They were the same eyes he’d seen once in a photograph. Mrs. Stevenson had shown it to him when he was six years old. She had invited him over to look at an old photo album with her, and they’d flipped through the book for hours. He’d snuggled next to her in bed while she told him a myriad of stories, each related to a pictured memory.

One photo was from their wedding day. In it, Mr. Stevenson was dressed in a black tuxedo, and Mrs. Stevenson wore a beautiful white gown with a long, flowing train. The happy couple danced beneath a spotlight, and happiness shone in their eyes. Mrs. Stevenson also showed him a picture of a boy posing with his dad on a Sunday outing. He sat proudly on his father’s lap, and he had a gap in his smile where he’d knocked out a tooth after falling off his bike. His dewdrop eyes sparkled in the daylight. The boy was Mr. Stevenson.

“Oh God, it is you. But--”

“I know that all you see when you look at me is a bitter old man. But inside I feel vibrant and young. I may not show it anymore, but I still treasure every morning I wake up to enjoy.”

“Mr. Stevenson...I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I only wanted--”

“Wanted what, boy? Respect? Love?”

“I don’t know!” Jacob screamed. He fought to hold back the tears welling up inside. “I don’t know what I want anymore.”

“Well whatever it is, you won’t find it on this path.” Slowly the face changed. The round head grew more oblong, and the mop of thick, curly brown hair thinned and grayed. The dewdrop eyes sagged with pain and age, and tears rolled down the sallow cheeks. The youthful boy was replaced by a withered old man who now looked far older than his 72 years.

“I know it’s been hard. But this isn’t the way to cope. You’re destroying yourself. I know right now you feel like you’ll live forever, but inside your fury is eating away your soul slowly, methodically, like termites knawing away at the woodwork. You may feel strong now, but one day it’s going to all come crashing down. Then it’ll be too late.”

“Why weren’t you there for me? I came to you, and you sent me away!”

“I know. I was hurting too Jacob--more than you could ever know. I’d known Ellen for 58 years! There’s no way you could even begin to understand what it felt like to suddenly be without her.”

Jacob looked at the old man. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize--”

“No, I’m sorry. I turned you away to protect you from my sadness. I didn’t want you to see my pain. I was consumed by my bitterness, and I was afraid you would be too. But we could’ve helped each other through it all if I’d only given you a chance.”

Jacob crawled over to him and laid his head on his chest. He cried, and Mr. Stevenson lifted a weak hand and stroked his hair. The man’s shallow breaths rattled in his throat. His heartbeat was slow, and Jacob looked up and saw that the front of his shirt was soaked in blood. He realized that he had to get help now. He leapt up and started to scream as he ran up the path.

“Jacob.”

He spun and hurried back to the old man. he crouched beside him and held his hand.

“I’m going to get help Mr. Stevenson. Just lie still, and I promise I’ll be right back.”

“No Jacob, it’s too late.”

“It’s not! It can’t be!”

“It is for me, but not for you. What are you gonna do about Shawn?”

“To hell with him! I should never have listened to him. But right now I have to get help.”

Jacob stood and raced down the path heading north. As he rounded a bend he heard a voice calling his name.

“Jacob! Where are you?”

“Mom? What are you doing out here?”

“Looking for you” she said as she approached. “I was worried about you. I have to tell you something--”

“Not now Mom! You have to help me. Someone’s been shot!”

“What? How? Who are you talking ab--”

“Just follow me!” he yelled as he sprinted back the way he’d come. His mother followed.

Jacob returned to the spot where he’d left Mr. Stevenson. He stopped and swept the area with his gaze, but there was no sign of him anywhere. He thrashed through the underbrush calling his name with fear burning like acid in his chest.

His mother watched in confusion while Jacob stumbled around in a frenzy. Finally he returned to the path and collapsed to his knees, panic-stricken and exhausted.

“Jacob, who were you looking for?” his mother asked as she kneeled beside him.

“Mr. Stevenson” he sobbed. “I shot him.”

“Honey, are you all right?”

“No I’m not! I did something horrible! I shot him. I just jumped out of the bushes and pulled the trigger. I was so angry...so confused...I just didn’t think.”

His mother threw her arms around him and held him close.

“Everything’s going to be okay honey. Mr. Stevenson isn’t here, and you didn’t shoot him. It was all in your head.”

“No! It was real!”

“It’s okay Jacob. You can tell me everything later. Now let me take you home--”

“We can’t go! We have to find him!”

“But he’s not here.”

“He has to be. And anyway, how would you know? You weren’t here! You’re never here!”

“Jacob, I’m sorry. I know you must hate me, but--”

“No Mom. I don’t hate you...” Jacob held his mother’s hands. “But I needed you so many times, and you weren’t there.”

“I know honey. I needed you too...”

Jacob and his mother stared at one another. Although nothing was said, much passed between them. Finally a faint smile touched their lips.

“I guess we’ve got a lot to deal with kiddo.”

“Yeah, I guess.” Jacob suddenly looked around. “But we have to find Mr. Stevenson!” He tried to stand, but his mother pulled him back down.

“No Jacob.”

“Why not? We have to help him!”

“It’s too late. He died a few hours ago.”

“What are you talking about? He was lying right here just minutes ago.”

“Jacob, Mr. Stevenson was rushed to the clinic late yesterday evening with severe chest pains. He died of a heart attack soon after.”

“That’s not true! I saw him lying here! I touched him--”

“It’s true honey. I swear to you it’s true. Mrs. Byers from across the hall called and told me as soon as I got home from work. She was on duty in the clinic when they brought him in. She was there when he died.”

Jacob stared in disbelief at the ground. Where a pool of blood should’ve been congealing in the middle of the path, the gravel looked dry and dusty in the faint light of dawn. He felt numb, as if everything was happening in a dream.

“I don’t understand...”

“I know. Come on honey, let’s go home.”

Jacob stood, allowing his mother to lead him away. He stumbled along behind her, oblivious to everything around him.

Just before rounding a curve, Jacob glanced over his shoulder. A young man and woman stood at the Crossroads, silhouetted in a beam of light. They looked at him and waved. The man wore a black tuxedo, and the woman shone in a white dress with flowing train.

Jacob smiled.