Nekia Moore
02/19/12
PAS113B Mon-Wed
Des-tory
I've come to 7th station every day for the last two years trying to make it right. I don't know how she did it, but she always saw the good in everyone. I'm here from nine to five, wearing the same clothes that they last saw me in. I'm looking for a person, anyone of kind heart; to whom I can give my fortune to.
It was seven o'clock, September 22, 2010, a Wednesday. I was driving down the 405, traffic as always. It came to a halt; I turned the dial looking for the traffic station, when I heard it. 187 Memory Lane Paradise, California 61587 was set on fire. The world became empty for a minute and those words played in my head over and over again. Three miles away from home, I got out, and ran the whole way there. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the flames; tuning out the sirens, noisy neighbors, and the firemen. I just watched my life burn for a minute. I asked God why? When I saw two stretchers come out of the front door. I ran over to them hopelessly, breaking through the caution tape, and yelling to the police men that this is my house. I looked over their unrecognizable bodies and broke down. My wife and son were gone. I stood there, frozen for a minute, listing and watching the lights and sirens fade away. I felt like I didn't exist, like every moment of my life was just a dream. When detective Morgan asked me for my name, I looked at him confused. I couldn't even remember my own name. "Hicks" "Hicks," I heard my neighbor Lisa yell. Des-tory Hicks I told detective Morgan, as he took out his pen and notepad. He asked me for my age, the name and age of my wife and son. He also told me that the fire was started by Ferro cerium on my deck, and he would do his best to find who did it. He then gave me his number and left.
The fire was out and my wife and son were gone. I had nothing left but their ashes. I didn't know how to go on from there. Lisa came over to console me. She had been a good neighbor for the last five years. She always came to our get togethers’ and our son's birthday parties. She offered me dinner and told me I could stay at her place tonight if I'd like. I just wanted to be alone. I asked her to take me to a hotel. I didn't sleep that night, or any night that followed. I couldn't remember the last time I ate, or the last time I was hungry. I felt like an empty vessel; they were all I could think about.
I remember when I first met her. I had just graduated from business school and began working from a major business corporation in health care. I couldn't take my eyes off of her; I watched her for hours. My company was doing our annual fund raiser for A Second Chance at Life. It’s a shelter that helps people get back on their feet. She treated everyone with respect. She hugged them and tended to their every need with a smile on her face. Even though volunteer hours were over, she was still there. Everyone loved her; they surrounded her for hours just to talk to her. She was phenomenal. I had to get her away for just ten seconds. But I knew a women like that had to be taken. I talked myself out of it, then back into it, then back out of it again. I had to take a chance. I hesitated for a second, but I couldn't help myself. I approached the crowd that surrounded her, made eye contact, and told her they needed her in the kitchen. I lied. I followed her into the kitchen; she turned around and asked who needed her when she saw the kitchen was empty. Hi my name is Des-tory Hicks, I'm twenty-five years old, I live in a house in Paris California, I drive a Bentley, I have no kids, and no one to share my life with. My company sponsors this foundation. I watched you for hours, not to sound like a creeper or anything, but I think you’re... I mean, I just... What I'm trying to say is... She put her hand on my shoulder, smiled and said, “I would love to go out on a date with you.” She pulled out a napkin and pen, wrote her number on it, and said, “My name is Jean.” She smiled and walked out. She went back to say bye to everyone, they lined up for hugs. I watched her leave. I knew she was the one. I looked at the napkin in my hand with her number on it, heard her voice say her name, and I smiled.
I called her later that night, we talked for hours. I mostly just listened to her talk. She had the sweetest voice. She talked about her dreams, aspirations, and her beliefs. She believed we’re all on missions, and that everything happens for a reason; it’s all a part of God’s plan. Before we hung up, we had scheduled a date for tomorrow night at 7. I picked her up and we went to A Little Piece of Heaven. It's an Italian restaurant on top of a hill, over the city, by a lake. We had a wonderful dinner. When it was over we walked down by the lake. We saw a family of ducks swim by; she pulled out her left over bread and fed them with it. I had never seen so much kindness in one person before. When she was done, we sat under a tree and looked at the stars. She said, “Make a wish.” I wished to be all she ever needed. When she was done with her wish, I kissed her. It was the sweetest kiss I’ve ever known.
