Darrin had a few friends but none he could rely on.  Not because their hearts were cold, it was simply a matter of time.  In this modern world every man and woman has their own problems.    In this modern world life’s challenges consume us, we often look self-absorbed when we have rent to pay, credit cards to pay and our own families relying on us.  Who has time to help a friend move out when it means taking precious time off from work or from our own family?

So it is that Darrin found himself after his divorce sitting alone in his home waiting for the movers he didn’t feel he should have needed to move out the remainder of his memories.  Memories in the form of couches, dressers and small knick-knacks from trips taken with his soon to be ex-wife.    Milling about he found one small kaleidoscope she favored lying behind a dusty cherub they both picked out on a trip to St. Barts.   He recalled the day they sat together on a small topless beach.   She was too shy to take her top off and he knew why.   He kept her secret hidden from everyone.  After all, a woman wasn’t supposed to have that problem. But he accepted her faults and all.   In their discomfort, they both walked the small seaside village where on one back street they found a hole in the wall store named, Blessings.  On an obscure rack lay a number of small cherubs, each with a promise to which they'd fulfill if you owned them.  Darrin and Mellissa admired them all.  Right next to the one promising answers was one for fertility.  It was there they found the cherub that was supposed to bring good fortune to those seeking to have a baby.  That day never came.

The man behind the counter quietly wrapped the cherub in paper.  Mellissa doted on Darrin wistfully thinking of a baby.  I will name her "Victoria".  Darrin answered back, "His name will be "Tyler".  As they traded lovers banter out the door, the man wished them happiness in his French accent, "May you find the answers in life you hope for."

Now with the kaleidoscope in one hand and the cherub in the other, Darrin began to think back in time, “If I could have one day.  If I could have one more day with her.”  Things would be different.   He wanted something he could not have.  We have all been there.   As if we could step back in time and do things differently.   But for Darrin, on this day, he wanted only one more day.  One day to win back the heart of the woman he loved. 

Mellissa, was a small town girl with big girl dreams.  She never knew love.  What she saw in the lives around her gave her no cause to believe in love either.  Her friends at school all had parents that were divorced, separated or fought in the presence of their children.   As she grew, her small town grew, and everyone became more and more disconnected.  In high school she watched her older sister date older boys and took advice from her, “Boys will believe what you tell them. Not what you feel.”  She learned that love was something others felt, not what she desired.  Mellissa grew up reading magazines, not books.  Her image of love was of royal weddings and gala events where she would be dressed as a princess for all to admire.   In her world she never imagined a man as the key to her happiness. 

The day Darrin came to her small town and met her was magical.  Yet it had different meanings for each.  For Darrin it was the hope of a best friend for life, for Mellissa it was a ticket to the big city where Darrin was from.  What Mellissa did not count on was a man that was drawn to her qualities.   Darrin found it impossible to believe such a lovely woman had no understanding of love.   He felt compassion for her in that her first marriage ended tragically with the death of her first husband.  He believed he understood her pain in that she could not have a child.  When they married they shared the same dream, to have a child.   For years they tried and eventually they accepted what was to be.   Mellissa held a dark secret.  She wanted a child no matter the cost.  She eventually sought the arms of a another man and to disguise her purpose she told her lover she was a victim of an abusive husband.   There were days when Darrin’s own mother and father would see Mellissa walking in to restaurants with other men and would tell Darrin.  He would answer with the only possible explanation, “she works in a large office, it was a co-worker”.  There were times she would sneak clothing into her closet that seemed hard to explain.  Darrin would always think of reasonable explanations.  He did at one point begin calling her at work when she said she worked late.  She answered the phone and what little suspicion forced upon Darrin that did exist, evaporated in an instant. 

