Romford Wish!

He had lived in Romford all his life, passed the same shops and streets, and watched as the historic market dwindled into nothing. 

 

The glory and beauty of the place had been whittled down to nothing more than a few simple stalls. The new buildings raised stripping it of historic significance, which demonstrated their very little love for nostalgia. 

 

He had watched small businesses grow and fade and the footfall decrease over the passing decades. Westfield, had taken so much from this little town, causing it to become far less than the place he had known and loved. This made him weep wildly.

 

The worst was yet to come. His business had been successful, and people had always come in, yet the steep rents had made it difficult to keep the business going and with its loss came everything else.

 

Eventually, his home was under a tunnel pestered by kids, abused by the people he had once served. Every night, he curled into a ball within his blankets and cried at his misfortune. 

 

One day, as he sat with a vacuous stare, he failed to notice the lady in white. Beautiful and dazzling, yet beyond his vision. 

 

“Andy, is that you?” She said, with a deep sense of sadness, which somehow felt out of place in her voice. 

 

The world slowed and he was brought back to its harsh reality, casting his eyes back to the  

 

Eventually, he could bare it no longer and he looked up at this lady. Recognition dawned on him. She had been at school with him, attended college and then travelled the world seeming to forget about him. 

 

Tears cascaded down his face, as he buried himself in his blankets, ashamed of what he’d become since they last met.

 

Angelica knelt in front of him, as people watched, and she delicately drew back the covers and stared into those lost puppy eyes. 

“Why do you hide from me dear friend? Don’t you know that I’m here to help you?”

 

He looked at her, those beautiful eyes denoting truth, sincerity, and love. He sensed hope once more but could not possibly believe this was true. 

 

“How can you help me?” He asked as once more tears fell from his face and the loss of everything came back to him. “I’ve lost everything, and I wish I had a second chance.”

 He his hands to his face and cried heartbroken at the person he had become.

 

He felt so embarrassed, especially as this woman had once held a very special place in his heart. How could she bare to look at him when he disgusted himself? 

 

Realising she wasn’t going to go away, he once more looked up and light framed her body, showing what looked like an aura of the most dazzling degree. 

 

Her smile became brighter, as she offered out her hand and sweetly said, “I’m here to help!” She preceded to lift him up and bring him back to the world he had long since departed. 

He couldn’t explain why but she was telling the truth and that’s when he noticed who had been waiting silently around him. The people who he thought were just the usual public, who would mock and abuse him now came into focus. 

 

There were the boys he had coached at football many years ago, now grown men and beaming with affection for the man who had taught them so much. He went to hide his face, but the boys gently shook their heads and warmth flowed through them. They cared, they cared, and they were here to help him, to breathe a little more life into him. His back grew taller and he felt hope enter him once more. 

 

His eyes looked at the person next to them, who’s eyes sparkled where once they had been dimmed. This was the homeless man he had passed each day and bought lunch for; now clean shaven and well-kept, smiling at him. 

 

The people next to him were healthy and smiling, radiating love for him, as he recognised where he had met them and once more was brought to tears. Though these tears were happy tears of understanding, knowing what they had been through. These people were survivors! They were from the cancer ward, where he had read after work twice a week. His colour began to change, as he looked at them and the hope that shined through dazzled him. 

 

The children he had given their first job to and who he had donated his time and money to ensure they had made it in the world. Each stepped forward to draw him back to the world and show him he was loved and that he had lived a worthy life. 

 

“Why are you here to see me at my worse?” He asked trembling. 

 

“Silly fool! You can never be at your worse when you helped so many and now, we are here to help you. “Came a jovial voice. 

 

The voice was familiar and full of love, and he couldn’t....no wouldn’t believe it. Tears fell from his eyes, as a figure wove its way out of the gathered crowd. It was him...it was his best friend, who he had introduced to his wife and set up for a new life in Australia, a place of dreams. Behind him came Elaine and the twins (his goddaughters) Sara and Jane, who ran up and hugged him before returning to their dad's side. Every eye was flooded with tears, as the two best friends walked forward to face each other once more.

 

Their embrace was long and a true reflection of their friendship. Tears rolled down and both men wept openly, publicly without any concern for their ego. All around onlookers wept at such a display of long-lasting friendship. 

 

“I’m sorry I took so long, but I needed to get here and gather those whose life you had changed, to help return the life I knew you had lost. We have been looking for you everywhere and it was only when I spoke to Alan (he indicated the man he had walked past every day and who had fed him twice a day for the whole time he’d been here) that we found you. Only someone who had disappeared from the world could see what so many others couldn't."

 

This man had kept him going with promises it will get better and to hold in there. They had played chess, read books, and just stood looking out at the world as it drummed past. A smile that shined through time, once more irradiated his face as he stepped forward to hug him. “I told you to hold on. Well done my boy! well done!”

 

Andy was overcome. All these people, these beautiful people, who had once been part of his life were here now by his side. They hugged and embraced, and they shared many more tears, as life came back to him. He was given fresh clothes and he was standing tall and proud. 

 

“Come, let us return you to the man we all love, and all aspire to be.” With that, they lifted their hands to clap and walked him to a new better life full of love. 

 

A week later, they were once again together, as they opened, he's new endeavour to the: 'Andy Cole Crisis Centre'. 

 

This is where he would spend the rest of his days helping others to find their place. 

 

He cherished the picture of all his dear friends, who had come when he needed and stayed with him while he got back on track. They were his benefactors, but it was so much more than that. It was a mutual respect, which made his wish come true. 

 

The picture hung on the wall in his office, surrounded by the success of those he had helped. 

 

A small gold plaque read, “To those that granted my wish and helped me see the good this world can offer.”