Heartknocks - - (chromebook ebook reader TXT) 📗

hair, much less braids. But the twisted dark hair, with only a glimpse of gray, looked very nice on this lady.

The lady smiled, and Kaili relaxed, assuming the lady had been kidding about the shock therapy punishment for pressing the wrong button.

She walked to Kaili, sat down beside the lamppost, and patted the spot on the ground next to her.

Kaili sat beside her and asked what her name was.

“I’m Jazz,” said the lady.

“Sweet name.”

“Thank you. My father wanted to name me Jumpin’ Jazz and call me J.J.”

“I assume your mother objected.”

“They flipped a coin.”

“Thank God for heads, huh?”

Jazz laughed. “How are you feeling, Kaili?”

“Even weirder since you know my name.”

“I also have a feeling that you might want to talk about something.”

“Wow – where to start? So, it’s now, now? I’m not seven, or eleven, or twelve, or thirteen?”

Jazz nodded. “It is now, except that now has been temporarily suspended.”

“Okay, you may have to go slow for me,” said Kaili. She then touched Jazz on her shoulder, both to emphasize her next question, and to make sure that Jazz was real. “Am I dead? I died in my bed this morning, right?”

“No, Kaili. You’re not dead. At least…not yet.”

“What do you mean?” Suddenly, the stress and confusion of whatever all of this was – birthdays, buttons, dying, reliving life’s memories – was too much. “Are you even real?” she shouted. “Is this a dream?”

“I am real, and you are not dreaming.”

Kaili covered her face with her hands and lowered her head.

“There’s a reason you’re here. I promise. Please trust me.”

Kaili lowered her hands and stared at Jazz. She felt like giving up, but she also wanted help. “You’re here for a reason too, then.”

“Yes,” said Jazz.

“What is it?”

“We need to talk…about Logan.”

Kaili’s entire body stiffened. “What about Logan?”

“For starters, care to explain that knocking thing?”

Kaili grinned, and a peculiar feeling somehow comforted her. “It means ‘I love you’ – and why do I think you already know that?”

Jazz didn’t reply, and Kaili continued. “Logan whispered it to me. It took me by surprise a little bit. I was thrilled, but all I could do was mumble back a thank you. He told me I was welcome, probably just so I wouldn’t feel so awkward.”

Jazz smiled. “Three knocks…for I love you?”

“Later, I asked Logan about that. One knock for I.”

“And three knocks for Y…O…U,” said Jazz. “But why two knocks for love?”

“He said that meant two halves of a heart.”

Jazz smiled again. “Did you tell him that you loved him too?”

Kaili shuddered. “No, I didn’t.”

“Do you?”

Kaili took a deep breath before she spoke. “Logan is my best friend,” she softly said. “I saw him every day. When I got sick, he did so much for me. When I lost my hair, he shaved his head. When I was puking out my guts, he held me. And lately, when it hurt too much to even open my eyes, he read to me.” Kaili looked up at the lamp. “Yeah, Jazz. I love him. But no, I never actually told him.”

“Why not?”

“I think it’s because I wanted to protect him.”

“How so?”

“I’m dying, Jazz. Isn’t that hard enough on him?”

Jazz nodded. “When did Logan first tell you that he loved you?”

Through her nightgown, Kaili felt for her ring. “It was the day he gave me my necklace…the same day I lost the ruby from my ring. I guess you could say I had a bittersweet day.”

“May I see your ring?”

Kaili pulled the necklace out and grasped the ring to show – “The ruby! Jazz! The ruby…it’s back!”

“Do I have your attention, Kaili?”

Kaili nodded as she let the necklace freely fall back inside her nightgown. “Please tell me something.”

“What would you like to know?”

“Why am I here?”

“For one, simple reason. You are being given an opportunity.”

“An opportunity to do what?”

“I think you know.”

Kaili did know. “But won’t it make it worse? Won’t Logan get over me easier if I don’t tell him?”

“Has this little trip here not shown you anything? There are very few truly special people and moments in our lives. The way we respond is so very important.”

“I get that, but still…”

“Ask yourself two questions. Does Logan deserve to know? And, if you and Logan could trade places, what would you want to hear from him?”

Kaili had no choice but to break the promise she had made to herself exactly one year ago. But the tears were for Logan, not her.

Jazz took hold of Kaili’s hand.

“Do I go back home from here?” asked Kaili. “How long do I have?”

“Yes, and not long. Logan will be the last person you see in this life.”

She stopped crying.

Somehow, from somewhere, Kaili was ready. But first, she needed to make sure of one thing. “I’ll have time to tell Logan that I love him?”

Jazz nodded. “You will, sweetie.”

Jazz squeezed Kaili’s hand and released it. She then reached up and touched the lamppost.

 

* * *

 

Kaili clutched the worn diary under her pillow as she turned over in bed.

I want him to have my necklace too.

She took it off and wrapped it around her diary, making sure that both the ruby pendant – and the ruby on the ring – were proudly displayed on the front cover.

Kaili held the diary close to her heart.

She closed her eyes, and a strange feeling came over her.

Knock.

Knock-knock.

Knock-knock-knock.

 

 

 

Connect with the Author

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read my short story! I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to visit me at www.dannimak.com to check out my other books, join my mailing list, or just stop by and say hello. I’d love to hear from you…Dan Nimak