Healed by the Super Power

de her and she opened her eyes only after a few hours of sleep. She had slept late, waiting to watch her husband go to sleep, wanting to soak in the pleasure of watching his calm face while he dived

y other object she might have ke

rtain. On the left side of the bed stood two doors, one had been left wide open while the other was closed. Behind the closed door was the toilet, the opened door led to the closet. Sharon sighed. She had also forgotten to shut the door that led to the closet. She had spent a long time searching through her clothes, trying to decide what was best for her to wear to sleep. Beside the door l

aced shoes, the scattered jewel box, the closet door dangling, and the plugged-in iron. Thank

out ten years before. She traced the wall beside the curtain with her hand as her eyes flitted through the environment. It had been a while since she studied the room, put things in order, and lived like a regular human. She bent

of the room in order and stepped out. The previously welcoming home hit her with a musky scent. She squeezed her nose and opened every window from the entrance of their bedroom down to the sitting room. With every step, s

r and she couldn't get used to keeping the house in order all by herself. It didn't make a difference that she occupied the visitor's room downstairs with Ray. It was difficult to dust the numerous paintings and pict

for her to do more. If only she were younger, if only Ray could help her, and if only she didn't have to let her workers g

walking on fiery coals in flip-flops. It wasn't Ray's fault. It wasn't hers. Neither was it the fault of those who worked for her. Truth be told, Sharon never really knew who to blame. Sometimes she blamed nature, o

f cash and Sharon greatly believed that all would be well. She processed the salaries of the workers from that account, but when the account hit red the previous month, Sharon realized she had to do something. Her r

income. He had told her many times to resign and relax and allow herself to be taken care of, but her passion wouldn't let her. She learned not to spend her salary and got used to adding the entire amount of money to her retireme

no source of income but only a string of expenses was bound to throw them into a haze of debts if care wasn't taken. The debts had indeed started to pile up. It could be seen in the amou

last time they saw. Hilda and Sharon worked at the same community school for years. The two were close friends, and so was

lthough the two had lost touch since Sharon retired. Sharon on the other hand was happy to have a diversion and someone to share her burdens with. The two women decided to have a quick lunch. Sharon spent the entire time talking about

held on to Sharon's across the tabl

ng through a

e misty with tear

centrate on Ray alone. I know it wouldn't be easy, but I think you should sell the ma

ies. A house that told the story of her children and many firsts. A house that contained all she ever committed her life to. She could remember Ray saying he didn't ever wa

ng. Not until the bank informed her that they couldn't give her loans since there wasn't any collateral. Not until she woke up that morning with the world spinning in her head remi

must have heard her because he moved a little. Sharon entered the closet, retrieved Ray's wheelchair, and slowly drove it toward his side of the bed. She abandoned the chair at the

r energy shocked her. Ray tried to raise his head a

may never hear the rich baritone voice of her husband. She pushed the chair into the bathroom and set him in front of the mirror. She took his toothbrush, set it in his left hand, and guided him to brush his teeth. His right hand

e ought to be. She wheeled him out of the room and down to the kitchen where she made a quick breakfast of omelets and coffee. Once again, his left hand set to work as he struggled to feed himself. He didn't say a word. For Sharon, his eating time was almost l

e first set her eyes on Ray. On the significant journey on that train, th

*

arly to decide but she already didn't like the weather. She preferred a clear sunny sky to one infested with thick clouds. She hated the sound of rain and she could only hope the rain wouldn't fall. It wasn't the same for the gentleman that sat in front of her. Although he had not uttered a word since the

She knew he was handsome because a couple of hours ago, when she had to use the toilet, she caught a glimpse of his face and the brightness of his beauty escalated her brooding interest all the more. He was a blonde with brown eyes. Pretty brown eyes that reminded her of a cake well baked. His iris was caked into the whitest

railway and the sky. She could see him from the reflection in her window. When her ear w

he jerked back nervously too, but quickly recovered and covered her face with a smile that screamed all shades

his ear, the one she whispered into and

She chattered like a dog whose latch was unleashed and set free after being held back for too long. A child could tell that Sharon hated to keep quiet for long. The young man was he

ng of being curious or curious just wasn't the word to define how she felt at that moment. Her parents had taught her to beware of strangers, especially the male kind but Sharon didn't see Ray as a stranger to avo

solation for either of them. While Sharon enjoyed every bit of it, Ray confessed later that he wondered how his luck had brought him to meet such a trouble-filled,

t signaled her senses into believing that Ray was the man for her. Once again, the same couldn't be said for Ray. He was courteous and mature and knew for sure that he wasn't ready to

as she had initially planned, except it wasn't as fun as she imagined it would be. Her mind could not stop thinking about Ray or his eyes, or hi

disappearing and returning as she wished, they were elated when she reiterated that she wanted to get married. It wasn't long before they were disappointed again when they realized that the man she wanted to marry didn't even know where she was,

ht he only got fond of her or was infatuated with her but the little time he spent apart from her made him understand that he was deeply in love with her. A love so strong it almost threw him into panic attacks in her absence. Her face always waltzed into h

he early part of their marital journey was all smooth until the first problem ensued. Sharon had a miscarriage. It was a devastatingly tough battle for

y. She came to appreciate his silence, his organized way, and the manner with which he handled her while she suffered. Not for once did he neglect her, he walked with her through the dejection, he walked with her to every appointment with

s not, because she had Ray. He was with her through it all, he bathed them when she was sick or when monthly periods were too hectic for her to cope. At this time, Ray was already working with the military and making a good income for the family. Sharon didn't ne

nd getting ready for college. He was the best support she ever had all her life, someone she didn't want to rebel against, someone who

ng stones to greater heights. He had a knack for leveling them. Probably ano

chool, but Sharon insisted that they attend the community school. She got a job as a grade four teacher and she quickly became friends with Louis and Hilda. Ray told her many times after the kids graduated to retire but Sharon had come to love her job and training kids so much. It was the first time she didn't listen t

od what could have gone wrong. Being the meticulous and organized person that he was, the situation didn't add up. Ray was bitter for days and that's when Sharon started to notice it. The things he did not do before. He put his shoes in the wrong places, left his clothes on the b

ctor's report from being true. They didn't want it to be anywhere near the truth. Ray flared up at the hospital and refused to be set up for therapy or to be treated. No matter what Sharon said, they were back home in less than an hour, acting like they didn't just receive the most devastating news of their lives. Sharon never pressed Ray to go for treatment or listen to what the doctor had to say about his disease. Just like her husband, she desperately wanted the results of the te

*

every step he seemed to take. Sharon turned to face him. He was headed towards the sitting room. Probably to watch the television, she concluded and turned back to the plates. She hated the life she had to live with him, she hated that he was reduced to the kind of person that

intment. His eyes were blank and the emotion was gone. He turned and went back to the sitting room. More tears escaped from Sharon's eyes because she had believed that he could be well. Ray couldn't be well. The possibility was ruled out when the doctor discovered five years ago that he made a wrong diagnosis. Ray wasn't sick with Parkinson's disease. It woul

ing step, her heart solidified in only one decision, one that was best for