“Your move” Said the man sitting beside Owen as he gently laid a black chess piece on the wooden board. The board itself was made of walnut and maple with pieces that were handcrafted by an artist in Italy. It had cost Owen a pretty penny to buy.
   Owen surveyed the battle below trying to find any flaws in Mr. D’s strategy.  As always there were none. Mr. D. was an extremely gifted chess player. To this date Owen had never been able to beat him. The other man sat there quietly looking at the board with his dark blue eyes. His thick grey hair was neatly combed. He always wore the same black suit with a silver tie when he came to visit Owen.
   Mr. D wasn’t his real name. It had been a nickname given to him by the other patients around the hospital. His last name was so long and hard to pronounce that he just introduced himself as Mr. D. He had told Owen his last name once, but he couldn’t remember it now.
With a defeated sigh Owen moved a white knight from the safety of his queen’s protection. It was a risky move, but if he didn’t take it, there was no chance of winning.  Maybe Mr. D. wouldn’t notice if Owen brought up some small talk.
   A weak smile crossed Owen’s lips. “The weather has been pretty bad lately, hasn’t it? It’s good to see some sunshine through the window.” Owen motioned with his arm towards the window. The nurse had left the curtains open for him. The sun light’s presence alone made him feel a little better. He was glad she was so thoughtful today. At sunset sometimes the sun would shine through the window and on to him.
   “Yes, I thought the skies would never break.” Mr. D. looked up from the chessboard at Owen. “I can’t see why any of the other patients would want to go outside though, it being so humid and all.”
   “The sun feels good on the skin. Who can blame them? The fresh air isn’t all that bad either.” Owen laughed softly.
   “I guess so.” Mr. D. sounded a little skeptical. He moved another piece in the same slow swift motion he had done before. It was like he put emphasis on every move.
   Owen didn’t really have any friends or family to come see him. So Mr. D’s company was always welcome. He was an only child, and his parents had died off a long time ago. There was an aunt that lived somewhere in Canada, but he had never met her. As for friends, Owen had been extremely shy throughout his life; he had never made any real lasting friendships. It was hard for him to met new people.
   “What’s on your mind?” The well-groomed man was sitting in a comfortable chair beside Owen’s bed. A chess board was rested on tall stool between them.
   “Nothing, I was just thinking about my life.” Owen glanced around. All around him were numbers and lines reading what little life he had left. It bothered him to see his own heart beat on a screen.
   “What about your life?” Mr. D. asked immediately. He was not only a good chess player, but a great listener.
   “I was thinking about how glad I am that you come to visit me” Owen chuckled.
   “That’s not it. What are you really thinking about?”
Owen let out a sigh as he moved a piece, “It’s the truth, I mean if you didn’t come visit me. I would be here all alone all day staring at the wall.”
   “How come you don’t make friends around the hospital? The nurse that comes in is rather nice.” Mr. D. moved already, he had already planned out his move while Owen was thinking.
   “Most of them are really old. I don’t have anything in common with them. The nurse? Well, it’s not like she can get close to me, she just acts nice because it’s her job.” Owen use to feel uncomfortable about talking about his feelings, but not to Mr. D.
   “Ah, I see. I find it hard to believe that a nice man like you Owen doesn’t have any friends to come visit him” Mr. D. raised an eyebrow questionably. “You mean to tell me there is no one you can call?”
Owen hesitated, “No, there is no one.” A memory flashed in his mind. But he suppressed it with all his might. It left a bitter taste in his mouth. Owen took the cup of water the nurse had brought in for him earlier to wash it away.
   “Alright.” Mr. D. wasn’t going to press him further. “Thirty four moves until checkmate.”
Owen almost coughed up the water. Mr. D. always did this. He would count down the moves until he beat Owen. How he could see that far into the future always mystified Owen. There was no way he was every going to beat the man. He was just too good. Every time Owen thought he had the upper hand, it proved false in the end.
   “Is the game only thirty four moves until completion?” When the game was over Mr. D. was going to leave. Owen’s heart dropped a little, he was hoping Mr. D. would stay a little later today. He wasn’t feeling too good and he didn’t want to be alone.
    Mr. D. looked up at Owen almost like he could read his thoughts, “Don’t worry Owen, I am staying longer for you today. You are one of my favorite people to visit, you know that right?”
