Marcus turned and standing there was his dream.  He looked into her eyes and exhaled a breath that he seemed to have been holding since the beginning of time.  The world around him darkened in contrast to her radiance.  And the sound of her voice told the world to be quiet.  Marcus could only hear Tonya and the sound of his heart beating. He was about to speak, but realized he wasn’t breathing. Marcus took a breath.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

“How long do we have?”

“Not long.”

Marcus turned to the window.  Tonya walked to the window and stood facing him.  She looked up at him as Marcus looked over her head and out the window at nothing.  He looked down into her eyes.  His eyes spoke to her.  They told her everything; even things Marcus had no intensions of saying.  Tonya responded with her eyes and confirmed everything Marcus didn’t say.  She turned her back to Marcus.  Marcus took a step forward until his body was against hers.  He put his hands on her shoulder and allowed them to slide down her arms.  His hands found her hands and together they crossed Tonya until she was firmly in Marcus’ embrace.  He held her tightly, but gently.  Tonya leaned back against Marcus ever so slightly.  She shifted her shoulder back and forth until she had firmly snuggled into a place that seemed made for her.  Marcus enveloped her as his face came near her ear.  Tonya thought she heard Marcus softly moan and leaned her head back until it rest against his shoulder.  She took a deep breath and exhaled, feeling herself melt into Marcus.

Marcus was silent.  Tonya was silent.  Standing before a window that opened to the world, they became the only people in the universe.  After a couple of minutes that began to sway together.  It was slight, not exaggerated.  They swayed in confirmation of the connection between them.  It wasn’t planned.  They didn’t know how it started.  Marcus did not start, nor did Tonya.  They started as if they both were controlled by one force.  Tonya closed her eyes and thought of nothing but the embrace.  She placed her hands on Marcus’ forearms.  She could feel his strength.  His embrace was secure.  Tonya was relax and at peace.  As they swayed, Marcus would tighten his hold on her and she could feel his chest undulate against her back.  Tonya felt she had found perfection in Marcus’ arms.

When he put his arms around Tonya, Marcus felt almost light headed.  Every dream, every hope, every wish, and every prayer came rushing through him.  Tonya felt wonderful to him.  She felt better than any woman had ever felt.  Tonya seemed fragile to him and he held her as though he was protecting her.  He could feel her shoulders pressed against his chest and her soft hands on his arms.  She was soft.  She was perfect.  She was perfect not in an unflawed way.  She was perfect in that she fit Marcus.  Her height was just right.  Her shoulders were just right.  Her waist was just right.  She was just right.

Marcus tried not to think about the passing of time.  He knew that this heaven was not eternal.  Midnight would soon strike for this fairytale.  Marcus wondered how he could fit a lifetime into a few minutes.  How could he make every second an event?  As they swayed, together Marcus realized it was impossible make this time together more than it was.  He thought to himself that the most that could be made of the moment was to live in it for what it was, and not for what it wasn’t.  He opened his eyes and lifted his head just enough to see Tonya’s face.  He could see her eyes were closed and he closed his again.  Tonya asked

“Is everything alright?”  They never stopped swaying.

“Everything is fine.”

They were silent again.  Marcus interrupted it.

“If there is another universe where we are together, what do you think we are doing in it?”

“Let’s see.  I am a big time CEO and you work for me.  I just came in your office to tell you to stop daydreaming about us in another universe and to get back to work.”

“Oh, you’re so funny.”  They laughed together.

“Okay, what do you think?”

“I’m an astronaut.  And I can’t stand you in our universe, so I travel to another one to date another you.”

“Ah, that’s so wrong.”  They laughed again.

“Okay, name something we haven’t experienced together.”

“Me fussing with you about the toilet seat.”

“Okay, me complaining about your cooking.”

“Alright, me complaining about your mother.”

Marcus laughed.

“Me complaining about how many shoes you have.”

“Hey, I need them.”

“Sure you do.”

“Okay, how about me complaining about your feet.”

“My feet?  What about my feet?”

“That manly Frito’s and toe jam smell.”

“Hey, my feet don’t stink.”

“Sure they don’t.”

“They don’t, Ms. Morning Breathe. Or is it French?  Morn yea Bre ath thy?”

“Oh, no you didn’t.”  They laugh hard.  Tonya reached back and hit Marcus on the leg.

“Okay, named places we’ve never gone together. I’ll start. Walmart.”  They laughed again.

“You are just too silly” Tonya told Marcus.  “Okay, to church.  I never got to hear you preach.”

“That’s a good one.  Okay, shoe shopping. And you know what, I don’t regret it.”

“Ah, you know you would enjoy taking me shoe shopping.”

“I would enjoy dropping you off and that’s it.”

“How about an amusement park?”

“Yeah, that’s a good one.  How about a ball game?”

“I’ll tell you what. Drop me off at the shoe store on your way to the ball game.”

“That’s a deal.”  There was more laughter and then there was silence. Tonya asked

“How much longer do we have?”

“Only a few minutes.  Listen, Tonya, I need to tell you…”

“You don’t have to say anything. I know what’s up.”