All the while Darrin mowed the lawn, helped with dishes and laundry, repaired the plumbing, and dutifully helped Mellissa through grad school.    The couple went on trips together and for them their greatest moments of closeness where when they where away from home.   Trips to tropical islands or snow covered mountains kept Mellissa’s mind in a place where she could remain a “princess”.   For Darrin they were days of her truest kindness. They were times when their bond was most real.  They were days of adventure and togetherness where they both solved problems together.   Mellissa would lay in bed and turn to Darrin, “I am so happy” with a soft voice like an angel. 

Darrin thought aloud to Mellissa, “Why?” And strangely enough Mellissa answered, “I can’t put it into words.” 

“Try” he pressed. 

She stumbled over the thought for moments that seemed an eternity as they lay in the dark, “You make everything perfect for me.”  Darrin never understood the true meaning of her words.  Darrin then offered her his philosophy, “It’s what you make it.” To which Mellissa answered, “You can’t make it anything without time.  I want one more day.”

“One more day of what?” He asked already knowing she wanted more time for him to make her happy.

“One more day for you to make me happy.” She answered.

He waited for her to ask if he was happy or any question at all.  None would come.  He thought aloud, “I want one more day.”

And now Mellissa bit in curiosity, “One more day for what?”

“I want one more day to know how much you love me.” 

If there is truth in every joke Darrin didn’t see it coming, “Who said I loved you?” She giggled and Darrin laughed too not understanding her true emotion.

There is a saying hell hath no fury like woman scorned but what of a woman without a heart?   Mellissa one day filed for divorce.   Darrin remembers that day as if he died. And for as strong a man as he was, he was indeed still only a man.   The surprise of being served those papers standing in his doorway while she changed her clothes flooded him with emotion.  He cried.  She moved out that day to live with a new girlfriend. 

He asked the question over and over again in his mind.  “Why?”  He offered himself answers in the dark of night still lying in only his side of the bed, “Did I love her too much?”  He didn’t know the truth. 

“If you could do one thing in life differently what would it be?” asked a voice from behind Darrin.

Swiftly he turned, “How did you get into my home! Who are you!”  Darrin’s heartbeat was racing.  He was afraid of no man, but for someone to suddenly appear in his home was a fear that struck him quickly.

“I’m here to help you.”  But it wasn’t the friendly sound of a mover.  The voice seemed more endearing and sincere.  That made it eerie for Darrin.  He was still just as upset.

“Get out of my home.”  He said with excitement.

“You don’t want that Darrin.  You want answers.  You want one more day.  You want one more day Darrin.  Remember that night you spent in New York with Mellissa?  You were lying in bed with your wife.  She had stopped saying I love you, but you made life perfect for her.  Remember how you said, you wanted one more day?”

Darrin stood in shock.  He was perplexed by what he was hearing.  He wanted to shout but he could only stare in awe.  His voiced mustered a curiosity , “I wanted one more day?”

“I’m here to give it to you.” The man answered. 

“Who are you?”  Darrin asked in numbness.

“I cannot say.  But you will know.  You will understand.  You will be better for it.  Do you want one more day Darrin?” The man asked.

Darrin could not feel his feet.  He lost perspective of all that was surrounding him. It was if all he could see was this man whom seemingly magically appeared behind him.  Standing in his living room, Darrin lost sight of reality and in a bizarre sense of reasoning, he answered, “Yes. I want one more day.  I want one more day to make it right. I want one more day.”  Little did he know how one more day would make things right. 

The man walked toward Darrin and raised his hand to rest on Darrin’s shoulder.  "Now then Darrin, I will take you back to the one day that will help you make things right.  But be warned, what you make right is not what you expect.” And before Darrin could ask him what he meant.  They left that moment in Darrin’s living room and Darrin was suddenly back in bed, in New York with Mellissa. 

...“One more day of what?” Mellissa asked.

“I want one more day to know how much you love me.”   Darrin answered.

If there is truth in every joke Darrin didn’t see it coming, “Who said I loved you?” She giggled and Darrin laughed too not understanding her true emotion.

END PART ONE