    His face was always emotionless, and it was hard to tell if he meant it, but the words meant a lot to Owen. His heart swelled up with pride that Mr. D. thought so highly of him over the other patients. Owen moved a white rook behind a knight.
    Owen suddenly felt bad. “I lied to you earlier Mr. D, there was someone I could call.” He had never withheld anything from the old man, except this.
“Oh, would you like to talk about it? If you don’t Owen that’s fine.” Mr. D. moved again.
    “Her name is Sarah Greenfield.” Owen said almost at a whisper level. “She and I were childhood friends.” Mr. D. was looking at Owen now, his dark blue eyes taking in every word. “We were friends up until about the end of college, and after that we just kind of drifted apart. I mean, we still talk once in a while, but that’s about it.”
    “Why have you never mentioned her before?” Mr. D was focused on Owen.
    “It’s kind of a sore subject for me. I mean, we use to do everything together.” It was hard for Owen to tell this story out loud. “She was a very beautiful girl and I was well…” He made a jester over his bald spot and face. “I wasn’t that great…I am not that great looking of a guy. So dating her was out of the question. She was always in love with some jock or something.” Owen shook his head, “Anyways, I couldn’t help it. One day I had confessed my feelings to her while we were sitting under a starlit sky. I am not that romantic of a guy, but I thought that it was a good time to tell her.”
    “And what happened?” Mr. D. seemed more interested in the story than the chessboard now.
    “She told me, that she didn’t have the same feelings.” Owen’s head dropped. “It was a one way love, if you know what I mean. But she was quick to add that I would find someone else, and that she wasn’t good for me anyways.” Owen sounded a little bitter at the last part.
    “And you never found anyone else?” Mr. D. asked.
    “Well I tried, it just never worked out.” There were shouts outside the hallway, someone must have coded.
    Mr. D didn’t even glance over at the noise, his eyes were still fixed on Owen, “I am sorry to hear that Owen.”
    “Don’t worry about it. I have come to expect loneliness. I was always thinking and never doing if you know what I mean. My mind always gave me reasons not to do anything. I wanted to play it safe. Look where it got me” Owen looked at a mirror across the room. His dirty blond hair was missing from the top of his head. His face was a pale white. It had been a while since he was allowed to go outside. His condition only worsened by the day. With his thoughts sinking he reached out and moved a pawn.
   “I have seen so many people like you Owen. I can’t offer you any real advice, but I can always listen” His eyes almost appeared soft to Owen.
    “Anyways, Sarah was gifted in everything she did. She was so smart, but she always put herself down. I could never understand her lack of confidence. I would compliment her all the time to make her feel better, but by doing that it seemed to put myself down in a way. I know I didn’t deserve her anyways.” Owen frowned, “She is married now” There was a small pause, “and she has three beautiful kids. Her husband works for some business, I don’t know. Anyways, he is very successful. I am glad for them” Owen was staring at the chessboard.
    “It sounds like she has had a pretty good life.”
    “Well yeah I believe so, sometimes she calls me to tell me about her problems. The fights she has with him. So I try to be supportive and help her in anyway I can.” Owen nodded.
    “What about your problems? Does she help you with them?”
     Owen was taken off guard by the question, “Well… she use too when we were kids, she would always want to help me, but now I just tell her everything is fine so she has nothing to worry about. I mean three kids is a lot to worry about.” Owen tried to laugh, but nothing came out. His voice was going again.
   “Do you think she would come visit you if you asked?” Mr. D. asked.
    “I don’t know. I doubt it. She doesn’t like hospitals and I wouldn’t really want to put her through coming here. She is really busy anyways.”
    “Have you ever asked her?”
    Owen didn’t like where this conversation was going. “No, I have never asked her. Why would I do that? I already took you why I didn’t.” He didn’t mean for his voice to sound slightly annoyed, but it couldn’t be helped.
    “I see.” Mr. D. moved a chess piece. “Twenty-five moves until checkmate.”
    Owen blinked; he didn’t realize the game was going by so fast. He had just been moving while he was talking. Hopefully he wasn’t screwing up too bad.
    “Is everything okay in here Owen?” A blonde middle aged nurse stood at the door way. She always gave him the same sad look. “I can get you some more water if you would like?” She glanced at the machines around him.
