Maya was walking in silence with Shawn in tow, making their way to Washington Square Park. Maya felt her phone vibrate and stopped dead in her tracks. Shawn took notice, and stopped as well. It was a text from Josh that read-
Hey, she's with me at the Library, trying to get her to eat something at the moment.
Shawn asked Maya as she intensely typed out a response,
"Something happened?"
Maya took a moment to answer, then replied as she sighed with relief,
"She's with Josh."
She sent the response letting him know they were about 10 minutes away. Bedford street is not that far from Washington Square park, and Maya felt a thud deep in her chest. She knew it was sadly true; the closer they were to Riley the closer she was to having to say goodbye again. Their last departure from each other ended with such a finality, it was unbecoming to have left on any other note. Now separating would feel like having something ripped off, a pain that seared and lingered. Maya had no longer space to wish or dream about what was going to happen. It was almost as if the events happening in real time were happening around her, rather than happening to her. She looked up from her phone long enough to notice the two blue awnings, and those familiar red paneled windows of The Little Owl, a quaint restaurant that Shawn had treated everyone to soon after his honeymoon. Maya remembered this fondly, her new sense of belonging that was unknown to her and Katy, a feeling mostly untouched by her heart. Shawn had been kind enough to invite Riley after Maya kindly asked to bring her along, as she knew Riley would just fall in love with it. It was one of those memories, one of those evenings, that just sticks with you forever. A beautiful day, that culminated with an amazing dinner, surrounded by the people who matter to you. Most of all, Maya remembered feeling safe, and the way the faint lights and candles scattered through the restaurant cascaded a brightness across Riley. Her eyes caught sight of it, and everything moved around them, but for Maya, her existence stopped in that moment to acknowledge something; that Riley was beautiful. Maya thinks of that moment so many times, and sometimes she feels chills, or gets a pit feeling in her stomach. Maybe that was the moment, a realization perhaps, that Riley changed in her eyes. You know, that moment when you enter a room you have been in countless times, but notice for the first time a painting that has been on the wall the whole time. It changes the way you see the room completely, it was just something you were blind to before. Maya, being the music lover she was, remembers exactly the song she heard in her head at that moment. Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
"Don't throw your hand, oh no
Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you are not alone
If you're on your own in this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much
Of this life to hang on…
And everybody hurts sometimes
So hold on, hold on
…Everybody hurts."
It was the feeling like in Peggy Lees' A song for You,
"I love you in a place where there is no space or time."
Maya came back to reality with that touch from Shawn on her forearm. She got the sense Shawn had also stopped to think about that evening too, that they were both upset by this change, though in different latitudes.
"Maya, once we get to the park, I want you to let me talk to her, okay? Like Cory said, we need to at least get her back to Morgan's."
Corey had been busy trying to settle an absolutely angry and distraught Topanga. The decision had been made, and Topanga was in her own struggle; to follow through on her binding commitment, or the obligation she felt to her family. The plan was to send Shawn and Maya out to the park, and bring her back to Morgans' place to Corey, so he could work out bringing her to see if they could still make the flight.
Maya breathed, and answered woefully,
"Yeah, I understand."
"I'm here Maya. Are you doing okay?" Shawn said as he motioned to the small wooden chair left outside the calmly restaurant, still full with late night guests. The patrons' voices traveled through the doorway as it opened near them, the sound of gentle piano music following not far behind. Maya wanted to stop, or cry, but she stomped that down, knowing she had to get to Riley, and nothing was to get in the way of that.
"I want to get to the park. I want to be sure she is okay."
Shawn smiled, pressing his lip forward nodding, not the least bit surprised Maya was only thinking of Riley at this moment with not a single ounce of concern for herself.
"Okay." He said, and as soon as the word left his face, Maya was trucking down Bedford street, leaving Shawn to briskly jolt forward to catch up.
Both, walking away, as the restaurant continued without them, and Shawn and Maya carrying their beautiful memories of it with them.