May 3, 2011
Dr. Lily Newton turned thirty-five years old today. She wasn't partially excited, nor was she dreading the coming year she would turn forty, 2016. Lily's mind wasn't her new patient that reminded her of her sixteen-year old self, nor of her adopted teenage son. No, her mind was on something else entirely.
Lily pulled out a photo out of her desk. Whenever she took it out, her patients and son would ask her if the boy in the picture was her boyfriend. No, she would tell them. He is just a good friend.
The picture in Lily's hand was nineteen years old. Nineteen years ago, Lily was sixteen. As was the boy in the picture, Steve McGarrett. Or should I say, Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett?Lily smiled. Steve had said that in ten years of time, Lily would be calling him Commander. She studied the picture. Steve McGarrett's hair was no longer wavy. It was straight now, like hers. His hair was the same shade: dark brown. Lily could see that her friend had grown quite handsome over the years. Not that he wasn't all ready when we met, Lily added to herself. His eyes were the same ocean blue. But they were different. Lily noticed that in her friend's eyes, there was no confidence. A lingering unhappiness. Based on the photo shot she was able to obtain, it seemed that Steve McGarrett was confident and happy, unlike the sixteen-year old boy Lily had known. Commander would be proud of you, Steve.
She sighed. The Commander's health was deteriorating quickly. This past year, he had suffered a severe stroke, causing Lily and her adopted son to move in to help the Commander with the daily tasks that he had once done himself. Joseph Long had not much time left, and Lily was certain the Commander wanted to see Steve one last time. Although the Commander and Steve had known each other only for a couple years, they had quickly grown attached. More so than his own father, Lily added drily, remembering the talks she had with Steve about his own father in Hawaii. The Commander considered Steve the son her never had, and he considered Lily and Joseph, Lily's adopted son, to be his daughter and grandson.
They were his family.
Lily knew that she should call Steve about the Commander, but Steve seemed to be happy, finally in his Hawaii, while leading a task force called Five-0. She remembered the last words he had said to her before he had begun his training: "I'll see you again." Yes, Lily thought, I will see you again too.
She smiled.
Later that night, Lily thought she heard a whisper in her ear.
A voice telling her, "Happy birthday, Lily."