    “Nah, I am fine, thank you Emily.” He gave her a smile, which seemed to ease the look she gave him.
    “If you need anything, please just hit the button on the side of your bed and I will come get it for you, okay?” She was always so thoughtful. Like clockwork she would come by and visit him every thirty five minutes.
    “Will do.” Owen turned back to the chess board.
The nurse didn’t leave like he had expected her too. “You know I can play chess, I had a friend teach me. If there is a game open next.” She said suddenly taking a step closer.
   “Maybe another day Emily this game will last a while.” Owen said as pleasantly as he could muster. She was taking time away from him. Mr. D. wouldn’t be here all day.
   “Okay, I will be back in a few to check on you.” Her voice sounded a little defeated. She left soon after that.
   Mr. D. immediately spoke as the door closed, “How come you didn’t take her up on her offer?”
   “She is always doing things like that, just being nosey. If she was just taught chess, what kind of skill could she have? The game wouldn’t be any fun.”
   “It’s not always about the thrill of the game Owen.” Mr. D. interjected. It wasn’t like him to be so direct with Owen.
   “I guess you are right. I will play her another day, but for now I should concentrate beating you.” Owen said with a half grin.
   “Tell me Owen, do you seek loneliness or did it just come about that way?” Mr. D. moved a black bishop behind his rook.
   “Loneliness?” Owen repeated the word as if it put a sour taste in his mouth. “I guess it just kind of happened. I have always been lonely. It’s just that I never really could understand why people acted the way they did. I mean, I don’t smoke or drink, so that left me out of a lot of social circles. I had distanced myself from everyone. I mean I didn’t think I was better than them. In fact I think I am inferior because of my lack in social skills. Anyways, I stayed at home a lot and when I did leave it would be to go to work. I worked a lot.” Owen moved his queen slowly, holding on to it until he was sure that was the move he wanted to do. He let go.
   “Were you lonely when you were with Sarah?” Mr. D. moved a rook up four spaces.
   “Why did you bring her up again?” Owen sighed. “It was so long ago I don’t remember.” Owen took another sip of his water.
   “Ah, where is she now?” Mr. D. was focused on the chessboard now, but his questions became more pressing. It was like he was playing a game on the board, and a game with Owen’s head. Mr. D. had never asked so many questions before. Why was he so interested in Sarah?
   “She is in myrtle beach on vacation with her family.” Owen closed his eyes. He loved the beach it had been his favorite place to go when he was healthy. He missed the smell of the ocean, the waves crushing on his back, and the shore fishing. Owen could see Sarah and her family enjoying those things. A smile crossed his lips. At least one of them wouldn’t break the promise.
   “How do you know this?”
   “I talked to her about five days ago. I guess we talk about twice a month, so it’s about every fifteen days. She always calls my cell phone. As I said before, I try to help her in anyway I can with any problems she may have. It just happened last time we talked, she talked about this big family trip they had planned. That’s all”
   Mr. D. didn’t say anything for a while, but just stared at the board. Owen was starting to get nervous; he had lost count how many moves he had said until the game was over. His body felt weaker than usual today. Even the game of chess was draining him.
   “Why don’t you call her?” Mr. D. suddenly broke the silence, his dark blue eyes still concentrated on the pieces.
   “Why would I call her?” Owen blinked. “She is on vacation. I wouldn’t want to interrupt that, and besides I have never called her. She is the one that always does the calling.”
   “Why does she call you? She obviously still thinks of you as a friend.”
   “What is up with the questions about Sarah? I should have never brought her up.” Owen was getting frustrated. “Anyways, I don’t think she considers me a friend Mr. D. Just an old acquaintance she keeps up with here and there.” Owen felt a ping of pain in his chest. He couldn’t tell if it was from his condition or the sinking thoughts he had been having. “We... we made a promise to each other when we were kids.”
   “What promise?”
   “It was a promise to not die alone. I know it’s a silly thing to promise, but we were kids. I don’t remember what movie we watched, but afterwards she made me promise her that neither of us would die like the man in the movie.” Owen couldn’t believe he just spoke those words out loud. He never had any intention of telling anyone of the promise, but he felt that he could tell Mr. D. anything.  “Anyways, she jokes from time to time about not breaking the promise, when I told her I didn’t have a girlfriend.” Owen’s eyes started to daze. “I should have never made a promise I couldn’t keep. I know it’s not a big deal, but it bothers me. Is that silly?”
