Believing in the Wind – love story inspired by a song I wrote many years ago

信風的故事 (完本歌曲的詞在這裡)

“You DON’T have to have an attitude just because you’re dying,” Windy said as she made the bed for her patient.

” Why, thanks for the encouragement, NURSE!. I suddenly feel like accepting to be a test subject so that I could give you hell for the rest of my life,” Franco, the bald headed cancer patient said jokingly.

“This isn’t funny, Franco. I mean you REALLY have to control your temper. It’s unfortunately that you’ve got this sickness but that’s not a base for taking your anger out on everyone.”

“And what’s the base for cutting my life short?” Franco said angrily.

“Well, that’s something you CAN’T control. But your temper is something you CAN control. And why haven’t you given Dr. Chan’s proposal to be a test subject of his anti-cancer treatment a second thought?”

“Because even IF the test succeeds I’ll be bald for the rest of my life and my face would be so deformed from the treatment that I’d live a mutant life for what’s left of it! What kind of living would that be? I don’t just want to live a long life, I want a normal life. I want to get married and have a family one of these days but I can’t!”

Rather than responding to Franco’s anger, Windy turned and said casually, “You look rather sexy in bald, you know.”

Franco smiled, his anger gone in a flash. “You’re a witch.”

“Thanks. I’ve always wanted a change of career.” She turned to face Franco again. “Now get back to bed and help me out with this minor problem of mine…”

Windy liked to talk to patients. She always thought that her main role in this job was to talk to them more than to take care of their medical needs. She met people like Franco everyday and yet she really liked to talk to him specifically. It was like she felt a sense of achievement everytime she was able to calm this angry young man down. The beginning was hard for her though, as Franco’s temper had caused tears in her eyes many times. Yet she soon learned to cope with this kind of attitude. “After all,” she would say to herself, “how much longer could they yell at anyone?”

“OK so what’s your problem now missy?”

“Well I think someone’s having a crush on me.” Windy paused.

“And?”

“Well, he kinda looks like you…before you got this sexy bald head, that is. You know what they say, ‘guys are all alike’. I figured if you both look alike you’d know how to best deal with this situation.”

“What kind of logic is that?,” Franco chuckled. “How do you want to deal with this situation anyway? Do you like him or not?”

“Well, he seems to be kinda fun to be with, I guess…I don’t know. Tell me about you and your previous relationships to prep me.”

“Wait a minute, are you trying to pull my leg? This person doesn’t really exist! You’re just trying to snoop up on my love life. I told you’re a witch.” Franco laughed despite the comment.

“So what if I am? Come on, cough it up young man.”

“Cough what up?”

“Your love life! Don’t you know what all girls like? Love secrets!”

“Sorry to disappoint you girl. I have nothing to tell you.”

“Yes you do! Damn and I thought our relationship’s gone deep enough for that,” Windy said jokingly.

“I said I have nothing to tell!” Franco barked. “I have nothing to tell because I have never been loved! Are you happy now?” He started crying. “Every night, I pray that I’d fall in love once before I die. And what do I get instead? A terminal disease!”

“Calm down, Franco. I’m sorry I didn’t know that. It’s late I should be going. Try to get some rest ok?” She turned and left the room, wiping a single tear from the corner of her eye.

*       *       *       *       *

“Chris, have you ever been in love?” Windy asked suddenly.

“I want to. That why I keep asking you out, don’t you know?”

“You too?”

“Me too? What do you mean? Competition?” Chris asked jokingly.

“Don’t be silly. It’s just a patient. He doesn’t have long to live and he hasn’t been in love before. How sad.”

“Well, be his girlfriend until he passes away then be my girlfriend,” Chris said with a smile.

“Yeah right, who said anything about being your girlfriend?”

*       *       *       *       *

“Franco, what’s your ideal girl like?”

“Ideal girl? As if I have a choice now? People like me can’t be too picky these days.”

“In that case, could I have the honor to be your girlfriend?”

Franco was startled. “What? This isn’t funny!”

“I mean it, really!”

“I don’t need anyone to take pity on me!”

“I’m not pitying you. I know this won’t last long but I just want to leave some good memories behind for both of us. Would you rather I remember all the angers you throw at me when I think about you later?”

“Windy, I….I really like you. I mean it, and it’s not because I’m desperate. But nothing good’s going to come out of us. I’m leaving this world soon…”

“Sooner….,” Windy whispered. “Your situation’s gotten worse.”