Five years went by; we got married, and started on our family. The proudest moment of my life was the birth of our son Bobby. I now owned a chain of health care businesses, and was the top health care provider. I had all types of offers to sell my businesses, but I wasn't interested. I wanted to leave them to my son when he was older.
I began to cry at my memories. I just had to get away. Staying in that room with those memories were going to drive me to insanity. I walked where ever my feet took me; I had no destination in mind. Somehow, I wound up on the metro and rode it until it reached the end of the line; 7th station. I got off, sat on the floor, and watched the people. I wonder what their lives were like, who they were, and what have they been through. Most of the people just looked at me with disgust, others walked in the opposite direction when they saw me. Occasionally I'd get a person who would try to give me change or something to eat. I just politely shook my head no and said God bless. I came back every day and sat in the same spot. I began seeing familiar faces. There was an older lady who always had her dog that pissed everyone off. There was an old man who always read the paper and complained, to anyone who would listen about how the government is putting Americans in poverty. But a young couple with their son stood out to me the most. They had to be in their early twenties, and their son looked about two. I guessed they would be going to drop him off at his grandmother’s house; I overheard them say that one day. I assumed the young man worked, because he always wore a suit; while the young lady took classes, because she always had a back pack with textbooks in her arms. One day they stopped, and she asked, “What is your name?” Des-tory Hicks I told her. She said, “My name is Yolanda and my son’s name is Devian.” The young man shook my hand firmly and said, “My name is Richard.” They’ve tried on numerous occasions to give me money, but I've always told them to buy their son a toy with that.
One day Lisa came by my hotel to see how I've been. She said, “Its’ been months since I last seen you.” Lisa was around my age with no kids or a man. I assumed she was lonely. Now were in the same boat. I knew how she felt. She said, “You must be driving yourself crazy sitting in this room alone all day.” If she only knew, I thought. She looked around and saw no dirty dishes and noticed that I haven’t changed my clothes. She asked, “When was the last time you ate or changed your clothes?” I shrugged my shoulders. She insisted that I come over for dinner, and she wasn't taking no for an answer. We went back to her place and she made baked chicken, broccoli, rolls, and mashes potatoes. It was nothing like Jean's. But I smiled, thanked her, and told her it was delicious. She tried conversing with me, but I didn't really have much to say. On the way back to the hotel she asked, “Have you heard anything back from detective Morgan?” I said no, but it got me thinking how she knew his name.
In the morning I went in my pocket, found the paper with detective Morgan name on it, and gave him a call. I asked if he found anything yet. He replied, “No.” Lisa called later that evening wanting to know if I would like to come by just for a change of scenery. I said yes, but not for the reasons she thinks; I wanted to know what she knew about the fire. She began talking but I cut her off to ask her how she knew detective Morgan was the one on the case. She said, “From the news that night, he did an interview.” But something just didn't feel right. I asked her to take me back to the hotel. She asked,” Is something wrong?” I said no, I just don't feel good.
Weeks had gone by before I heard from Lisa again. When she called she said, “I need to talk, and you’re the only person I could confine in.” When we got back to her place she poured a glass of wine and told me her sister passed away from breast cancer. She started talking about the good times they had together, and then she began to cry. She said, “She was all I had.” I held her and told her I know what it’s like, Jean and Bobby was all I had. She looked up, wiped her face and said, “Well now we have each other” and kissed me. I pushed her away; stood up and asked her what was wrong with her. She said, “I’m sorry, I just thought since we've been seeing each other you were feeling me.” No, I said. I still love my wife. She stood up and said, “Its’ been a year, get over it.” I was on my way out the door when she jumped in front of me and asked me not to go. She said, “I’m sorry, it’s just the wine talking.” We sat on the couch in awkward silence for a minute when she said, “I could never forget them either.” She walked over to the desk and pulled out a newspaper in plastic and showed me it. It was a report on the fire. Things were just getting too crazy for me. I left and walked back to my hotel. My head was spinning with suspicion. All those facts Lisa had about my tragedy. I couldn't sleep that night.