   “It’s not silly at all Owen.” Mr. D’s voice carried a serious tone to it, “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
   Owen glanced up at a counter where some of his belongings were. He couldn’t see his cell phone. He had misplaced it the last time he had talked with Sarah, but he didn’t want to tell Mr. D. that. His heart sank. Even if he wanted too, he couldn’t call her. He closed his eyes. What was he thinking? Calling her on her vacation? She would be upset and probably not want to talk to him again.
   “What are you thinking about?” Mr. D. had been watching him.
    Owen wasn’t feel as well as he normally did. He swallowed hard. Something about today had him on edge, almost in a panic. It was like the whole world was crashing around him. And the only thing stopping it from crashing on him was the void that he lived in. His voice came out shaky, but he couldn’t help it. “I am scared.”
    “They are all scared Owen. It’s never easy facing your mortality” Mr. D. moved his queen back taking Owen’s rook. “Your move Owen.”
    “This is stupid; I don’t know why I am getting so upset.” His eyes started to moisten. “I prepared myself for this.”
   “I know you have.”
   “You must think I am pathetic.” A tear streamed down Owen’s face.
   “Not at all, you know I never judge Owen. So your life is full of regrets and mistakes. Many of the people I talk to, have the same problem. You are human, stop beating yourself up.”
   Owen gave a small laugh, but there was nothing funny. “Human? I hate that excuse. I blew my chance at life.” He moved his shaking arm to clear the tears from his eyes.
   “You are forty five Owen and you have done so much in that spam of time. You didn’t blow your life. Think about the good things.”
   “God, you sound just like her.” Owen sniffled. “Speaking of God, why would he permit me to live my life like this? Why would he make me so scared of people? Why didn’t he do something or let me meet someone so this wouldn’t happen. Why did he sit back and do nothing?” Owen felt extremely bitter.
   “That is a subject I can’t say much about.” Mr. D said simply, “Nine moves until checkmate.”
   “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to interrupt your game” Mr. D and Owen looked up at the nurse who had come in quietly. Owen’s immediate reaction was to look at the clock. It had only been ten minutes. Maybe she was making rounds earlier. She was smiling. Owen couldn’t understand why she was so happy. “You have a guest!” She beamed.
   “A…guest?” Owen blinked. “Who?” His heart started to race. Could it be her? Could it be Sarah? The inter voice laughed at this thought. It couldn’t be. “Let them in.”
   “Owen, what happened?” The voice sent a chill up his spine.
   “Sarah,” said Owen breathless. He looked out the window. Owen couldn’t look her in the eyes.
   “Why, why didn’t you tell me?” Her voice was full of pain. It broke his heart.
   “I…uh…I… thought you were on vacation.” He tried to keep his voice stern but was failing miserably.  
    She was right beside him, “You know what I mean. Owen, how long have you been here?” The door closed, the nurse had left them.
    Mr. D looked at Sarah, but didn’t say anything. Owen didn’t have time to introduce the two. His mind was racing in confusion.
    “I have been in here for about a year now I guess.” He couldn’t remember anymore. “I didn’t want you to worry.”
    “Why I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell me? Please look at me Owen.” Her voice was so commanding that he couldn’t object. She was just as beautiful as the day he had met her. It’s like time had barely touched her. “I should have pressed harder on the phone. I knew something was wrong.” Her eyes were full of tears. Owen’s heart felt like it was trying to tear itself apart. This is exactly what he was trying to avoid.
    His eyes had already been full of tears. His body was so thin and weak. Owen suddenly felt very ashamed. This was how she was going to remember him.
    All around him was the soft hum of machines. He could hear his heart beating in his ears and her loud sniffles as she waited for his response. Owen moved a rook to across the board. “I was afraid to ask.” Owen stopped. He was trying to hold back more tears from falling. He was so happy to see her, but at the same time he was terrified. “I was afraid to ask for you to come see me, because I didn’t know what I would do if you said no.” His heart was louder now. “If I could entertain the idea that one day you would come see me. Then everything was okay. I thought of telling you so many times Sarah. It just never came out.”
