Midnight Wishes: New Year's Contest

Turn left, Mark

(words counted by Word: 1647)

written by AJCrazyEyes

It's New Year's Eve and Mark, 25 is driving backing home during a snowstorm.

He is very sad and the weather is very gloomy. The weather is gloomy because the snow and Mark is sad because some days ago he had the notice his lovely mother called Eve didn't recover from a bad cancer. Unfortunately, Eve died. She was an adorable mother, but she didn't resist to the severe illness.

So, this is going to be the first New Year's Eve that Mark will spend without the adorable Eve.

Mark, almost crying, keep driving during the snowstorm. He needs to meet his father and his other relatives before midnight, but the weather doesn't want to help: there are too much snow on Mark's car that is almost stopping, almost getting stuck.

Mark is also sad because another reason. Some years ago, Mark lost his lovely girlfriend called Winter. Winter suffered a car accident few years ago and Mark never had mor contact with Winter's family. Mark knows that Winter has only one older sister called Samantha who has a husband, Ted and they are parents of a boy called Todd. Winter was the great love of Mark, after her, Mark never had found a great life's partner. Of course, he had related with other women, but none like Winter.

Mark, very sad, keeps driving, but suddenly the car stops because the snow is huge. Mark gets stuck in the middle of snow.

Mark's cell phone isn't working right now. So, the man is alone.

Mark drink a juice and eat sandwich while he waits for the snow to subside, but time is slowing down. Mark is tired, he is almost sleeping. It's almost New Year and Mark aren't able to talk with his father on the cell phone.

Suddenly, someone appears in front of Mark's car. Mark is surprised. It's a beautiful woman.

She starts to talk with him: "Hello, man...I'm sorry to scare, I came to bring good news".

Mark is freezing for a few seconds, not Mark's body (he wears a big coat), but his heart is frozen because he is very sad and crying.

Mark finally speaks: "Who are you? Are you crazy? Good news.... You're a stranger, but I'll tell you something, my mother died recently.".

"I'm sorry, Mark...your mother Eve was adorable! I'm really sorry!". the woman replied.

Mark don't understand.

"How do you know my name? How do you know my mother? Who are you?" Mark said.

"You don't recognize me anymore, that's okay. But I'm Winter and I came to bring good news." Winter said.

Mark keeps in silence. Winter keeps talking: "I know you don't understand and you don't believe either.".

"I've always loved you, Winter" Mark said.

"I know, I know, I always loved you Mark...but there are many ways of love and respect."

"What do you mean?" told Mark, very confusing.

Winter says: "Please listen to me, there are things you need to face by yourself...I just came here to tell an important observation."

But Mark interrupts Winter.

Mark says: "Please, Winter, listen to me first. I wrote a letter to you and to myself, a poem. I didn't have time to say goodbye so I wrote a poem, my first poetry to bring me comfort for not having you in my life.

Mark takes a piece of paper from the car's compartment.

Mark starts to read:

" Even the sky is dark

Even my mind is sad

Even to live is hard

Even I look a mad

Even this winter is too cold

I need to believe

I need to keep going

Through my cold road

Cause a happy Summer

could come

So, I must handle

I need to win my fences

To find, again, my inner glow

Dear life,

Today, you, Mark's life

is upset...upside

upside down

It's too hard

Me, Mark...

I lost my glow

I'm sad,

I'm out of my head,

cause my sweet Winter

Left me, she really left

Now I can reflect

I'm suffocating

That's why I write

I am dedicating

this letter to me

and to her

Winter was the greatest

I know I have to keep walking

I am brave

But now just hate

I don't hate Winter

I don't hate myself

I hate her tragic fate

She didn't deserve it

And I wasn't able to help

But this is the life

It's a box of surprises

I know I'll always love Winter

Today, tomorrow

I'll always respect her

in all seasons of the year.

