The Melancholy of Aurora (An Original Short Story)

"Little white flowers will never awaken you,

Not where the dark coach of sorrow has taken you...

Angels have no thought of ever returning you,

Would they be angry if I thought of joining you?"

~Gloomy Sunday, 1933

Aurora sat down by the window with the cup of coffee clutched in her hand. "Daniel loves coffee", she thought. The memory allowed her a quick, painful smile. It's been three days, and Daniel is still in a coma -- car accident, with her, much to his family's disappointment. They never liked her for him, not even after five years that they lived together. It got worst after the accident when Daniel ended up severely injured, while she was miraculously unscathed. Maybe they just...thought she was weird.

After the accident, the family ignored her completely. Had she not heard how they talked about her, she would've rushed to Daniel's side to take care of him. But she didn't want any more drama. She just wants him to get well so that he can come home to her. Looking around their little home, she spotted their framed pictures on the wall. She remembered the day they moved in, how they hung those frames, how they spent most of the day decorating, and how not a single picture was removed nor added since then.

"Gloomy Sunday, with shadows I spend it all,

My heart and I have decided to end it all...

Soon there'll be prayers and candles lit, I know

Let them not weep, let them know that I'm glad to go..."

The loneliness in this house makes it more unbearable for her. So she decided to go to the hospital, no matter how much they hate her. She's coming for Daniel, whatever it takes. When she got there, the hospital was a bit crowded. She knew where his room was so she didn't bother going to the nurse station. She slowly opened the door to his private ward, trying not to disturb anyone in the room. Daniel was awake, to her surprise, and his mom was talking to him in a gentle voice. Not only that he was awake, Daniel was sobbing uncontrollably, like a child in his mother's arms. He noticed the slightly opened door and flashed a relieved smile. "Look mom, she's here. I told you she'd be here." His mom's face turned pale with a hint of worry.

"Come here, baby. Where have you been? I didn't see you when I woke up." Daniel said excitedly to Aurora, as she walked slowly towards him. She didn't want to talk, not with his mother around. She's contented to see him alright and healthy. She wished she didn't linger in his room, though, for as she sat down beside him in his hospital bed, his mom spoke quietly.

"Danny, oh my son. Aurora is not with us anymore. You saw it. You saw her die when she was giving birth. We buried her five years ago, with your baby. Son, let her go."

As his mom said the truth, it was like salt on a fresh wound. Then he remembered the accident he had three days ago. He sat down on his car after emptying five bottles of scotch at the bar, and turned on the engine. He was on his way to the cemetery to spend the night on his wife's grave when he saw her on the right side of the road, smiling at him. He steered the wheel, avoiding her direction, when she vanished from his sight -- causing his car to hit a huge tree, while a cargo truck exploded twenty yards behind him.

"Dreaming, I was only dreaming...

I awake and I find you asleep and deep in my heart dear

Darling, I hope that my dream hasn't haunted you

My heart is telling you how much I wanted you..."

She had saved him, for the hundredth time. He looked at her as she slowly vanished again into the light behind her. She was crying, but she managed to show him a smile, an assurance that everything is going to be fine -- that they will be together soon.