It's the beginning of spring…

The leaves where getting more visible on the bare branches of the tall trees as warm breeze approaches. Caleb had just waked up from his short nap as part of his preparation before his scheduled operation. When he opened his eyes and turned his head, he saw a familiar figure standing by the window. It was Theo, flapping his hands to greet Caleb "hello".

Caleb went up to his bed and opened the window and asked the young boy. "How long have you been there?"

"Hm…not so long. Ten minutes, I think?"

"It's been a while. I thought you would never show yourself to me again."

"Well, I'm here to see if you're nervous. Today's your heart transplant operation, right?"

"How did you know that?" Caleb curiously asked. It's been a week since they last met so there's no way he could tell Theo about his scheduled transplant operation.

"Didn't I tell you? I have plenty of ears, see?" Theo retorted as he was unable to confine his laughter while looking at Caleb's snooping face.

"Don't joke around." Caleb had responded with frustration in his voice while crossing his arms. Then Theo began to smile once more and said…

"Would you come with me?"

"Huh? Where?"

"To the garden,"

Therefore the two went to the hospital's garden, on the day where the sun peeks out behind the clouds and where the air roughly sweep the leaves of the trees causing some of the leaves to fall from its branches.

"Looks like the leaves are falling again." Theo commented while looking at the falling leaves.

"That's because the wind is tough,"

"Yeah, and it seems like they're also having fun with the wind. See?"

The two sat on the pair of old tree swings. They don't speak, only sit in comfortable silence. Until Theo finally broke that wall of silence surrounding them and said…

"Would you mind if I asked you a favor?"

"Favor?"

"Yup."

"What is it?"

Theo began to slightly bow his head and said, "My mother always love pink carnations. Could you give her some when you recover?"

"Huh?" Caleb reacted in slight confusion. "Why me? Why not you give them to her personally?"

"I can't, not anymore." There was a hint of sadness within Theo's voice. Caleb became confused and asked…

"Why? Is there something happened?"

"Oh, nothing serious happened, really."

Caleb sensed something being hidden within those words.

"Then why are you asking me to do those things?"

"Because I can't do it anymore, that's why."

"Why?"

"Because…" Theo paused. It took him seconds before he answered. "I'm going to sleep."

"Sleep?"

"Yup, a very…deep one. Once I closed my eyes, I would never be able to see her again. So as for my wish, would you mind doing it for me? Please?"

Caleb was really bothered by the words of his friend. However, the only thing he could do to make him at ease was to satisfy his wish.

"Okay, I'll do it."

Then a soft smile was perceived into Theo's lips, giving Caleb the impression that those would be the last, that he will no longer perceive those smiles…ever again.

Afterwards, Caleb went back to his room and prepare for his operation. The doctor gave him anesthesia and fell into deep slumber. He was put into the operating room together with his heart donor, a fourteen year old boy who had an accident a month ago and went comatose. Outside the operating room were two mothers, one was hoping for his son's successful operation and the other one was grieving for his son's lost. After four hours of waiting, the doctor came out and brought in the good news for Caleb's mother, while words of sympathy was given for the grieving mother, knowing what his son's fate will be.

Caleb woke up a few days later after his operation and has been doing well with his recovery. He's now finally back into the normal life he once had. Thanks to his life saver, his donor to whom he owe his second life. He always wanted to know the name of his donor and what kind of person his donor was. So one time, he asked his mother. Her mother glanced at him with sadness, reaches out his hand as she spoke.

"His name was Theo. He went comatose after he fell from the roof and broke his skull. The doctor said he can't live anymore, that's why his mother decided to donate his heart. She said that it was his son's wish, that whatever happens to him, she must donate his heart to someone who could take care of it."

Caleb felt his heart constrict after what he just heard. Tears had gathered in his eyes while cradling his hand to his chest to sense its heartbeat…

"A proof that he lived in this world once; and that will remain…forever,"

Then Caleb smiles gently as he stared at the single faded leaf resting serenely on the table beside him.

-----

Days passed by swiftly, and before they know it, its spring again.

One day, when the sun barely glimpses out behind the cloud and the air was humid with the scent of rain, a woman was stooped in damp grass in front of a molded stone. After a while, a figure shadow falls over her. The woman lifted her head and turned to her back to meet the person behind her.

"Oh, it's you." The woman sincerely greeted the young boy standing behind her. The boy was holding a bunch of pink carnations with his soft smile painted through his lips as he greets the woman.

"Hi."

After that, a comfortable silence fell over them. Only the sighs of the flowers were the only sound to be heard. After a few minute of silence, the boy stretched his arms and gave the flowers he bought for the woman.

"He told me to give this to you. He said you love pink carnations."

The woman was stunned. She can hardly think of worthy words to say. She just gratefully embraced the young boy while her tears fell smoothly into her cheeks.

"Thank you Caleb. Thank you…"

"I must be the one to thank you for raising such a nice guy like him."

The woman detached her embrace with Caleb and placed her hand into the boy's chest, beating…

"Take care of this heart for me, okay?"

And so Caleb gave his reply, "I will."

Caleb stretched his hand into his pocket and took a small withered leaf and placed it beneath Theo's grave. Then he gently brushed his fingers over the tomb before he turns and disappears into the haze of the afternoon. Theo's mother brought the flowers to her chest, hugging it against herself tightly while listening to the soft gust of the wind whispering throughout the stone grave.