-1 Oliver

"Thanks for calling and have a nice day."

Anxiously, Oliver ended the call and heaved a sigh of relief. In less than five seconds he closed all tabs, clocked out, and shut down his computer. Shifting into second gear, Oliver grabbed his coat and left his cubicle in record time.

"Finished already? It's about time," Oliver's lazy supervisor laughed as his arm reached out of the cubicle to catch Oliver by the neck. "Thanks again for taking that call. She always talks and talks—"

"Don't mention it," coldly brushing him off, Oliver fled into the hallway and slid past the closing elevator door.

Oliver's thoughts carried on in the new silence. I swear that guy has got it out for me, always dragging me into phone calls for overtime and doing his job for him. One of these days I hope corporate comes in to find him playing his Battlestar Invaders. He'd finally get what's coming to him. Oh! I almost forgot to call back-

"Um, sir?"

A soft voice broke Oliver's concentration. Oliver looked over at the somewhat baffled brunette in a pantsuit.

"Sir, when do you get off?" she finally asked with his full attention.

"Oh, sorry. I'm getting off at the first floor so don't mind me," he nodded in apology as he pressed the button and let the elevator descend. After thirty awkward seconds, they both exited the elevator on the main floor and bolted through the revolving doors.

Now out in the open, Oliver whipped out his phone and called his mother's hospital room on speed dial. The phone rang as he approached the crosswalk, but he only reached the machine. "You've reached William's Health Institute. We're sorry that we can't get to the phone right now. If you're trying to get ahold of—"

He hung up and thought to himself. That's weird, did something happen with my mom? Whatever, if it's important I'm sure they'll call back. Oliver put his phone away and didn't bother to worry for his mother when she had never truly worried about him.

The crosswalk began to flash green and Oliver began his trek to the other side. Oliver's right hand slid past his back pocket and revealed his worn, leather wallet. He flipped it open and ruffled through the photos in plastic sleeves, directly skipping the family photo full of illusory smiles. His eyes rested on a few photos of a girl, ranging from her teenage years to her youth. She was frail, yet beautiful in her own right. Oliver's breathing slowed and his body relaxed. Like a robot, Oliver walked along the sidewalk relying on muscle memory as his mind drifted into the past.

I'm sorry, Melody. If only I didn't have to take that semester off to help mom and dad at their stupid shop. Then I would've had enough time to finish my degree and build your dream home. Then you'd still be here.

He almost didn't notice the drops of water crashing against his face, but he quickly hid his wallet back in his coat like he was trying to cover an innocent child from a storm. As the drops hastened into sheets of rain, Oliver quickly readjusted and entered the nearest supermarket. I guess I'll stock up before I head home.

Roaming the aisles, it didn't take long for Oliver to gravitate to his usual groceries: some instant ramen, a loaf of bread, a few coffee packets, and a couple of frozen dinners. In no time he was next at the register, though he was again distracted by the photos.

"Would you like an umbrella?"

Oliver peeled his eyes off the picture. Having no urge to purchase such an overpriced umbrella, Oliver crudely smiled.

"No need. I'm close by," he quickly replied as he handed her the cash.

"Are you sure?" she repeated with determination.

"I'm certain," Oliver snatched his change and made his way out, bags already in hand. Before she could respond he opened the door, causing the rain to drown out her voice.

With his collar up, he trudged through the streets while avoiding the splashes from the traffic the best he could. There was still a fair amount of people in the streets. This was typical for the end of the afternoon shift as the street lights slowly flickered on, one by one.

His phone began to ring and vibrate in his coat pocket. Oliver glanced icily at the sky before answering, "Hello?"

"Hello, is this Oliver Jones?" an emotionless voice responded.

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"Yeah, that's me. Who's this?"

"This is Dr. Mayburry from William's Health Institute. I was the one in charge of your mother's care."

"Oh… Does that mean that my mom has-"?

"Yes. She has moved on. It happened less than thirty minutes ago," the doctor kindly interrupted him and let out a deep breath. "We understand that this is hard for you and want you to know that—"

"What happens to her medical bills?"

"Huh?" caught off guard the doctor froze.

"What happens to her medical bills, Doc? Did they pass with her?" Oliver cut right to the chase.

"Oh," the doctor coughed to regain his composure, "Well, in accordance with state and federal law they will be passed on to her adult children if there are any."

"So, in other words, I get to front the bill?"

Astounded by Oliver's frankness, the doctor simply answered his questions. "Yes, you will have to make them up."

"And I imagine I'll get my father's old bills as well?"

"Yes, you are correct sir."

"Great… So much for an inheritance. Thanks, Mom and Dad," Oliver spoke aloud without realizing it.

"Sir, I know this is hard," The doctor's unexpected response made him realize his slip up. "But I'm sure that- "

"Thank you for your concern but there's no need to worry about me. Have a nice day, Doc."

