted them and promise myself to take you here when the flowers bloom.”

She cannot speak. She cannot find the right words to say. Tears started to roll in her eyes. He is right, since that day, life has never been the same. She closed her eyes, and she can feel the pain inside her heart as if it is being squeezed.

She can’t deny the fact that since that happened, she lost herself.

She thanked God, she got Leon by her side. Though most of the time, he pesters her, he’s one of the reasons why she still able to dream and she laughs in every passing day.

Cassy sobbed. Leon took her head and rest it in his chest.

Why is she making everything hard for Leon?