Love, Birdie

It had already been thirteen years since Cyrus Brooks had upped and left his hometown of Oxford, England to move to New York City. Not by choice, he was happy with his life in England. He had everything going for him. He’d followed in his Father’s footsteps and was studying law in college to become a lawyer. He was loved by everyone who crossed his path and had an army of loyal, trustworthy friends who would have followed him to the end. But although he was devoted to his studies, future career and his friends, it was nothing compared to the pure love and devotion he had for his childhood sweetheart, Birdie Chapman. Cyrus was a handsome young man, he was blessed with olive kissed skin, dark brown hair and eyes of hazel and green. He could have had any girl he wanted, but his heart belonged to Birdie, and Birdie only. They’d been dating for three years already by the time they were seventeen, and they were deeply in love. Birdie was a quiet girl and she came from a very different background to that of Cyrus. Her home life was troubled. Birdie wound up on Cyrus’ parents doorstep with her bags packed on a regular basis because her mother had taken yet another beating from her vulgar father. Her parents argued a hell of a lot. Usually over trivial things like her mother talking to their male neighbour. He was always convinced that she was up to no good, God forbid she say good morning to her neighbour without wanting to jump in bed with him. When Birdie couldn’t stomach to see or hear anymore of her Father’s foul abuse, she’d run to Cyrus and his family. Cyrus’ Father, Thomas Brooks, was always more welcoming of Birdie than his Mother, Nancy Brooks. Although Nancy had an abundance of love for her own child and was a nurturing and doting Mother, she seemed to struggle to share the same affection and care for Birdie. She was kind enough, always ensuring Birdie had clean clothes, hot meals and a comfortable bed to sleep in, but their conversation was sparse. She rarely said a word to Birdie. With Cyrus being so much younger at the time, he didn’t pick up on the animosity between the two. Birdie on the other hand felt it strongly, but she daren’t say a word about it to Cyrus, she didn’t want to jeopardise their relationship as she accepted the bond between Cyrus and his Mother was harmonious and unbreakable. Despite knowing that, Birdie also knew that what she had with Cyrus was formidable too. He was protective of Birdie. If anyone dared do her wrong, Cyrus and all of his muscle would see to it that they wouldn’t do it again. She felt safe with Cyrus, and, unlike her own Father, Cyrus never so much as raised his voice to her. So when Thomas and Nancy Brooks announced that they were selling their house and moving all the way to New York, it shattered the hearts of Cyrus and Birdie. Cyrus protested the move, but no amount of bargaining and pleading could change the mind of his parents, and within three months of the announcement, the house was sold and they were on a plane to start their new life in New York. It was so sudden, but Cyrus’ father had been offered a job opportunity he just could not refuse. It would give the Brooks family a chance to live a life of luxury they would otherwise never have known. Cyrus couldn’t see his family in the same light after that. He wondered how his parents who he had always loved and respected could tear him away from everything he cherished, especially Birdie. It was December when the Brooks family flew to New York, and on the entire flight there, Cyrus kept replaying his final moment with Birdie. They’d walked up the canal together, crunching snow under their boots until they reached the shelter of what was known as ‘lovers tunnel’. It was a well known spot for young lovers who wanted to share affection with one another without being discovered by the likes of their parents. It’s where Cyrus and Birdie shared their first kiss when they were just fourteen, and it became their favourite place. The moss covered brickwork and the racket of rickety trains and tracks overhead didn’t make it any less special for them. It was their special place. The canal ran through it and they’d spend hours watching the fish swim. Cyrus pulled Birdie close to his warm chest, pressing her ear firmly to him. Tears streamed down his face, Birdie’s too. He brushed her long blonde hair back with his fingers, wiped her tears away with his thumbs and swore that he would return to her in England as soon as he could. He promised her that he would become a successful lawyer, save up a heap of money and they’d start their beautiful life together. They envisioned themselves in a cottage, a golden retriever called Bert and rocking a newborn baby in their arms. Cyrus knew in his heart he had to make this happen, or else he would never be truly happy again. Cyrus passionately kissed Birdie for the last time, and they parted ways. One of the first things Cyrus did when he arrived at their new house in New York was write Birdie a letter. He told her of his journey, how he struggled to conceal his tears on the plane and how he thought of her every minute that passed. He told her how much he loved her, and he was going to do everything in his power to come home soon. His mother posted that letter the very next day. And another the day after that. Then he wrote another letter the following week telling Birdie how well he is doing already at his new college. He felt so hopeful that he could pass his law exams with flying colours and work on their dream of a life together in England. He anxiously awaited daily for his post to arrive, but it never did. Birdie never wrote back. After five months of relentlessly writing letters to Birdie with no response, he stopped writing. His heart was broken. He felt so numb. He spent many nights crying to his parents, though, his Mother Nancy never acted surprised. “I never had a good feeling about that girl”, she’d scowl to him. She did everything she could to bring Birdie down, and after a while, Cyrus begun to accept that Birdie clearly never loved him like he loved her. It hurt him like hell, but he had to move on. Cyrus, now thirty years old, had in fact achieved what he initially set out to do. He qualified as a lawyer and thrived so much so, he opened up his own law firm at the age of twenty-eight. His Father, who inspired Cyrus to pursue a career in law, now worked for him. The only part of Cyrus’ plans that changed was that he never returned to England. New York City was the perfect spot for his law firm and they were never short on cases. Cyrus had just won a $150 million lawsuit for a prestigious client, and the phone at his firm was ringing off the hook daily. Despite his successes, he still felt a little void in his heart. No one had ever replaced Birdie. Sure, women came and went, but he never felt that same spark again. He had an inkling that most of them were only in it for his money anyway. Luckily, what he lacked in his love life, he made up for with his career. Things were great for Cyrus. That was until he received that phone call he always dreaded, but thought was much further away. “It’s your Mother, son”. Cyrus rushed to Lenox Hill Hospital. As he walked into the hospital he was greeted by his Father. His Father did not breathe a word, only stared directly into Cyrus’ eyes in silence. Cyrus already knew what news was to come. His Mother was dead.