It’s Done
Arthur looks into the living room from his bed, where Catharina is talking with their children, David and Mirthe.
David wants to stay with his mother, but Catharina says it would be good if they both went now and came back tomorrow. "Your father is tired," she says.
Arthur is tired of fighting. He feels like he can control his approaching end. He doesn’t want his wife and children to literally watch him die; they are here, and that’s enough for him. Arthur feels his life slipping away—the time is now.
He can still take a couple of breaths and then he is sure—it is done. They’ll be alright. What a wonderful life we’ve had together.
In utter peace, he looks at his lovely wife and his two beautiful children talking in the other room; everything goes blurry. Arthur smiles until he completely fades away. He takes his last breath as eternal rest embraces him.
The Bad News
Catharina and Arthur wait in suspense for the children.
"Are you nervous?" asks Catharina.
"Hm, it's okay, love," replies Arthur.
Mirthe is on her way in her car. She finds it strange that she had to come alone—there's something wrong. Mom and dad never miss a chance to see their grandson.
She drives into the parking lot.
"Mirthe is already here, Arthur," says Catharina, while she looks out the window.
David is on his way to his parents with a cab from Schiphol Airport. He has come by plane from America. He’s a lawyer and has taken six months off to assist his parents and his sister during this difficult time. His mother has already informed David of Arthur's illness.
When Mirthe comes in, Arthur and Catharina tell her the bad news. She bursts into tears and sobs, "How long, daddy?"
Arthur is emotional too; he can't get a word out of his mouth and holds up three fingers.
The Walk
It is November; the colors and the different scents make it more than worthwhile to face the cold autumn winds. Catharina and Arthur are enjoying the peace and quiet as they walk through the forest.
The elderly couple talk about their son, David, how proud they are of him, as well as Mirthe, and their beautiful grandson.
"We sure are lucky," says Catharina.
"We certainly are, dear."
Catharina looks at Arthur with concern and asks, "When do you want to tell the children, dear?"
"Soon, dear, soon," Arthur responds, "let us just enjoy this beautiful day; look, a squirrel!"
The Children
For a second, Catharina and Arthur look at each other and simultaneously shout, "Bring on the good news, David!"
David teases his parents and pretends that he can't get his words out. "Damn it, David, what is it?" asks Arthur irritably.
"Well," explains David, "you remember I talked about possibly moving to a law firm in New York?
Well, they want me now; I'm going to America!"
"That is awesome news, son. Well done!" Arthur exclaims enthusiastically.
"Well, sit back, David," says Catharina.
Curiosity is written in David's eyes: "What's going on, ma?"
Now it's Catharina's turn to tease, "Oh, nothing serious, son, although, well, look, um, yes, how shall I put it, eh."
"Oh for Christ's sake, ma, just say it!" snarls David.
Catharina continues: "It's about Mirthe, dear. "You're going to be an uncle soon."
David is overjoyed when he hears this. "Uncle David, it has a nice ring to it; that's a nice change from the usual King David." David jokes.
Catharina says that Mirthe and her boyfriend are coming by later.
"Are Grandpa Joris and Grandma Edith coming too?" asks David.
Catharina replies, "Yes, they’ll be here soon."
Arthur is a little quiet.
"What is it, Arthur?" asks Catharina.
"I don't know, I don't feel so good."
Grandpa Joris, Grandma Edith, and Mirthe
A nurse enters the waiting room and walks up to Edith and Joris.
"Are you the parents of Catharina?"
Edith and Joris both nod simultaneously.
"Your daughter has given birth and you may go see her now."
—Edith and Joris are in reality Arthur's parents. Catharina's parents died when she was just a child.
They walk into the room and find an overjoyed Catharina, Arthur and David, and one little baby.
"It's a girl; we call her Mirthe, after my mother," says Catharina, emotionally.
Edith responds, "That's a very pretty name, child." And she congratulates Catharina as she tries to gently hug her.