“But I still have something to say.  I want to tell you that I found what I was looking for.  And it does matter what happens from this point on.  Nothing is going to change the fact that I’ve found the woman I will love the rest of my life.  No matter what happens that love will always shine.  And I want you to know that thanks to you I am not the same as I was three months ago.  I am full.  I am complete.  And I don’t want you to ever forget how wonderful you are.  You have a warmth and depth that you’re good at hiding, but I want you to know that what you have is exactly what the world needs more of.  You will always be in my heart.”

“Marcus, I… I don’t have words like you have words. So I can’t say things as poetic as you can, but I want you to know that you will always be in my heart, too.  There is a connection between us that will never go away.  I don’t have any regrets. I care about you. I really do.  You believe me?”

“Yes, I do.”  They were quiet for a few more minutes.  Then Marcus said

“It’s time.”

Tonya turned to face Marcus.  Their eyes spoke again.  Marcus reached in his pocket and gave Tonya a greeting card.  She stared at the envelope and then at him.  She put it in her pocket.  Marcus took Tonya’s hand in his and they started walking slowly through the concourse.  Marcus held her hand tightly, but they didn’t look at each other.  The airport was fully awake and as they move through the concourse, the crowd became increasingly impenetrable.  Unconsciously, as they walk, Tonya and Marcus loosened their grip on each other’s hand.  Soon they were barely holding on by fingertips, and finally they had let go completely.  People began to pass between them. One person, then two people, the crowd was pushing they apart like a wedge prying apart a log.  Eventually Marcus and Tonya were virtually on opposite sides of a river of people passing between them.  As they walked Marcus fought to keep an eye on Tonya.  It looked like she was talking to herself or him.  Marcus couldn’t hear her.  Tonya looked at Marcus and her lips said “I’m not ready”.  Marcus didn’t hear the words, but he knew that was what she said because he was saying the same thing.  They were nearing his gate and Marcus began trying to maneuver himself closer to Tonya.  The crowd was resistant, and Tonya, realizing what Marcus was trying to do, began to call his name. First it was a whisper, but when they were almost at their destination Marcus could hear Tonya calling his name.  Tonya stopped walking and Marcus tried to politely move through the flow of people.  The crowd, however, continued to push them apart.  Tonya was calling Marcus and reaching for him.  The river of people didn’t know that time was running out for them.  Marcus was shocked by a voice on the intercom announce a final boarding for his flight.  He looked at Tonya being swept away by the river.

“Marcus!” Tonya shouted. 

She was now in the crowd.

“I’m coming, Baby.”

Marcus tried to excuse himself through, but there seemed to be a conspiracy to keep him from Tonya.  Finally, Marcus decided he couldn’t wait to be polite.  Marcus pushed his way to Tonya who now had eyes full of tears.  When Marcus got to her, he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground.  Tony threw her arms around Marcus’ neck.  She could feel him carrying her backwards through the crowd. She felt rescued.  She felt safe.  Marcus carried Tonya until they were against the wall opposite his gates.  He held her tight and she could feel his breathe on her ear.  They buried their faces in each other’s shoulder.  Marcus could feel Tonya’s tears.  Tonya could feel his.  They separated just enough to look into each others face.  Tonya reached up and wiped away Marcus’ tears off his cheek.  She put her hands on his shoulders and looked up at him.  One of Marcus’ hands was between her shoulder blades.  The other was in the small of her back pulling her closer.  His face was close to hers.  She could feel his breath on her lips.  He looked at his.  She wanted his lips to touch hers.  She watched his lips part as he began to speak.  He was looking deep into her eyes.

“I love you. I love you, baby.”

“I love you, too, Marcus.  I always have.”

Marcus held her tight and rocked her in his arms.

“I got to go. They are getting ready to close my gate. Do forget how much I love you.”

“I won’t.”

They let go of each other.  Marcus crossed over the river of people.  Tonya watched with tears in her eyes.  Marcus handed his ticket to the attendant at the gate.  Tonya turned away as her tears started again.  A woman standing near tried to console her.

“Honey, don’t worry.  He’ll be back.”

Without lifting her head, Tonya replied “No, he won’t.”  Tonya started walking towards the exit.

Marcus went through the door and down the ramp to his plane.  He turned around and came back enough to see inside the airport, hoping to glance at Tonya one more time.  She was gone.  Marcus knew that he would never see Mrs. Tonya Fulmont again.  The attendant asked’

“Sir, did you leave something?”

“Yes” Marcus said and turned around.

Marcus found his seat.  It was an aisle sit beside a white man in a grey suit.  The man squared himself around without looking at Marcus.  Marcus thought to himself “Here we go again”, but then thought of Tonya and the love shining inside them.  Marcus took out some gum.

“Want a stick?”

“What?”

“You want a stick of gum?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“My name is Marcus Austin.  What’s yours?”

“Oh, I’m Roger Moore.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Yeah, I know.  Double O 7. Jame Bond.”

“Now I wish I had said my name was Sean Connery.”  They both laughed. “Where are you headed, Roger? You’re not on assignment, are you?”

