Inhale. Exhale. Clenching her left fist, releasing it,clenching it again. She stood squinting at the big white door ; her next challenge.
Time to go in, I can't just stand here.
As she swung the door open an air-conditioned breeze flew her way. Nervously scanning for him in the big work office, her lungs decided she needed the air inside for now.
The radar that had been implanted in her since she arrived at work disregarded all the buzzing voices in the background, and then it picked up his voice behind her, greeting someone. He wasn't just his usual loud. He was happy loud. She unclenched her first, and her lungs released the air free.
She turned around,and saw him; the man who once awakened senses in her she never knew she had. The only man in her adult life who made her feel like life is worth living;who made her feel alive.
He wanted time off he said. Despite all his troubles, I still can't believe he wanted time off from me.
Standing across from him, her eyes faked looking for something behind him and as they turned to the left, they met his. His eyes were brown lit and his smile pearl white. He was happy. And I have nothing to do with it. A smile formed slowly on her face despite herself.
“ You're back ?” She asked in what she thought appeared as a nonchalant manner.
“ Yeah, I arrived a few days ago. You didn't know?” His smile slightly faded away.
Her thumb started rapidly rubbing the back of the ring on her ring finger.
“ How would I ? You were totally cut off from the world for a month.”
A moment of silence dawned on the both of them, she looked deeply into his eyes and knew she wouldn't hear what would soothe her heart.
“ I...umm..I...have to go. I have work to do.” She whispered.
She couldn't wait for him to respond – or she was scared to. She turned around,feeling her heart expanding in her chest. Breathless. She walked out of the office from the back door as if she'd been under water for hours, and now sticking her head out for some air.
It started when she commented on a short story he posted on his blog. They talked about it the next day at work, and they didn't stop talking for the following 3 weeks. They talked about everything to its finest detail. Their past was no longer shameful , their present no longer boring and future plans not a secret. No time on Earth was enough for them to quench their curiosity; they had finally found each other.
Inhale. Exhale. She had her back to the wall. Staring into the corridor, she hoped the solution to her misery would pop out of thin air. She bent her knees, pulling herself down the wall. She shut her eyes for a few moments and held her forehead in her palm;deep in shock. She decided to open her eyes, and slowly pushed herself upwards. Regaining her balance, she stepped away from the wall, and tied her hair in a pony tail. Eyes closed. Jaw clenched. It's time to face the music.
On their first official date, a romantic moment brought them closer than they' d ever been. Eyes closed. She was trying to preserve the moment,to lock it up in a place of happy memories in her heart. She couldn't believe it was really happening.
Well, it wasn't.
Opening the door , her heart thudded against her chest. She walked into the room with her back straight, a clear throat and eyes wide open. So many comforting faces, yet none that really matter. She was looking for his, hoping he wouldn't be there. He wasn't. She sat down, and held a pen with her slightly shaking hand. I have to try to get some work done.
Being so close to a girl, he remembered what he'd been through,and decided he wanted to take it slow. He was scared for the both of them, he said. One week later and a few days before he left, the potential love story went from slow to over.
He walked in the room and looked right past her as if she was a ghost. Work was now the last thing on her mind. She couldn't contain herself. She felt like she had to talk to him; to tell him she'd been restless ever since he left. She placed her left arm on the table,supported herself and slowly stood up. The humiliation she felt was coming her way conjured up tears in her eyes.
She walked up to him in hesitant steps. Standing behind him, she stretched her arm and patted him on his right shoulder. Her eyes fixated on his shoulders, she saw his right shoulder turn slowly to the left . She took a step back, swallowed her saliva and felt it slide down her throat. Now facing her, he looked at her with expressionless eyes. It was only then that she remembered what he had once told her.