From summer to winter

She is my dear

My dear Winter

I'm not sad

cause she died

I already said

But today I cry

Cause I loved her mind

Her soft way to live her life

Our life together was a pretty

A pretty gift

Now I realize

I will always remember

Winter's soft voice

Her voice calmed me

Now I can see

when I froze

her voice helped me

If I' was irritated

her voice calmed me

Even the sky is dark

Even my mind is sad

Even to live is hard

Even I look a mad

Even this winter is too cold

I need to believe

I need to keep going

Through my cold road

Cause a happy Summer

could come

So, I must handle

I need to win my fences

To find, again, my inner glow

Patience

Competence

Overcome the pain

Stoicism

Balance

Live one day after another

Organize myself

Don't bother

Unhurried. No rush

Don't overvalue the pain

But move on

Learn from nature

Learn how to enjoy my life

Not live not past

But be connected

With fire

Be on fire!

Continue admiring

What is left

And respect those who are gone

It is not the end

My life is a gift

It was a gift with Winter

but I'm alive

and it's a relief

So, this is what I need

to keep believing

Good memories can save lives

Good memories can handle bad days

I know I'll grown

I'm sure I'll follow my day

Even if I'm too slow

or even when I accelerate

I'll find the balance

After I read this letter

I'll relax mind

And I'll keep my life

I love you Winter

I also love myself

So I'll struggle hard

I'll struggle hard

To keep my flame on fire

To keep me warm

Dear life,

I say twice

Today, you, Mark's life

is upset...upside

upside down

It's too hard

Me, Mark...

I lost my glow

Even the sky is dark

Even my mind is sad

Even to live is hard

Even I look a mad

Even this winter is too cold

I need to believe

I need to keep going

Through my cold road

Cause a happy Summer

could come

So, I must handle

I need to win my fences

To find, again, my inner glow"

Mark finally finishes reading the letter/poetry. Mark is very emotional. Winter is silent. Winter just observes Mark.

Suddenly, Winter says: "Your favorite song..."

Winter starts singing the Pink Floyd song "Wish You Were Here". She really has a soft voice:

"And disciplinary remains mercifully
Yes and um, I'm with you Derek, this star nonsense
Yes, yes
Now which is it?
I am sure of it

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from hell?
Blue skies from pain?
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk-on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here"

Winter finishes singing.

A tear falls down Mark's face.

Mark and Winter finally kiss for many minutes.

They keep caressing each other. They are smiling.

Winter becomes more serious, she says: "Please listen to me, there are things you need to face by yourself...I just came here to tell an important observation."

"What is it?"

"Listen Mark, when the snow stops, you need to turn to left before you get to your father's house."

"I'm still confused Winter."

Winter says her last sentence: "Turn left to my sister's house before you go to your father's house. So, turn left. After you go to my sister house, you can go to your father's house. So, turn left, Mark. Turn left, Mark...I love you!".

Before Mark replies, he wakes up. Yes, Mark was dreaming all that time during the snowstorm.

Now, the weather is good, it's before midnight, so Mark is not late.

Mark is driving. Mark is almost arriving in his father's home. But he still remembers what Winter said: "Turn left, Mark".

Mark turns left and he goes to Samantha's house.

When Mark comes to Winter's sister house he gets the good news, a surprise.

Samantha and his husband Ted have a new kid, a daughter called Summer. Summer is younger than the other son of Samantha, Todd.

But, in fact, Mark discovered that Summer was adopted by Samantha after Winter died.

Yes, Winter was pregnant, but she didn't know. Summer is the Mark's biological daughter.

Mark is shocked but happy.

Samantha said she waited to call today, on New Year's Eve, to tell Mark this news. But his phone didn't work because of the snowstorm.

At the beginning of the story Mark was sad because his mother died. But now, he is happy.

Because Mark, Summer, Samantha, Ted and Todd are going to spend the New Year together at Mark's father's house with Mark's relatives.

Mark turned left and discovered a new way of loving.

The end.