Every Tuesday

Perhaps an orchid would be better, Gerard thought. It needed little water and even less attention.

Last time, the lavender had died faster than she could remember it.

He adjusted the strap of his watch as he stood in front of the florist’s window. The florist noticed his hesitation and smiled. He pointed to a purple orchid.

“A gift?” she asked.

“In a way”.

On his way out, he saw the bus stopping at the bus stop. He hurried across the street, lifting one hand to the driver. The doors remained open.

"Thank you," he said, slightly out of breath.

"Just in time again," the driver said with a smile.

“You are the best driver, man.”

Gerard chose the seat next to the driver and placed the orchid next to him.

“Seems like we only meet on Tuesdays” the driver said with a laugh.

“Yes, what a coincidence.”

Gerard looked out the window and spotted a schoolgirl carrying her pink princess backpack. A broad grin broke across her face. She had big brown eyes like her father and held her father’s hand to make him walk faster. Just like Lucia, when she was still alive. Over 30 years ago, his mornings consisted of dropping Lucia off at school, who refused to let anyone else carry her backpack, and then running to school himself to teach. That was before everything changed in a moment.

“How is retirement going?” the driver asked.

“Pretty good, thanks for asking.”

“Don't you miss teaching?”

“No, not much. I appreciate the freedom I got as retired. Everything has its time.”

“I get you. Everything has its time.” Said the driver as he nodded.

Next stop was The Lodge Care Home, in London.

“Thank you for the ride. I’m getting off here. Take care!” Gerard said.

He walked up a steep hill before reaching a cozy building. As he reached the door, he noticed a small blue sign at the main entrance that said "Care Home". He fixed his shirt and went inside.

The smell of coffee hit him immediately. The walls were white, and the doors were dark blue. Half of the entrance hall was filled with various wheelchairs lined up in a row. A middle-aged woman with short blonde hair was sitting at the reception desk. She smiled at him and said “Welcome back. Your mother is awake now and just finished having lunch.”

Gerard smiled.

He took the stairs to the second floor. Somehow it made his nerves calm down. The hallways he walked through were narrow. The first room on the second floor started with number 126, and it took some time before he reached room number 315. He spent a few seconds to take deep breaths before he knocked on the door.

He heard heavy footsteps slowly approaching the door. Margareta opened the door and stood there in pajamas with tousled, shoulder-length hair. She seemed as if she had shrunk a fair bit since last Tuesday.

“Good afternoon” Gerard said.

“Hello, who are you?” Margareta asked while she looked at Gerard with confused eyes.

“It’s me Gerard. Do you remember me?”

“Are you my husband?” Margareta asked.

“No, I’m Gerard. I got a little gift for you” Gerard replied while handing her the orchid.

Margareta looked at the orchid and set it down on her table.

“It’s purple. I love purple.” Margareta’s eyes lit up.

“I thought you may love it.”

Margareta sat down on her bed. Her eyes looked tired, and her nails were unkempt. A thermos with hot tea and some disposable cups was on her table.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” asked Gerard.

Margareta nodded. Gerard made her a cup of tea and took the blanket from the chair and spread it over her.

“Why did you come?” Margareta asked.

“I wanted to visit you. You know, I am here every Tuesday.”

“Am I going home?”

She looked down on her hands.

“You are home. This is your home.” Gerard replied.

Gerard got himself a plastic cup of water.

“I want to see my child.” Margareta said with a longing in her voice.

“Where is she?” She continued.

Gerard stopped drinking water.

Margareta waved with her hands in front of his eyes.

“She will visit you.” Gerard replied.

Gerard took out his wallet and looked for a small picture he had of Lucia.

“Do you remember Lucia?” Gerard asked while he showed the picture of her.

“Did she have a red car?” Margareta asked.

Gerard was numb for a moment. His hands started to shake.

He looked at Margareta without being able to say a word.

He nodded.

“Where did I meet her?” Margareta asked with a confused voice.

Gerard couldn’t take his eyes away from her.

Margareta looked out from the window.

Gerard looked at the picture of Lucia.

Memories of the blue siren lights from the ambulance crossed his thoughts. Blood on the side of the road. The wrecked car. Lucia’s funeral. Margareta screaming and crying.

“It was raining.” Margareta suddenly said.

“Yes it was.”

“I wasn’t supposed to drive.”

“No, you weren’t.” Gerard replied as he tried to hide the tear in his eye.

"Who was she?"

"My daughter. Lucia."

Margareta let out a sigh.

Gerard walked towards the window. He looked out and struggled to hold back his tears.

"I'm feeling sleepy." said Margareta.

"I understand. You can sleep if you want to."

Margareta rested her head on the pillow. Her eyes drooped again.

Gerard watched her.

“Sleep well.” He said.

He gently closed the door behind him.

He walked through the hallways and down the stairs. The woman at the reception gave him a smile and asked:

"See you next Tuesday?"

Gerard paused for a moment.

"Take care of her," he replied with a smile.

The woman at the reception looked at him with a confused expression.

He exhaled slowly and walked down to the bus.

The bus arrived, and this was a different driver Gerard hadn't seen before. He sat down in the seat closest to the driver. He looked at the empty seat beside him. For the first Tuesday in twenty years, he didn't feel the need to look back.