Her Hero: First Line Friday

“Breath in, breath out, you’ll be okay.” Carol wanted to tell the people around her that she just needed some space. But, they thought that they were being helpful. She couldn’t believe how clumsy she was, falling like that in front of so many people. She was so embarrassed, as now she was being treated like the old woman she admitted that she had become.

She tried to rise, but the young whippersnappers around her insist that she stays put. She looks around for someone to save her from my saviors! Their eyes meet, and she sees in the stranger’s eyes that he understands her need to cease being the center of attention. He smiled at her, and then, he stared parting the sea of helpers, stating, “Let the lady get up. Thank you for your assistance. Great of you to stop!”

Carol didn’t know how long she had lain in the street, but, at last, the bells rang, and he whisked her away. She learned later, as they ate a long romantic dinner at a restaurant near her hotel in Madrid, that his name was Jacob. He had such beautiful brown eyes, caramel-colored skin, and a short salt and pepper Afro. Dressed in a black turtleneck and jeans, he had a smile that would put the sun to shame.

At the door to her hotel, Carol thanked him profusely for helping an old lady and for buying her dinner. He looked at her, and, smiling, he said, “You are not an old woman. You are a mature woman. Old people stay close to home. You traveled here alone. Everyone falls at some point in their lives. I believe that God planned this meeting, and he had to find a way to bring us together. Thank you, God!”

As Carol slipped into a hot bath at the end of the night, she looked forward to spending the next day with him, as they discovered the richness of Spain. As much as she had felt ashamed at falling, she was thankful that she was not seriously hurt and for the gift of a wonderful hero. God does work in mysterious ways!

Fictional story written for First Line Friday from Mindlovemisery’s Menagerie: Breathe in, breathe out, you’ll be okay. Also for the June Writing Prompts: At last, the bells rang, and he whisked her away.