“Not this time.  I’m headed to Raleigh to see my parents.  They are both kind of old and haven’t been doing too well.  Basically, I am going to get them to do what the doctor tells them.  Are you from Raleigh?”

“Yes, I am.  I pastor a church in Raleigh.”

“You do? Hey, can you remember to pray for my parents? I sure would appreciate it.”

I sure will.  Hey, Roger, you want to hear a joke?”  Marcus was going to enjoy this flight.

Tonya handed the valet her ticket and waited for him to get her car.  She reached into her pocket and retrieved the card Marcus had given her.  She opened the envelope and pulled out the card. She was stunned.  It was the same card she had sent Marcus when she mailed back the cell phone.  She couldn’t believe it.  She opened the card and didn’t see her handwriting. She knew then that Marcus had gotten her the same card. There was nothing inside but a poem written by Marcus.

Hollow Treasure

 

Each day that is born

Is part of the life of a forever sun.

Each heart that feels

Is a page in a story long ago begun.

We inhale the world

Looking for silver and gold

And the gems we exhale

Are the treasures others behold.

As sure as life touches life

You have caressed me

And given me place

In posterity

For wherever you shine

Will be my day

Even in a distant night

Love shall find me.

For length and girth and weight

Of emptiness we may measure

But it takes a turn towards God and heaven

To fill a hollow treasure

 

The valet returned with Tonya’s car.  Tonya tipped the valet and got into her car.  She looked at the couple embraced on the front of the card.  It seemed like it had been months ago that she had sent Marcus the same card.  As she drove from the airport, she felt as though she had just returned from long journey.  Tonya thought to herself that perhaps in reality she was just now arriving to Chicago.  The part of her in which a never ending light shone was now with her.  Tonya was happy with herself and with life.  Marcus was correct.  Only God could fill the space between them.  Only God could fill this hollow treasure.

Marcus returned to Raleigh full of life.  He shone love everywhere he could in everything he did.  At Hebron Baptist Church, love was contagious and no one sought a cure.  If Marcus was a master at love, then Jason and Tony were quick study apprentices.  They became his shadow and nothing happened in their lives that they didn’t discuss with their pastor.  Bright and intelligent, both boys eventually graduated high school and attended college.  However, neither the doctor nor the lawyer failed to return to Hebron whenever possible.

Over the years Marcus would occasionally check his email hoping to receive a note from Tonya.  There was always nothing.  He even wrote a few that he didn’t send.  It just made him feel better to write them.  Tonya was always with him and he sometimes thought they may have been thinking of each other at the same time. At least one a year, Marcus would watch the sunrise or stare at the moon thinking that Tonya may be somewhere doing the same.  Once about five years after the last time he saw her, Marcus woke knowing she was in town.  It took everything he had to keep from going to her.  He knew that if he saw her or talked to her, they would start up again.

Every couple of years, Marcus would start dating someone.  He did it more because he thought maybe he should than because he had a desire to.  He would eventually decide he didn’t want to and his effort would fade.  He would break it off in fairness to the other person. Family and church members worried about Marcus being alone, but he always assured them that he wasn’t lonely.  He wasn’t.  He always knew that he sun was shining somewhere and that occupied his heart.

A few weeks after his forty-ninth birthday, Marcus sat in the front pew of Hebron Baptist Church. As part of celebrating his twelfth year as pastor, arrangements had been made to have a guest speaker.  Marcus sat listening with pride as Dr. Jason Roberts delivered a stirring sermon entitled “The Lifesaving Servant”.  Marcus thought to himself that there is a truly a reason for everything.  He knew that his life was good and that God had truly blessed him.  He looked at Jason and noted how he had grown into a man.  Marcus thought about how much he himself had grown during three months twelve years ago.  Yes, there is a reason for everything.

The anniversary followed Marcus home as his family assembled in his kitchen for ice cream and cake, and of course, cherry Kool-Aid. The Roberts’ were there as well as about six other church members.  His family felt obliged to share their favorite Marcus stories, which were stories that revealed Marcus’ most embarrassing moments.  The doorbell rang and Mike volunteered to answer the door so that Marcus could stay and take his ribbing like a man.  Mike returned with.

“There’s a lady named Ms. Taylor at the door.”

“Anybody know a Ms. Taylor?” Marcus asked.  He tried to think of any Taylor’s at the church.  Everyone gave a variation of no as an answer.  Marcus went to the door.  He opened it and sun shone in.  He stood there stunned.  Marcus could feel it all rising in him.  After twelve years it was still as strong and Tonya was standing at his door bringing it out of him again.

“Tonya. What are you doing here?  My nephew said there was a Ms. Taylor at the door.”

“It is. I mean I am. Taylor is my maiden name.”

Marcus knew what that meant but couldn’t ask how or why.

“Marcus, I remember that I never repaid you.”  She reached into her pocketbook and pulled out a candy bar.

“Would you like to share this with me? If we eat it all, we can go to Wal-Mart together and get some more.”

Marcus took the candy from Tonya and dropped it on the ground.  He pulled Tonya into his arms and kissed her.  It was the first of many.