It was late evening of the next day, Lisa showed up at my room to apologize for the other night. She invited herself in and began to talk about how stupid she was for what she did. Then she began to talk about how lovely she thought Jean was, and how she was just over there talking to her hours before the fire broke out. When she was on her way out she turned around and said, “I love just like Jean did.” I slammed and locked the door behind her.
First thing in the morning I called detective Morgan. I asked him what he knew about my neighbor Lisa. He said, “She was the one who called about the fire, and before I left she stopped to talk to me.” I told him that she said she knew him from the news interview he did the night of the fire. He said, “I never did an interview.” I also told him about the newspaper article wrapped in plastic; and that she was over there before the fire broke out. Detective Morgan said, “I’ll check it out, and I’ll call you as soon as I find out anything.”
It was about two in the afternoon when a knock came upon my door. It was Lisa. She barged her way in the door and sat on the bed. I asked her what does she thinks she’s doing, when my phone rang. I stepped outside to take it, it was detective Morgan. He told me he found the Ferro cerium rod that Lisa started the fire with and the newspaper article; but Lisa was nowhere to be found. I was in shock. “Hicks are you still there?” detective Morgan said. Yeah, I said; she's in my room. "Are you ok?" he asked. Yeah I'm fine, but I have the murder of my family in my room. “I know it’s hard Hicks but stay focused.” “I need you to keep her there until we get there.” “Can you do that Hicks?” So many thoughts were running through my mind. “Hicks!” detective Morgan yelled. Yeah, yeah I can do that. When I came back in she was on my bed in her underwear. What are doing!? I asked her. I'm trying to show you I can be everything Jean was and more. This is ridiculous, put your clothes on, I said. She jumped up and screamed “What's wrong with me?” “Why won't you love me?” Because I still love my wife, I yelled. “Well she's dead and never coming back”, she yelled. Watch your mouth, I said. “Ok fine,” she said, gathering her things. I walked over to the couch and put my hands on my head. When I heard her say, “Ferro cerium, that's a hell of a way to start a fire; don’t you think Hicks?” and chuckled. I looked up there was a .45 pointed at me. Tears rolled down her face as she said, “I'm sorry, I love you.” My life flashed before me. POW! I couldn't believe it. She had turned the gun on herself; Detective Morgan busted in the door at that moment. I told detective Morgan what happened, the ambulance arrived, and he drove me to another hotel. Before I got out he said, “If you ever need anything call me.”
These last two years were something else, but I'm glad my wife and son have justice; they can finally rest in peace.
After I pulled myself back together, I went back to 7th station looking for the young couple and son that I used to see there. They had to be like twenty-five now with a son about the age of five. When I saw them right away the young lady recognized me, she came over, and hugged me. She reminded me so much of Jean. I asked if I could take her and her family out for lunch, I have something I need to talk to them about. I took them to Dave and Busters. I explained to them what happened to my wife and son, why I used to be there dressed like that, and what happened with Lisa. I just wanted to thank you for your kindness, I said. You remind me so much of my wife. I want to leave everything I own to you and your family. I own a chain of low income health care facilities, three cars, two houses, and about 500 acres that once had the mansion that my family and I used to live in. I'm not taking no as an answer. You deserve it. Your kindness meant so much to me. She began to cry. She got up, hugged me and said, “Times are hard for my family right now, but I’ve been praying to God for a break through.” “You are truly my blessing,” she said.
“Everything happens for a reason. You never know what someone is going through. I think this was God’s plan;” words of a wise woman.
