(Skunkette is the Looney Tune version of Barbie.)
I do not own Pepe (or Penelope) blah, blah, blah!
I do own Pepe's family and Pheffe. blah, blah, blah let's get on with the show!
Chapter Two
A Time to Heal
"We'll meet upon zhe shore, we'll keess just like before," sang a haltingly Pepe. He felt like a zombie. Nearly a whole day in that same hospital room with Pheffe who was still in serious condition. Her heart monitor kept her heart rate, showing a steady pulse.
Pepe's eyes slowly moved from the monitor to Pheffe's worn, but serene face. She looked like she was in a deep sleep that would last for years. Then, his eyes were drawn to what he had been avoiding. The wedding ring.
It was still there. Angry thoughts flooded back and took over. He felt a desire to tear it off! A need to discard it and never wear it again. He tried yanking it, but it stayed on. He barely ever took it off before. Now, he went mad. He hocked on it and tried to get the slimy gunk from his throat to ease it off his finger. Finally, he bit it and slipped it off. He held it in his other hand and finally, as if to say it was over, he threw it on the floor. A cling and rattle was heard as if hit the cold, tiled floor.
Pepe then crossed his arms on the bed and rested his chin on them. He started out, eyes narrow with bitterness. It could have lasted from then on if Pheffe had not been there.
Strange thoughts Pepe had never thought of grew. Why and where had Pheffe existed? Thoughts of what would have happened if he and Penelope had never met. What if they had? If they had it could have been crazy. One night together, she leaves, Pheffe born. Pepe never knowing. Never knowing Pheffe or even facing the fact she was not real was not a pleasant thought.
Nancy came into the room.
"Sweetie," she whispered. "You should go home."
"No, Mom." Pepe said though he was tired and wanted to clean up from the past weeks.
"Sil vous plait dear," his mother said putting a hand to his shoulder.
Reluctantly, Pepe stood up to go home while Nancy stayed with Pheffe. She noticed the ring on the floor and looked out nervous as her son left the room.
The house was so quiet and empty. The countertop had collected some dust. The rooms were bare without life in them.
Tired, Pepe flopped on the same bed he had known for years. He lay on his back for a while and stared at the ceiling. Absent-mindedly he reached for the side table drawer and felt his way through it. He felt the loose board that when lifted revealed his journals. (The one from his teen years and the one Penelope gave him at their first Christmas together.)
He pulled both out. He thumbed through the first pages and had a smile twitching. So many memories and so many silly things from the past… those were still dear to him.
He noticed a dry rose petal sticking out from one of the pages. He flipped to it and felt his heart ache when he read it. (This is what it said:)
Feb13
Penelope had been living with me for a while. I thought that I was just in another trance when I followed her around. When I realized she was gone, I felt miserable. Then, she trips over me and I saw her eyes suddenly look at me and I knew I was truly in love with her. It took all my strength to not suddenly grab her into my arms. (However, I was nervous to even touch her.) She must be "the one" or I would not want her living with me and resting at my side. Now, I feel the courage to ask her the question no man feels 100 confident of asking; "Will you marry me?"
I have expectations already that she may say yes, but I feel more assured that she will say no. If she does I will act fine and stay friends if she wants to.
But, I know that my heart will break and beg her to reconsider. I already know that I am drowning in the waves of love for her and that I can't swim my way out of the tide. Reality in speaking I would not like it (and who would?)For my emotions of her… I love the feeling.
Pepe swallowed hard at that last paragraph. How could he forget! An hour later, they had confessed their feelings to each other.
With a deep sigh, he knew what he had to do.
A few hours later, he was back with Pheffe, but refreshed. He brought her old pink blanket and Skunkette doll.
He sat in a stool and waited patiently for her to awake. The darkness of night was wrapping Paris up for sleep, but the lights were glowing warmly.
Something shiny caught his attention on the night table. His ring.
Looking down at his bare finger it scolded him. He stood and gently lifted it as if it was breakable. Delicately, he placed it in his palm and slumped against the wall to the floor. He stared at it for a long time and knew what had to be said.
"I'm sorry Pen, I'll still stay commited whether you love me or not."
With that he slipped it back on and vowed to Penelope that he would never take it off until they met again.
And thousands of miles away, on a train, sitting on a pile of straw was his wife. Who was thinking the same thing.