    She gave a small laugh as she cleared tears from her eyes. They were soon replaced with new ones. “You were always the fool Owen. You always put everyone before yourself. You shouldn’t have been so afraid to ask me Owen. We are friends, I would have come seen you anytime you asked.”
    “Friends…I know.” So she did consider him a friend. Owen could feel his stomach twist. Had he caused more pain by not telling her? His mind was racing, what had he done? They were both looking at him now. “I am so sorry…”
    “Don’t apologize Owen. All that matters is I am here now.” With both hands she softly grabbed his right hand. “I am here.” Her words soothed something within him.
    “Why aren’t you enjoying the beach with your family Sarah?” The question lingered in the back of his mind. He captured one of Mr. D’s pawns with his knight.
    “I left as soon as I found out what had happened. The beach is fun, but it’s not as important as you Owen. You had always been there for me. I wanted to be there for you.” Her hands squeezed his hand. “That reminds me.” She reached in her purse and pulled out something. Owen couldn’t see it; she had placed it in his right hand.
   “What is it?” He asked confused.
   “Look at it silly.” She used her sleeve to clear away the tears.
    Owen opened his hand. In it rested a seashell about the size of a fifty cent piece. He tilted his head in confusion.
   “I know how much you love the ocean. I brought it to you so you could hear it in your ear.”
    Tears started to stream down his face. No matter what he did, he could not summon them to stop. First she had come to see him and now she had brought him the ocean. He held it in his hand staring at it.
    “I will hold it up for you.” She gently picked it out of his hand and brought it to his ear. He knew it was his own blood rushing through his ear that made the sound, but he closed his eyes anyway. “Can you see it?”
   “Yes.” Was all he could say. Owen stood in front of a blue ocean the waves crashing slowly on the shore. The sky above had a few puffy white clouds in the distance. In his hands was a large fishing pole. It was perfect. A smile came to his lips. He opened his eyes the tears had slowed, “Thank you Sarah.”
    She smiled at him. Sarah glanced at the chessboard. “My son loves to play chess. I could never really understand the game myself.”
    Owen grinned, “It’s not that hard of a game. People make it out to be a game for only intellectuals to enjoy, but it’s really quite simple.”
The thought occurred to him, that she was probably wondering who the man was sitting in the chair on the other side. He was going to introduce Mr. D. to her, but stopped when something on Sarah’s neck caught his eye. “What is that?”
   She pulled her chin back to look down at what he was referring to. “That’s my cross necklace.”
   “Your cross? I didn’t know you were religious.” He figured anyone who had a cross was religious. He didn’t remember Sarah being that way when she was younger.
   “Yeah, I wear it to remind me everyday of what Jesus died for.” She took it off her neck and put it in front of him to see.
   “Died for? What did he die for again?” He had vaguely read the bible.
   “Us.” She made a sweep with her hands the necklace following her movements. “He died for everyone.”
    Owen was skeptical of the whole religion thing. “Why would he die for everyone? That doesn’t make any sense.”
   “Because he loved us. It’s as simple as that.”
    Owen picked up a bishop and placed it on a white square on the far corner under the protection of a rook. “Why would he love everyone? I mean I have never done anything for him. I never went out and made the world a better place. So why would he love me?”
    “All of that doesn’t matter. He understands that everyone isn’t perfect. His love is unconditional.” She smiled at Owen.
    “I see.” Owen rubbed his chin. He was taking in what Sarah was saying, and planning his next move. Reaching out he took his rook and captured Mr. D’s bishop. It was a risky trade. Mr. D. didn’t seem all that shock from Owen’s bold move. Owen thought for sure that he would have gotten some kind of reaction.  
    “Okay I understand he loves us, but he has all these rules that everyone has to follow to get into heaven. It’s kind of hard to love him back if he restricts us too much.” Owen moved his king out of Mr. D’s check move.
Sarah softly chuckled, “You are confusing the old testament with the new testament.”
    “What’s the difference? I thought the bible was the bible? Just one big book telling us what to do. Like if you do this, you go to hell and if you do this, you go to heaven maybe. You get judged by a guy at a gate.” He moved his king out of check again.
