Days After You's

Chapter 15 - One Life (2)

What I found once I stepped foot into Stella's room far exceeded what was in my shadow. Stella room if it should be described very—and really—feminim. I know Stella is meek and loves sweet things, but I never thought I'd find a room for an adult woman with dozens of little dolls on her mattress and nightstand. It's feminine but a little too feels like a teenage girl's room. Imagine Stella sleeping surrounded by these dolls...

Uh. I have to admit it's quite—a little, just a little bit of—warming.

I turned to some of the photos on the wall, most of which included photos of Stella with her parents. Seeing that reminded me of how close he was to them and how for the same reason I often tried to set aside time to at least be able to stop by their house once or twice each month together Stella. Despite my agreement with Stella, the fact that I married their child remains true, so I should have shown my respect to them by visiting regularly.

"Uncle?"

A boy's voice jolted me from my mind. I turned to look at Kevin who was up and sat down while rubbing his eyes. His eyes looked heavy and his face was still grim.

"Mother?" Ask Kevin.

I then approached him. All I know about approaching children is that we have to be relaxed and gentle. So I crouched down next to the bed to match the level of our eyes and lowered my voice.

"Your mother is still packing at home, she'll pick you up later. For now you're with uncle and aunt first."

Kevin looked down, "Did you really want to throw me and Mom away?"

I really don't know how to give an understanding to a child about a problem such as divorce, so I try to explain it with an explanation for what it is but as light as possible so as not to make him sad.

"Your father didn't throw you and your mother away. But your mom and dad are having a problem to solve. So your mother had to part with your father first to protect you and herself."

Kevin rubbed his puffy eyes, "Why do you always scold and hate mom and me? Dad rarely comes home, never smiles and just likes to scream at home."

"On that, when you grow up, if you're still curious, you can ask your father," I tried to pat Kevin's head slowly. I'm not one to easily feel high empathy, but realizing there's someone out there who has the heart to hurt his own wife and child pisses me off.

Instead I invited Kevin to come down to eat together because Stella must have been waiting from below. But before that, he asked me something else that stopped me.

"Uncle, did you also hit auntie when you were angry? Uncle, if you have children, don't yell at him. I'm always sad when yelled at."

I was astonished, not only by the fact that I had just been advised by a child, but also by the shadow that arose from Kevin's words. I can't imagine in any situation going to hit Stella out of emotion. Not just Stella, but any woman. I rarely used my strict father as a role model, but the one thing I always took from him was his nature of always taking care of and treating my mother well, he can be firm in the house but never rude.

"No, Kevin. Uncle never hit auntie. You don't have to worry about uncle's son, either, "because the boy won't be there in the first place.

At the dinner table, Kevin ate voraciously. Stella and I watched her eat side dishes for the sake of the side dishes in the big chew. He must have been hungry because he hadn't eaten in the morning.

"Kevin eats a lot of ya," said Stella, smiling warmly.

Kevin nodded, his mouth slightly widened, "Um! Aunt's cooking is always good. I like it."

The praise made Stella happily take a spoonful of mushroom risotto made into Kevin's plate that still looks full. Stella, how much more do you want her to eat? I shook my head but could not help but hold a smile of amazement on my face.

"Luiz too, you didn't have breakfast this morning, so your portion should double. This is more."

"Uh..."

I don't know how normal my mind is to imagine this, but for a moment I imagined if Stella and I were a married couple who loved each other and had a baby from our relationship, then this is the moment that will decorate our dining table. Weird right? But I don't hate that shadow.

After eating I was a little forced to accompany Kevin to watch one of his favorite animated films because Stella had to do some other homework first. I have not seen animated films like this for a long time, but when I was a child, my mother used to take me to the cinema to watch newly released animated films. It was one of the moments that I was looking forward to because I could rest on the density of school schedules and lessons that I had to follow every day.

I turned away from the television screen and was about to stand up but Stella exclaimed from inside the kitchen, "Oh let me open it."

Not a minute later, Naomi appeared in the living room accompanied by two large suitcases. He smiled softly at Kevin before turning to me and Stella.

"I had to find some documents and book a ticket before packing, so I can just come and get Kevin now. I'm really sorry to keep bothering you guys with us."

Stella shook her head, "No, Naomi. We're glad to be able to help. Aren't you, Luiz?"

I'm nodding.

"Thank you very much then."

"Are you sure there's nothing left? Don't you have to come back here and meet your evil husband" Stella clenched her hands and swooped her eyebrows down.

Naomi, who, though obviously still very sad, laughed softly at Stella's behavior, "There is no more, Stella. Don't worry, if I come back later, it's just because I want to visit you."

I was a little curious about something so I asked, "Did your husband know you were leaving today?"

Naomi shook her head, "No, if I tell her, I'm sure she'll lock us up. He knows my father is a guarantee of his life right now so he won't let me go. Therefore I have to go and take care of all the terms of this divorce right away. Stella and Mr. Luiz, thanks again for everything."

That thank you was worthy of a Stella, she was the one who helped them from the beginning. It's not me who just shows up at the end. Stella hugged Naomi tightly, two women who had only known each other for the past few months were crying together all of a sudden. Kevin hugged his mother's thigh. And I stood awkwardly alone there.

"Stella, I won't forget your services all along. You've fed us, taken care of Kevin, and supported me in making the decision to walk away from this unhealthy relationship. I wish we could stay friends after this."

"Of course, Naomi. I'll keep contacting you later."

After the emotional scene subsided, Naomi and Kevin were about to leave. They will return to Naomi's hometown in C, where Naomi's father and mother will help with the divorce process with a husband whose name I have not known. I wondered what Naomi's husband looked like to be able to feel worthy of being so ignorant and disrespectful to his wife and children that they had to leave quietly from home like this.

I never imagined myself feeling angry at someone I'd never even seen in the nose. This whole incident made me feel both strange and amazed. I don't really know Kevin and his mother except from Stella's stories all this time and they rarely come here when I'm around. I only thought of them as passers-by in my life, but this is where I knelt in front of the boy who was now embracing me.

"Uncle don't be arrogant anymore, and follow Aunt Stella when she plays to our house later."

"..."

"Kevin, hush," reprimanded Naomi.

Stella laughed and I just shook my head slowly. Basic children.

Naomi and Kevin left shortly after. I saw Stella closing the front door slowly and standing there. Each one of us dissolves in his own mind.

I don't know what she's thinking, but I keep thinking, if I don't get married to Stella, I'll probably enjoy this Saturday by relaxing myself on the couch without anyone else's distraction. Naomi may still survive to live with her husband. Kevin won't know a kind-hearted aunt who happily accompanies him to play and cooks delicious superfoods for his family. And Stella won't smile at me now.

How amazing. The presence of a person alone can have an impact on the lives of three other people around him.

I can claim to be great with all my achievements now, claiming to be rich with all my treasures, but can I claim to be a kind-hearted human being with my sometimes self-centered thoughts and be reluctant to look around?

Nnnnope. From the beginning I never really considered myself as a person who is beyond being virtuous. But seeing Stella's willingness to lend a hand to others regardless of feathers and disregarding her own interests, I also wanted to learn to be that kind of person.