Triumphant

He sat in his room, day after day. He stared out the window and watched the world go bye. There was no phsyical restraint that kept him there. Just mental. The mere thought of stepping outside his door sent his body into convulsions. The world was so big, and every day there were stories in the newspaper about murders, and rapists. It was much safer in his room. He knew every nook and cranny, he felt completely safe there. He often thought about when he was a boy, he could remember the way the sun felt on his shoulders as he fished with his dad. Would he ever experience that again? He hoped so, however it was doubtful. His father had died years ago, cancer of the lungs. He had never known his mother, and had few friends left on the outside. The only person in the world that he trusted was his maid Melinda. She did his grocery shopping for him, cooked him food, helped him clean and talked to him for hours everyday. She often mentioned going outside, but he was too scared. She said they could take it slow, but talking about it made him sick to his stomach. He tried to explain to her that he wanted to go outside, but he just couldn't. It was kind of like her wanting to lift 1000 pounds, but she just couldn't. Going out side was, to him, like lifting 1000 pounds. It was an impossible feat.

Everyday he looked out his window, he watch children grow into teenagers, infants grow into children. He watched as the trees changed from brilliant green, into shades of yellow, orange and red. He watched the rain come pouring down, and the snow fall silently onto the earth. For 15 years he had been in his room. On a tuesday he decided that 15 years was too long. He started slowly, he walked to his door and opened it. He stared out into the hallway. His breathing became very fast, his vision turned blurry, and his stomach turned as he took a step into the hallway. The front door of his apartment building opened abruptly, the sun flashed throught the openin almost blinding him. He rushed back into his room and closed the door. He layed on the floor trying to calm himself down. On Wednesday he walked to the front door of his apartment building and stared at it. He couldnt quite convince himself to open it. He turned around and went back into his room. It took him a week before he could get up the courage to try again. He opened the door of his room, and stared out into the hallway.The ten feet to the front door seemed like a mile to him. He took one step, then another, he walked the length of the hallway and put his hand on the door knob. He took a deep breath and turned the knob, the door swung open and the brilliant sun shone in at him. He stood there for a minute, and then turned around and ran back to his room. He sat on his bed and thought about the feelings he had just experienced. It was a mixture of pure terror, and pure joy. The next day he walked to the front door and opened it. He stood there for ten minutes looking at the world. He turned around and went back to his room. Two days later he walked to the front door, opened it and took his first steps out into the sunshine. He stepped out onto the porch, and lifted his head toward the heavens. The warm sunshine hit his face and it felt like a miracle.

From across the road Melinda watched as he stood staring up at the sky. A small tear slid down her cheek as she watched him timidly take steps further out into the world. It was truly like he was a small child, taking his first steps ever. She watched as he lowered his head and looked her direction. The pure joy on his face made her realize that she loved him. She waved at him from across the road, and he began to walk towards her. He reached the road and began to slowly cross it. She stood there and watched proudly as he took one step, and then another. They were focused only on each other. As there eyes locked, they both knew the truth, that they belonged together. Melinda could only think about spending the rest of her life with him. A horn honking pulled her out of her trance. She watched in horror as a semi barreled down on him. He looked up and saw the truck honking at him. Pure terror raced through his body and he froze.

The doctors say that he died instantaneously. They say that he felt no pain at all. The truck hit him at 55 miles per hour. It was ruled an accident, and the driver was not held accountable. Everyday Melinda stares out his window. She watches the world go by, and wonders why god would let such a thing happen. She thinks about him, and the 15 years that he spent in this room. She can't bear to leave it, for it feels as if she were leaving him. On a Tuesday she decides it is too much. She silently walks to the bathroom, pulls a razor blade out of the medicine cabinet, and hopes that soon she is with him.