    “Is that so?” She smiled at him. “The old testament is important. Don’t get me wrong. But Jesus came to show us a new way, because the old way wasn’t working. The rules were still broken and people had turned away from God. Jesus made it simple and showed us that we can live for God, through him.”
    “Through him?” Owen looked at her curiously. “What do you mean?”
    “If you love Jesus and believe he is the true son of God, if you put him at the front of your heart above all other things. Then he will come into your life and you will know him.”
    “All I have to do is love Jesus and believe? If I love him, what will happen?” Owen moved a pawn one space.
   “Then you will have ever lasting life.” Sarah smiled at him.
   “I want to love him” Owen sighed. “But I don’t know…”
    Sarah put the cross in his hand. “I want you to have this Owen. We can love him together. Just let him in.” She closed his hand over the cross.
    “I will try. What do I do?” Owen didn’t know exactly how this all worked. “Do we need a priest or do I need to read five prayers?” He moved his king out of check. His king was in trouble now.
   “Closed your eyes, and think about him and open your heart. You don’t need to read or anyone else. It’s only you and him.”
   Owen closed his eyes. He seemed to drift in nothing but darkness. Something he had become use too. Out in the darkness he could sense the bitterness and regret that lingered just out of vision. “I can’t see him.”
   He could feel her hands giving him a comforting squeeze. “Let go Owen. You are too tense. Just let it go, you can’t love him, if you don’t love yourself.”
    Her words gave him a strength he didn’t know he had. His mind felt at ease. The darkness was still there but it seemed to calm.
    “Now let him in. Reach out for him. Only you can do this.” Sarah wrapped her arms around his shoulders giving him a hug.
    He reached out into the darkness. There was a fear that there would be nothing there. But he did it anyways. The warmth from Sarah seemed to flow over him. There was something else now giving off warmth. All the bitterness and hatred washed away. He could feel them being lifted by someone. He didn’t need to be told who that someone was. His body suddenly felt lighter.
    “You found him didn’t you?” Sarah sounded happy.
    “Yes” Owen opened his eyes and smiled at Sarah. It was a true smile that hadn’t been on his face in years.
    She took the cross necklace and put it on Owen. “As I said before, I want you to have this.”
   “I want to give you something too Sarah.” Everything started to blur.
   “Oh, what is that?”
   “The chessboard. I want to give you the chessboard. I don’t need it anymore. Thank you for coming to see me” Mr. D. looked up at Owen. He must have known.
    “Owen.” Her voice was sad again. “Don’t talk like…”
    There were beeps coming from the machines around him. Sarah looked up in confusion. “What’s going on?” Her voice came out desperate.
    People in white came rushing in the room. Sarah had moved out of the way. She had her hand over her mouth, her eyes filled with tears. The doctor and nurses gathered around Owen. With his remaining strength he gripped the cross necklace. His eyes were looking out somewhere beyond them. He was able to keep the promise after all. He wasn’t alone. With Jesus and Sarah there, it felt like he had the world with him.

Conclusion:

Sarah closed her eyes, her loud sobs echoed in the room. Owen was there just moments ago and now he was gone. With all the chaos that was going on earlier it was hard to believe the room could ever be quiet again. A hand touched her shoulder.
“I am glad you came. It meant a lot to him. I could tell.” The nurse’s voice was soft.
“Thank you for letting me know.” Sarah tried to calm her voice.
“You were the only number on his cell. I know it’s unorthodox, but I thought I had to do something.”  She made a motion towards the chest board. “He loved that thing so much. He would sit in here for hours and play.”
“By himself? Why is the chair there?” Sarah sniffled.
“We brought it in here because he requested it. No one has ever come to play him in chess. So I thought I would learn how to play and give it ago.” Her eyes were watering. “He was so lonely Sarah. He never got along with the other patients. It’s not that he was mean or anything. He was always nice to them. It’s just that he didn’t seem that interested in making friends.”
“He was such a great person. He just didn’t want to believe it.” Sarah covered her eyes.
“I know.” The nurse smiled sadly and comforted Sarah by patting her shoulder softly.
The light from the sun had reached out across the room and covered the chessboard. There were fallen pieces everywhere, the remnants of a great battle that had transpired there. The white pieces no longer needed their master because the battle was over. The black king lay on its side casting a shadow of defeat.