- 35 -
A Better Human
The next day, Mary called the university's Astronomy department and asked to talk to Drew. When she told him her name, he asked, "Mary who?" He didn't remember her.
"Sorry," she said. "I was trying to reach a different Drew." And she hung up.
Ben got back from Dubai a couple days later. He came to visit Mary and Mom.
"I'm so sorry," he said. "When Hannah told me what happened, I just felt sick. I almost didn't finish the installation so that I could come straight back."
"I glad you didn't," Mary said. "Things worked out, and it gave Mom and me some time to figure out how to tell you something important. About what happened to Anna."
He looked at them curiously. "What do you mean?"
For the next few hours, they told him about Mary's father and how he had robbed the bank the day Anna was killed. Mom cried a lot and Ben listened. He hardly said anything the whole time.
At last, he said, "Thank you. For telling me."
Mom wiped her eyes with tissue. "I'm so sorry."
Ben was quiet when he got up to leave. But at the door, he stopped. "I don't hold anything against you, though. Or him. Not anymore."
Mom nodded. "Thank you."
He looked at Mary. "All your stuff for your mobile is still at the shop. It's waiting for you to come finish it."
"I will," she said. "I may need some help. Maybe you can work on it with me if you're not busy?"
Ben smiled. "It will be my pleasure."
Not much time separated the Sci-Tech incident and the prom. In between school, physical therapy, visits to Ba, and another visit to Martin, Phos and Mary jammed in as much time together as they could. They didn't travel as much as they used to. Instead, they went to some of David's hockey games, and they even attended one of the choir concerts at the church near Mary's home. Father Cohen recognized Mary and asked them to sit with him near the front.
During one of the songs, the priest leaned over to Mary and whispered, "I'm pretty sure now that your friend isn't possessed by a demon."
"What makes you say that?" Mary asked.
"Because," he said, "demons don't take well to worshiping God."
Mary looked over at Phos. His eyes were wide with wonder as he watched and listened to the concert. Mary smiled and turned her attention back to the performance as well.
But the majority of their dates were spent at the hospital, playing games and doing crafts with the kids there. It really helped the parents of kids who were from out of town have an hour or two to leave the hospital to run errands or rest. Sometimes, Sienna, David, Kristina, Raj, Gita, and other people from their schools came as well.
Since so many kids had been healed, other hospitals around the world started sending their most serious patients. The news did a special about the hospital and its amazing results, and donations started flooding in. More nurses and doctors were hired, and Mom got a promotion. It seemed that every person who came got better, not just the kids. And there were often rumors of a mysterious singing janitor who visited patients in their dreams.
And unlike some girls, Mary didn't want to waste time looking for a prom dress, spending all of ten seconds pulling Ba's pink áo dài out of the back of her closet. On the night of the prom, Mom was finishing the final touches on Mary's make-up when the buzzer rang.
"That's him!" Mary cried.
"Hold on!" Mom said. "Unless you don't mind going to the prom with one eye." She finished up, and then Mary shoved on her shoes and raced down the stairs. She opened the door and found James Bond in a sharp tux.
Phos' eyes lit up. "You're dazzling."
Mary blushed. "Thanks. And you're amazing."
He took out a corsage made of white roses from a plastic box. "I believe this is a customary offering that human males bring on a night like this." He took her left hand and gently slipped it onto her wrist.
Mary smiled. "And, as customary of human females…" She took a red rose boutonniere and carefully pinned it on his jacket.
Phos offered his arm. "Shall we?"
"Wait!" Mom called as she ran down the stairs with a digital camera.
"Ay!" Bruce shouted from upstairs. "No running!"
"Sorry!" Mom called back. "I have to get a picture of both of you. Oh, Mary, don't make that face. You both look great! Now stand over there. Perfect! All right, 1...2...smile!"
Click!
Mom turned the camera around so that they could see the image. Mary liked the picture. It captured the spark in Phos' eyes.
Mom snapped a few more photos before herding them outside. "Have a great time! Love-you-buh-bye!"
"Love-you-buh-bye, Mom!" Mary called back.
They walked down the street and away from the bus stop.
"Did your parents let you borrow the Aston again?" Mary asked.
"They offered it," he said. "But I thought I'd get something special for tonight."
When they rounded the corner, Mary saw a turquoise Vespa with two helmets hanging from the handlebars.