“Oh…”

“But it’s ok. What we know is we’ll definitely have 2 months of good times together! Who else can tell how long their love will last!”

“Thanks, Windy.”

“Sure thing.” Windy kissed Franco on the forehead. Not a bad way to tell someone a bad news, she thought.

*       *       *       *       *

“What’s this dinner all about?”

“Couldn’t we just go out to have a nice dinner once a while, Windy?”

“No,” Windy said bluntly,  “we need to have nice dinners very often.” She smiled.

“So what have you been up to lately? We seem to have seen each other less in the past month. Very busy at work?”

Windy thought for a while, then put up a smile before she spoke again. “No, not exactly. Why, have you been keeping track of the minutes we’re together?”

Chris laughed. “And how would you feel if I did? Seriously, Windy, I think I’ve put this off for far too long then you deserve and I didn’t realize it until recently.” Chris took a deep breath. “Despite what I’ve done since I’ve met you, I’ve never said this to you before. Windy, I love you.”

Windy was startled. “I…Chris, I don’t know what to say. Wait, let me finish. I know you’ve treated me very well and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have feelings for you…”

“But…”

“But…I’m sorta going out with someone already…”

Chris was surprised at the news. “You are? But I thought…”

“No, no no. It’s not what you think. Remember one time I told you about this patient who’s dying who’s never fallen in love before? I took your advice.”

Chris smiled dryly. “Damn, I never thought I’d feel sad when someone listened to me.”

“Chris, he only has about a month to live. After that, we could….damn, it sounds like we’re conspiring or something.”

“Windy, if you’re just pretending to be his girlfriend couldn’t we just have a real relationship and let you keep up with your pretence while he lives?”

Windy looked a bit disgusted at the suggestion. “Chris, how could you say something like that! I didn’t say I don’t have any feelings for him….Damn you make me sound like a tramp now. Truth is, I do like him a bit and I think it would be very unfair to him if I break this promise to him now. I can’t do that. I’m very sorry about this situation but couldn’t you wait a month?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You can go find another girl.”

“And how would you feel if I did?”

“Chris, please don’t do this to me. I’ve never put you on. Whatever signals you’ve sensed from me were real.. I have feelings for you too. It’s just…I’m sure you don’t want your girlfriend to have a second boyfriend, right?”

*       *       *       *       *

“Hey, love, you never told me about this guy that you’re so fond of before? Whatever’s happening between you two now?”

“Whatever do you think can be happening? I’m your girlfriend now. And he knows it. And by the way I did tell you about him before.”

“Oh, so I’m in his way now?”

“Don’t say that! I happen to be really in love with you, Franco. But you’re just one big mood spoiler you know that?”

“I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you. I wonder how…..” he produced a piece of paper from under his bed “…about this?”

Windy took the paper from is hand. “What’s this?”

“An acceptance letter. I’ve agreed to be Dr. Chan’s test subject. I guess I have something…someone to live for after all.”

Tears fell from Windy’s eyes. She held him tight. “Thank you!”

*       *       *       *       *

“The good news is, Dr. Chan’s experiment seems to be working. The bad news is, no I can’t say it’s bad news…What I’m trying to say is, Franco seems to be recovering from his cancer.”

“Isn’t that good news then? I mean you’ve helped save his life!”

“Chris, I can’t go out with you. I really love him.”

“What? But you’ve promised….”

“I know and I’m sorry. In movies, TVs, books you learn that the greatest love is one that you’re willing to die for. But to me, that’s not the greatest kind of love. Franco is willing to live for me and that is a love I can’t betray.

“I’m sorry, Chris.”

*       *       *       *       *

EPILOGUE – as told by Windy herself

Franco lived…for another year. Once a person contracts cancer there’s always a chance that it’d come back a bite you. Despite Dr. Chan’s best efforts, Franco’s body was not strong enough to fight a second attack from the cancer. Chris’ found a girlfriend three months after Franco’s initial recovery and we stayed as friends. When he heard of Franco’s passing, that foolish guy said he’d dump his girlfriend and take me back. I told him I wasn’t worth his time. He broke up with her anyway. I feel so sorry for the girl. I don’t even know her and already I’ve caused her a relationship. Anyway Chris and I never went out. He said he understand and forgave me for not keeping my promise then but the more he’s willing to forgive, I more I can’t forgive myself.