4

“You know, it's been almost three years since I last dated a girl.”

George smiled softly as he looked at Valerie. They have finished dinner at an elegant restaurant which serves extraordinary delights. The light of this restaurant is deliberately dominated by a warm yellow color, with dark wood paneling floors that blend into the atmosphere. It's very, very beautiful.

Valerie never thought her date with a man, as far as she can remember, could be this beautiful. She smiled, resting her fingers lightly on her chin, looking up at George who looked very handsome in the dim light.

“Aren't you interested in asking anyone before?”

George took a sip of his drink, then looked at Valerie meaningfully.

“I lost my loved ones, and then tried to heal my own soul. When I realized, it turned out that I had missed a lot.” The man looked sad. “My fiance died three months before our wedding date.”

Valerie's face turned pale. “I am sorry.”

“do not apologize, I really want to tell you.” George looked at Valerie softly, “Now I've managed to remember with a smile and can release the sadness of my soul.”

Valerie understands George's feelings. In the lonely nights after her recovery, when Valerie was faced with the fact that her father had died, Valerie always cried in anguish in her room. She was curled up alone in the dark, sure that she would continue to cry, that this pain would not be healed and that there was no way time would ever heal the wound. Time, however, can heal wounds.

God who loves human so much, has created the most effective medicine to heal the wound that is cut deep in the human heart. The medicine is “time”, heals slowly without even being aware of it by the human being themselves.

Valerie can now remember with a smile, as George said earlier. Suddenly her memories of her late father hurt no more.

“I felt the same way when my father died.” Valerie sighed. “And I am grateful I can remember it with a smile now.”

George's gaze seemed to be piercing inward, as if trying to reach the depths of Valerie's soul. “Do you really love your father?”

“Of course.” Valerie smiled. “He's my father and we were always together. My mother died giving birth to me and my father gave his whole life to care for me.”

George nodded his head, then his fingers grabbed Valerie's hand and grasped it gently. “Everyone has been hurt, but humans have the ability to heal themselves, like you and me.”

Their gazes converged and for some reason Valerie felt like she was anchored. She felt so right here, alone with George, as if they were meant to be together.

***

“I did not realize it was late at night.”

They were still chatting in the cozy and beautiful restaurant, ordering a cup of coffee and talking about everything. There are so many similarities between Valerie and George, sometimes making them flabbergasted at each other, then laughing together as if they were keeping a secret of their own.

Valerie glanced at her watch, it was almost ten in the evening. The atmosphere in the restaurant was full and crowded, even though each of them seemed to be enjoying a delicious dinner, no one was bothered. Some couples seem to come in late to enjoy the night. Since it's a Saturday night, the restaurant is open until midnight. Everyone seemed indifferent to the late night, as if they did not want to follow the night that was starting to move.

With a look of regret, Valerie said to George sheepishly, “I also did not realize that it was late, I was too absorbed in enjoying our conversation.”

George chuckled. “We have to do it sometime again, this is really fun.”

The man was half standing, followed by Valerie. They walked side by side, close together and when George grabbed her fingers, she did not refuse.

Until then they passed a table. The table is empty, but something was lit up, as if waiting for someone. Something on the table....

Valerie's face turned white as her stomach churned violently. On top of the table, there were exactly nine blue candles arranged perfectly and beautifully which gave off a dim light that looked romantic. It is as if a man is waiting somewhere to surprise his happy lover there. Any woman would be delighted to see the heartwarming arrangement of the dim candles.

However, instead of being delighted by the sight she accidentally saw, she was hit by a feeling she couldn't help but feel. That blue candle, that neat arrangement all seemed to be forcing Valerie to open up her memories of something... something dark and terrifying. Valerie fought that fear causing waves of excruciating nausea. Valerie's body swayed, made George gasp and hold her in confusion.

“Val, Valerie? What happened to you?”

Valerie almost lost consciousness at the pain that seemed to be tearing at her head. She glanced at the empty table with the blue candles and a feeling of nausea roiled inside her again.

“I want to get out of here.”

Her face was pale, making George panic, luckily the man chose to do what Valerie wanted. Gently but firmly, he half supported Valerie's feeble steps out of the room.

While outside the restaurant, faced with the chilly fresh air and slapping her cheeks, Valerie took a deep breath, exhaled several times and then took another breath. She held back the nausea in her stomach, and frowned. Meanwhile George, who was staring at her frown, seemed even more anxious.

“What's wrong with you, Valerie? What can I do? Would you like a glass of water?”

Valerie shook her head. “No.” Her weak fingers grabbed the sleeve of George's shirt who was about to turn back into the restaurant. “Please, wait a little longer. I'll be fine, do not leave me.”

George looked at Valerie deeply, then took a deep breath. He hugged Valerie with one arm, let her lean there. “do not worry, I am here,” whispered George softly, making a warm feeling run down Valerie's chest.

She leaned completely against George's warm, firm body, enjoying the warmth that spread from there. After taking the umpteenth long sigh, Valerie decided that she was feeling better already. She lifted her head and her eyes met George's clear eyes.

“Thank you. Looks like I am getting better.”

He immediately hugged her tightly. “You are welcome, Val. Are you really okay?”

Valerie nodded her head gently, removing herself from the support of George's body. “Yes. We can go home now, maybe my blood pressure dropped earlier. So I swayed a little, but now I am okay.”

George studied Valerie closely, as if unsure, but the man then smiled weakly and gave up. He was wise enough not to confront Valerie when she was weak, there was still a lot of time to ask her true condition. Now he had to take Valerie home so she could rest.

“Come on, let's go home.” George gently took Valerie's body back into his arms and they walked towards their car.

***

Meanwhile, Jose, who had been standing in an invisible corner, chuckled with amusement when he saw the incident.

Earlier he was idly, setting up the blue candle, just to see how far it would affect Valerie. It turned out that the results were extraordinary.

Jose smiled wryly. In time, Valerie will find out what she has been missing all this time and until that happens, Jose will be waiting with impatience.