"It's not the same model as the one in the movie," Phos said. "But it is close."
Mary laughed. "It's awesome!"
They put on the helmets and Mary climbed onto the back of the seat and hugged Phos' waist. The scooter's tiny motor buzzed as they zipped through traffic, passing a couple of limos along the way. Mary couldn't stop smiling.
When they arrived at the hotel where the prom was being held, a valet came to give them a ticket and take the Vespa's keys. Hand in hand, Mary and Phos walked inside.
"Carter! Mary!" Sienna and David met them near the entrance.
"Wow, you look great, Mary!" Sienna said as she examined her áo dài. "It has pants? That's so neat! You look like you're floating when you walk."
"Thanks. And I love this color on you," Mary said, taking a bit of Sienna's silky green dress and feeling the soft fabric between her fingers.
David turned to Phos. "Quick, they're beating us at compliments. Say something about my tux."
Phos chuckled. "It's very flattering for your figure."
"Thanks," David said. "Yours doesn't make your butt look big either."
When they went into the ballroom, the DJ already had music going, and the dance floor was packed. A few wallflowers hung about the sides.
"Shall we be generous and ask some of them to dance?" Phos asked.
Mary hung her arms around his neck. "Not tonight. You're all mine."
He smiled and pulled her closer to him. Mary and Phos moved with the music and kept their eyes on each other. She lost count of how many songs played. She didn't even know what kinds of songs they were. All Mary cared about was Phos in that moment.
Too soon, it came time to announce the prom king and queen. Everyone gathered at the foot of the stage, eager to hear the results. But Phos took Mary's hand. "Let's go for a walk," he said.
They left the hotel. Neither of them said anything as they passed by closed shops and nice restaurants. They eventually came to a park with paved paths and a large water feature in the center.
Under a lamppost, Phos stopped and turned to her. "I had a good time, Mary."
His words were simple, not unlike something a normal human would say at the end of prom night. But they were also heavy words coming from him now.
Mary clung to him and began to cry. "I'll never forget you, Phos."
He held her tightly. "I won't forget you either."
They had no more words. There wasn't a human language that could carry what they wanted to say. For that one wonderful, horrible minute, all they did was hold one another one last time.
They heard a noise. Nearby, Josh emptied out one of the park trashcans. He sprayed down the lid with cleaner and wiped it with a rag until it shined. When he finished, he placed his supplies on his cleaning cart and said, "It's time." He began humming and pushed his cart down the paved path.
Every muscle in Mary's body froze. Her arms were tight around Phos in a desperate attempt to keep him. Phos was the one who had to let her go. He took her face gently in his scalding hands and ran his fingers along her brow, her nose, and her lips. He kissed her. It hurt but not because it burned.
"Goodbye," he said. He slipped his hands into his pockets and turned.
Mary watched him walk away. She wanted to run after him. She wanted to beg Josh to let him stay. She wanted so much that she knew was not possible. So, she didn't run. And she didn't beg. She did nothing. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do.
Phos walked beside his Master. They came to a curve where the path disappeared into some trees. And just like that, they were gone.
Mary stood still as a statue. Seconds passed. Minutes. Hours or even years could've gone, too. She didn't know. At last, she turned and began walking in the opposite direction.
Then, she heard footsteps behind her. Mary's heart leapt into her throat as she spun around.
She saw a boy. He had a familiar face and he wore a familiar black tuxedo. But his eyes weren't the same. They were still green, but they were missing something—a spark that had gone out.
"Phos?" she asked.
He stopped beneath the lamppost. "No," the boy said. "He's gone."
Mary's heart sank into the Earth's core. It was just Carter. "Oh," she said. "Do you…remember everything?"
"Mostly," he said. "It's all kinda fuzzy. But yeah. I remember."
"Oh," she said again. She didn't know what else to say. So, she turned and began walking again.
"Wait," Carter said.
She stopped.
He hesitated. "I…I'm sorry. He was really a good guy. Or…thing. Or…whatever. He was a better human. I'm sorry that…you know…" He trailed off.
Mary didn't speak right away. At last, she managed, "It's all right." She went back to him, took his hand, and shook it. "Take care of yourself, Carter."
"You, too," he said. "Mary."
They let go. Then, without another word, Mary turned and headed for home.
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