You are the star tonight,
You shine electric, out of sight
Your light eclipse the moon tonight
Electrolite
You're outta sight
Twentieth Century go to sleep,
Really deep,
We won't blink
Your eyes are burnin' holes through me
I'm not scared
I'm outta' here
I'm not scared
I'm outta' here
Electrolite, by R.E.M
Excerpt from Leonard "Lonnie" Doyle's Journal, pages 352-400
We got married a week after that day in her office and we haven't looked back. I've long since gotten off of my parole and cut ties with all of my old associates and now I'm attempting to pursue a career in film, but it's not easy. Not that I expected it to be. Me and Dr. Bliss still live in Hillwood City and she still works at the school, helping kids. Sometimes I sit with her when she talks with the real thugs--like this jerk named Wolfgang--and do the "you betta' cooperate" bit. It makes her laugh.
We're expecting the stork sometime soon as well, if you know what I mean.
I moved out of the boarding house upon my marriage and lived with Morgan. The kid was sad to see me go. A while after that he'd come and hang out and we'd drink soda and listen to jazz. Talk about things. He's really quite the guy, that Arnold. A dreamer, though. Comes with the territory.
He and that girl Helga stayed together and they grew up good. Arnold told me then that the kid gave em' all kinds of hell. Some of them believed it was an elaborate prank for months. Some probably still don't accept it. But after a while it just sort of settled in their minds that they were together.
They stayed with each other through high school and through college. Arnold got a job as sort of a corporate trouble shooter: he essentially does the same thing he did as a kid, but instead of kids with problems it's grown up businessmen with problems. Helga became a writer and published several books of poetry and an existentialism novel that was said by the New York Times to "rival Camus". It's a good deal because she doesn't ever have to work in an office and can travel with Arnold wherever he goes. Morgan tells me sometimes when she's in a romantic mood about how Helga must be in heaven. About how she wanted this life so bad. I've seen them together and it amazes me how compatible they are: their relationship has no uncomfortable silences. Helga still calls him names, but not without affection.
The last time I saw them--about three weeks ago--we were all on vacation to the beach and we stopped at this lighthouse. They excuse themselves from the tour after a while and go up to the top and I go up and look at them, and guess what?
They were just standing there looking at the sunset. Holding hands. It's a picture book romance.
And here's another tidbit: I just got a wedding invitation in the mail. Seems like they're tying the knot here in Hillwood. Arnold told me in a letter that they're going to run the old boarding house--seeing as how his grandparents retired--and probably raise a family in it. I don't know about Helga's family. I never asked and she never told. They'll probably be there at the wedding.
Arnold and Helga are still kids in love, even now. And it's the best kind of romance there is.
End
Author's Note: And there it is. I hope everybody enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Also: I know that Dr. Bliss doesn't have an office at PS118--does she?--so I took a little creative liberty there.
I've been considering making a 'sequel' to this...a piece that explores Lonnie's character more from Helga's point of view. Drop me a review, tell me what you think.
The song is from the album New Adveventures in Hi-Fi. Thanks for reading!