Uncle P. Uncle P (Alfredo E. Phipps, Jr)
Maybe two hours only can help you enjoy life because a joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit. Laughter is the best medicine; even I laughed whole-heartedly today. I too had a good time with you. Thank you, Mr. Anderson!”
“Thank you for spending time with us, Sofia. Since the death of my wife, I have never sat downed and spend quality time with a beautiful lady,” said Mr. Anderson. His wife had passed away from cancer three years ago, and the grief had been in his heart ever since.
Sofia had shared much of her responsibilities of looking after his kids, but at the end, he had to play a big role, since Sofia could not be around now and then, even though she tried her best to be.
Oliver Anderson was forty-five years old, but his loneliness made him look older. He couldn’t let go of his wife’s memory of taking her last breaths in his arms. He felt afraid to start over.
Since Mrs. Anderson departed from this world, he became wary of spending more and more time with his loved ones. Since the death of his beloved wife, he knew it’s just in a flash of a second that the heart stops beating.
“Wow! Are you serious?” said Sofia.
“Mm-hmm!” Mr. Anderson replied.
“Excuse my boldness, Mr. Anderson, but can I ask you a personal question?”
“Go ahead.”
“In the environment that you are developing, you must have met that someone special who has caught your attention. I mean, you must have met amazing women as a lawyer, as an entrepreneur, and even in your social circle. Why haven’t you considered starting a new relationship?”
Mr. Anderson was silent at first.
“You may not answer this if you don’t want to. That’s fine!”
Sofia thought she had crossed the line, but then Mr. Anderson replied, “No, I shall answer it. I considered starting a new relationship, but I like to keep my professional life separate from my personal life. In a competitive environment, and since I am a lawyer, I have to be wary of the woman I choose since I would never know her true intentions and what she has in her heart.”
Mr. Anderson continued, “People can misinterpret it as an opportunity for a promotion. I think it will be inappropriate if you run a law firm. Also, this is my preference. I don’t want to come home to a wife with the same profession or a profession that stops her from prioritizing her family first.”
“You’ve put much thought into this!”
“Yes, I have. I also don’t want my wife to work for someone else when I can provide my family with the necessities of life. You know, among all, what I fear the most?”
“Oh, what?” Sofia had been carried away with whatever Mr. Anderson poured on this sensitive topic.
“I fear not finding a woman who would love my children as my wife did. I think this is my biggest fear. Among everything else, this is the biggest reason I have not considered bringing that someone special in my life and my kids’ lives.”
“I am sure that God has reserved someone, somewhere special for you in this world. All you need to do is standing with open arms when that opportunity comes,” Sofia said.
“Thanks. I will keep this in mind. You have an optimistic outlook on life. I would like to know a little more about this optimistic woman,” said Mr. Anderson with great interest.
“Sure, ask away.” Sofia was curious to know what Mr. Anderson would ask.
“You are a young, elegant, and attractive woman. Don’t you have that someone special in your life?”
“Um! I had that someone special in my life once. He was the love of my life, and I lost him in a car accident. A negligent drunk driver destroyed my entire world. He was everything to me; he was my world. The way he left… We didn’t even have time to say goodbye. Since then, I have stayed alone.” Sofia had tears in her eyes.
“Sofia,” said Mr. Anderson. “We attach ourselves to someone, and then they leave us. They become a memory. A beautiful memory. But you know what the worst part is? That they only exist in our memory.”
Teardrops ran down Sofia’s face.
“I didn’t mean to make you sad. I’m very sorry that I made you recall everything.” Mr. Anderson felt bad upon making Sofia revisit her past.
“No, Mr. Anderson, he was one of the best things that happened to me. Though I miss him, but missing him is still beautiful and worthy …”
“You are a different lady. Why don’t you give yourself another chance? You deserve to lead a happy life. Why haven’t you thought of forming a home and having children?”
Mr. Anderson could see the tension on Sofia’s face. It seemed like the blood had drained from her face.
“Mr. Anderson, can we continue this conversation on another occasion? I need to go.”
Mr. Anderson knew it wasn’t time to stop her. Sofia was uncomfortable answering the questions. He nodded.
Sofia had her reasons. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She knew that someone would ask this question one day, and she wouldn’t be ready to answer it.
Sofia got up from the sofa, and she wanted to bid him goodbye as soon as she could. Mr. Anderson was embarrassed for making her uncomfortable. The atmosphere had an air of unease.
“Sofia, excuse me …”
“Yes, Mr. Anderson?”
“I did not intend to hurt you or make you uncomfortable, but I still did it. More than once. I am very sorry.”
“Do not worry, Mr. Anderson. You just had a few questions. That’s it. Everything is fine. It was a pleasure for me to spend some time with you and your children. Will you please call Anthony and Leslie so I can give them a goodbye kiss?”
“Sure. Wait, I will call them,” replied Mr. Anderson.
Rather than calling them or sending someone to bring the kids, Mr. Anderson went himself. He found that fitting.
Sofia was waiting in the living room when Anthony and Leslie came running.
Mr. Anderson followed, walking at his normal pace.
“Sofia, please don’t go. We want to play with you.” Leslie held her hands and pleaded with innocence.
Sofia kissed her cheek and said, “My darling, I have to go. But I will come back Monday.”
“Promise?” said Anthony.
“Yes, promise.”
“Okay, then you may go.” Leslie made a sad face.
“We love you, Sofia,” said Anthony.
“Sofia loves you guys more,” said Sofia as she got on her knees and hugged both the kids.
After giving love to the kids, she headed to the car.
Mr. Anderson and the kids followed. As she sat in her car, she waved goodbye to all of them. The three of them waved back.
While Oliver waved her back, he kept thinking about the questions he had asked her in the living room.
*
In a dimly lit room, sunlight shone through the glass walls. It was a beautiful office.
While two walls were made of concrete and had beautiful gray bricks on them, the other two walls were made of glass and allowed the sparkling sunlight in.
Everything was arranged on the table in perfect spacing. The table had everything in a square shape and only in black and white.
From the mug to the notepad, to the laptop and the furniture—even the interiors were a combination of the two. There was a cozy black chair with the table. A man came walking toward the chair