"But sir, wait—" Click! Oliver didn't give him a chance to continue.

Oliver continued down his path, pondering the deaths of his mother and late father. It's about time. I only cared for them this long because that was Melody's wish. They must've planned this. Why else would they blow all the money from selling the shop on cruises and vacations instead of medical bills? Sadly, with all these new medical bills I don't know if I'll ever be able to build that house for Melody. What's a degree in architecture worth when I have all this debt?

After passing a few blocks, a rundown apartment complex came into view on the other side of the street. But before he could sigh in relief, he caught glimpse of the flooded street that kept him from his solace. Oliver's head drooped at the sight. Seriously? The rain wasn't enough?

He groaned and joined the small pack of people waiting for the light. But the depression expressed on his face was soon washed away with the pouring rain and the giggling of a little girl.

Oliver blinked twice. In front of him, he saw his little sister Melody, but only for a second as he realized it was just a little girl holding her dad's hand.

The sight of her brought mixed emotions. Some were feelings of happiness and joy from his sister Melody jumping in every puddle she passed, no matter what anyone else said. Others were feelings of sorrow and longing from losing her before fulfilling his promise to take her away with him, away from their mom and dad in her very own dream house.

"Daddy, there are so many puddles!"

"Of course, sweetie. It is raining after all. Just make sure to stay next to me and stay under your umbrella."

The daddy-daughter duo woke up Oliver from his trance as the street light gave the crowd the right to pass through the murky waters. Though trudging along in almost half a foot of water, Oliver wasn't disheartened in the slightest. The bubbly sprite in front of him was happy enough to put a smile on everyone's faces.

She had a bright pink umbrella fitted just for her, with a raincoat to match. A twinkle shone in her eyes as she stomped in every puddle and gutter at least once during her journey across the street. Her little hands were tugged along by her father as they approached the other side.

Oliver's lips curled up into a smile at the spectacle. It must be nice to be so free, just like Melody was. I'd do anything to have kept her smiling like you are now.

With the street light still flashing, she pulled away and went back a couple of steps for one last splash in the biggest puddle. Her dad chuckled as he set foot on the curb. One big leap and the waves sloshed about everywhere, making her laugh even harder.

HOOOOOONK!!!

Alarmed by the sound, everyone's heads twisted to see a delivery truck running the red light and on route to collide with the few people still in the crosswalk.

Haphazardly they all hopped and dove out of the way, all except for the little girl that slipped stepping out of the puddle. Fearing for their own lives, most people didn't even notice the girl that had fallen into the puddle when everyone else had turned towards the runaway delivery truck. Only two were fixed on her and only one was close enough to act.

In that split second, the distraught dad was stunned to see Oliver deliberately cross traffic and enter the truck's path to throw his daughter towards him. Before the little girl could close her eyes in despair, she was already airborne and looking into her father's worried eyes.

At least I could help you keep smiling. That was Oliver's one thought as his body refused to let another innocent girl face an unjust end.

Knowing his end was near Oliver closed his eyes, ready for his final moment of life. The headlights of the truck could be seen getting brighter gradually between the creases of his eyelids as if his senses heightened beyond human capabilities at the moment of his death.

He waited. He waited for the ever-increasing light to suddenly crash into eternal darkness.

Brighter. Brighter. BRIGHTER.

Dimmer. Dimmer. Dimmer...

The light began to die down slowly until it finally faded out of existence, leaving Oliver in darkness that extended ceaselessly. He tried to open his eyes, yet he couldn't. He yearned to reach his hand out, yet he was unable. His consciousness was calm and active, but his body was unresponsive in all ways.

Though he was drifting, it was somehow clear to him that he was traveling to a certain destination. It was unknown to him how, but he felt at ease all the same. Oliver's mind seemed to be in an enlightened state, allowing him to be open-minded, excited even to reach that unexpected final point.

Time was nonexistent. Oliver passed freely within this void, thinking and reflecting on everything he once experienced and once was. Eventually, his mind slipped away after endless thoughts pushed his consciousness beyond the extent of comprehension.

* * * * *

How much time had passed was unknown and Oliver had even forgotten of his own existence until a light gradually appeared on the horizon. A spark of thought awakened him. This train of thought carried his consciousness to that glimmer of light.

Fresh air passed once again through Oliver's lips. He suddenly remembered the feeling of a heartbeat that began to swell within his being. The sensation of limbs extending out of his new existence proved to Oliver that he was alive yet again. The light expanded slowly, encompassing his entire point of view over time.

The sun's warmth filled his seemingly new body, bathing it with a fresh sense of life. Oliver finally opened his eyes. Unbeknownst to him, the world wasn't what he once knew. It was more vibrant, wilder in nature. The echoes of various beasts rang through his ears. This body was familiar yet strange for some reason.

He recognized the beginning of a new life. But he was lost, without a clue as to what kind of life this was.