Joris walks up to his son and puts his hand on his son's shoulder. "Congratulations, son."
"Thanks, Dad."
Do You Take This...?
Joris stands beside Arthur in front of the altar.
His son is nervous. Joris smiles and says it's all going to be fine and that, above all, Arthur should enjoy himself.
It doesn't help his son; he remains nervous until the moment the door opens and
Catharina and Edith slowly walk into the chapel.
An organist begins to play the Bridal Chores. In a flash, Catharina thinks about the time when she still went out with friends. The moment she saw Arthur for the first time, it felt like everything went into slow-motion. She couldn't take her eyes off him anymore.
She remembers exactly what clothes he had on, how he wore his hair, what he drank, and at what time he brought her home—it all seems so long ago.
She is now standing next to Arthur at the altar. They look at each other, and the officiant takes the floor.
A Good Start
In a smoky nightclub, a young lady stares at a young man. The boy leans, somewhat uncomfortably, with one arm on a small table. A friend shouts at him, "Women love dancing men; are you going to join us on the dance floor?"
The boy kindly declines the offer; he is not the dancing type. He hangs out at the bar and orders a whiskey.
The friend of the staring young lady shouts in her ear, "He's cute. Why don't you go talk to him?"
"No way!" says the young lady to her friend.
"Never mind, he's already seen you."
The young lady is startled and looks cautiously in the direction of the bar. When her eyes reach the whiskey-drinking boy, she looks straight into his bright blue eyes. She turns as red as a tomato and quickly looks away. When she looks in his direction again, the boy has disappeared. In a panic, she looks around.
Then suddenly, the boy stands next to her and says, "Hi, I'm Arthur. You?"
"Catharina!" replies the young lady.
The rest of the evening flies by, and he brings her home like a true gentleman. Catharina sits on the back of his bike and holds Arthur tightly. She has a strong feeling that she must never let him go.
Joris, Edith, and Destiny
Joris usually walks home from his job, but on this day he heads straight to his girlfriend, Edith. She has something important to tell him. Joris is curious about what this might be.
He arrives at his girlfriend. Edith opens the door, and Joris immediately sees that there is something wrong: "What's wrong?" asks Joris anxiously.
"Won't you please come in first?"
Joris steps in and sits down on the couch.
"Well, are you going to tell me what's going on or not?"
Edith sits down next to Joris and takes his hand: "Joris, I, um, I'm pregnant," confesses Edith as she looks at the ground.
Joris stiffens and asks, "But, how can that be? We were so careful."
The End of the Beginning
Edith starts crying and says she wants it removed. "We are still so young, Joris. I still want to do so many fun things; it's just not a good time right now."
"Abortion?" asks Joris furiously.
"It's my body, Joris!" Snarls Edith.
"But we can try to make it work, can't we, dear?"
Edith and Joris talk all evening until they figure it out together. They both agree to terminate the pregnancy. Joris wants to keep the baby, but he’s afraid that if he pushes her, he’ll lose Edith too.
A couple of weeks later, Joris and Edith walk out of the abortion clinic. They rest for a moment on a bench in the nearby park.
"It's better this way," says Edith, with a little smile of relief on her face.
Joris gathers all his courage, looks at Edith, and finally expresses what he has been trying to formulate for days: "Edith, I think it would be better if we didn't see each other anymore."
Chapter One: Arthur
Chapter One: Arthu
Chapter One: Arth
Chapter One: Art
Chapter One: Ar
Chapter One: A
Chapter One:
Chapter One
Chapter On
Chapter O
Chapter
Chapte
Chapt
Chap
Cha
Ch
C
Epilogue
If you’re reading this, you were lucky enough to have been born. It’s too late for Arthur, and Catharina will never meet the love of her life. Mirthe and David will never exist, and neither will their grandson. Life’s a gift, even if it starts out as unintentional. Treasure every second and pray for those who’ve never made it and for those who've stood in their way.