Fragile Heart
by Cassandra
Prologue
Terry woke up to find his world completely changed. He got up from the bed, then sat on the chair by the window. It was still snowing. He had not cried in years, not since he was a child... until last night seeing her walking away from him. It was almost as tormenting and painful as the nightmares. Perhaps he cried because of the solitude that settled in with his loss. He had been through a lot. She saw all his pain and bitterness that he had so carefully concealed. Still through it all, he had never been as scared as he was last night. Please, be still for a moment…I don’t want to let you go, let time stand still this way…this way forever...
He wanted to write, but his handed stay unmoving. What will he say? He couldn’t
put down the words how much she meant to him. What will this note do? It was probably
useless; she was gone. He grabbed the paper in front of him and crumpled it up. He sighed in
total frustration. Before he was on top of the world. He had everything he wanted.
Most of all he had Candy. His life had changed in a blink of an eye.
Chapter 1
Few years went by. She had meandered through work at the hospital. She tried to keep herself as busy as she much as could so she could forget how lonely she was. It had taken awhile for Candy to recover from the break-up. She had tried to face it with a smile on her face, although she was hurting inside. She did not want anybody to worry about her. All her friends have been supportive. She was grateful at times like this, that she knew that they were there for her. There were times when she was all alone; she couldn’t help but think about the happy times that they both shared. It brought back joy in her heart. Remembering the summer in Scotland, how could she forget? They were the happiest days of her lives. She gently opened a little box and took something from it. A handkerchief of the person that took her heart. Slowly, she traced with her finger the initials on it. After all these years, she could still smell the sweet scent of amber and lavender. She sat by the windowsill staring at the snow flakes falling like a shower from the sky. She remembered that night. She held back the tears. She closed her eyes and smile slightly, as she tried to erase the memory with thoughts of Christmas, the children of Pony House. She thought of Albert, and smiled at the memory of Albert’s birthday and the look on his face when they surprised him. Miss Pony had worked for days on making the best apple pie. Annie and Archie shopped for the food. Patty and Candy worked on decorating the place. It had been a blast. Although Albert had tried to hide it, Candy could tell the party had given him so much joy, since he was now the head of the Andrew’s family. He had been busy, always on his business trips. She traveled with him sometimes. She helped him with the family business. Candy loved Albert. He loved her back. It was a strong bond of friendship. He had been the shoulder to cry on when she was sad. He loved Candy as the little sister he never had. Candy was so glad that Albert was the Prince of Pony Hill; she knew he was the guardian angel that had been always there to protect her. She just wished that someday Albert would experience the feeling of being in love. She often teased him that someday he might bring one of the animals in Africa to be his wife. Albert couldn’t help but laugh. No one could ever make him laugh the way Candy could.
“What about you Candy. Do you want to be like Ms. Pony or Sister Lane?” he laughed.
Candy raised her eyebrow and stuck out her tongue and said, “Hey! I’ll be a good wife with lots of lots of kids someday. Then you
will be a grandfather,” she laughed. They both laughed. It was getting late.
She couldn’t sleep and all through the house not a
creature was stirring except herself, alone in her room wishing for love. Sighing deeply her eyes
met the only star that was out that night. With a trembling hand, she brushed away
her tears and whispered her love to the wind. Perhaps it will be carried to the one
who these words belong to. She sighed again and slowly got down from her window sill. Her tiny feet padded gently along the carpeted floor, as she glided
towards her bed. Moving the bed covers, she slid into her warm bed and closed her eyes.
Before she fell asleep a small tear trickled down her face..
Meanwhile in New York, Terry was on his balcony, feeling the small cold sting
of snow flakes falling on his face as he stared out at the city. He loved to watch
the city at night. He often felt like a phantom, a part of the shadows stitched
into them and wandering the street in search of his love. Her smiling face appeared in
his mind, her eyes shimmered with wonder when she laughed. He remembered the first time he saw her, his heart leapt to his throat. She wore a splendid silk
which was pure white, her blond curly hair like a strand of sunlight, her emerald
green eyes lighted up her face, and those adorable little freckles. At first he was
tempted to push her away, so as not to let her enter his life, but deep down he knew it
was too late, for he had fallen in love with her the very first moment he met her. He
simply couldn’t bring himself to confess it because he was afraid of ending up hurt. He had chosen to hide his feelings behind the teasing and cold remarks
which wasn’t an easy task for him. He didn’t want her attention, he wanted her
affection. Several lifetimes of memories, he knew he had found his true love, but he was torn between the girl he loved and the girl that saved his life. That night,
the separation on the stairs he felt his life slowly flowing out of him during the
moment he let her go. He had chosen to be with Susana, but being with her made him
realize that he needed Candy in his life, like breathing air to survive. He sighed
heavily and walked back in. He curled up on his couch holding the harmonica she had
given him. He thought how could he let her go? Before he fell asleep a single
tear ran down on his face leaving a shimmering scar on his soft flesh.