Music Notes

Carry You Home (story inspired by song)

Alex shuffled from one foot to the other on Ella's doorstep, sweaty hands clutching a bouquet of roses. His heart pounded in his throat as he knocked, even though he'd already texted he was coming.

The door opened. Ella leaned on the frame with a pale smile.

"Come in. I'm sick today… don't know how much fun I'll be."

"I don't need to have fun." Alex held out the bouquet. "I wanted to help you feel better."

Ella took the roses, sinking down onto the living room couch. After a moment's hesitation, Alex gathered the courage to sit beside her. She didn't object.

They sat in silence for some time. A clock ticked on the mantle. Ella lay back in the cushions, eyes half closed.

"I'm sorry… I guess this isn't a good time to—"

"What?" She looked over at him, eyelashes batting against crystalline agate eyes.

"I—thought… maybe you'd—" Alex choked on his words.

"Well, speak up." Ella straightened up with a giggle. "I don't have all night."

"Would you like to be—uh… like, more than friends? We've known each other for so long. I don't want to ruin it. But if you want, I'd love to…"

"Alex, I do love you. But not like that." She looked him firmly in the eye. "Not now. Maybe after I complete my education."

"Yes, of course," he mumbled, eyes on the floor. "Whatever you say. I just want you to know I'll be there if you ever…"

"That's very nice. I appreciate your feelings. Now, I have some chores to do."

Alex heaved a despairing sigh as he trudged down the sidewalk. How am I supposed to live without her?

***

Ella moved away to a college town, and Alex stayed behind, working his way up the ranks at a local insurance company. He heard she got married and wasn't planning on coming back to her hometown.

He avoided contact after that, glancing at her Facebook page every so often to make sure she was still alive and doing well. Alex tried looking for someone else, but his relationships never seemed to last very long.

Am I doing something wrong here? Is it me? He examined himself after every failed match, trying to improve. Getting married was a serious commitment, and he resolved not to do it until he was entirely ready, at least as much as possible. After pulling away from dating, self development work and a steady job consumed several years of his life.

One day he logged on to Facebook and saw an announcement from Ella. She was diagnosed with cancer. He joined the flood of well wishes in the comments, but declined to reach out privately.

His visits to her page became more frequent, and he watched as her posts grew less bubbly and further apart. When they stopped altogether for a week, he sent a message. After no response, he dug through his contacts and called her old number.

"Alex, is it really you?" Her voice was so much thinner and weaker than he remembered. "I've been in the hospital. My husband is with someone else. He says he wants a divorce."

"I'll be right there." He brought an enormous bunch of colorful daisies.

Alex stayed by Ella's side through endless rounds of chemo, surgery, rehab and recovery. He didn't offer to make it a relationship again, only spent as much time together as possible, doing what he could.

"Alex, you've been so loyal and patient. What are your intentions?"

"Whatever you want. I just want to be here for you."

"I think it's time we made this more than a friendship." She held his hand.

The day Ella was declared cancer-free, Alex was there.

"Are you sure you're ready, Alex? We've put this off for so long."

"Ella, all my life I've been preparing to carry you home."

Words: 642.
Written for "Note: 48-HOUR CHALLENGE : Media Prompt Deadl..."