The Chapter We Never Got
710 Words
She dragged herself to the shower, without any real will. The hot water caressed her skin, but did nothing to chase away her thoughts. She dressed in a hurry — a pair of jeans, a simple top — and headed for the bookshop. Laura, her best friend and also the most reliable employee, was on leave. So Natalia had to open alone.
First, she stopped by the nearby café — a sandwich and a green tea with honey. An old, comforting routine.
She stepped into the bookstore with a light heart — a rare feeling for her. The morning call with Sebi still echoed in her mind. His warm, calm voice. A laugh she could feel in her chest, not just in her ears. The promise of a new beginning. She had wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to hold on to the sensation of that moment, to keep it close to her skin.
The bookshop had a quiet, almost protective air. The tall walls, lined with heavy shelves, seemed to keep the city's bustle at bay. But that day, the silence was different. Not gentle, but heavy — like a breath held too long. Light filtered through the tall windows, softened by sheer curtains, casting long shadows across the old wooden floor, which creaked faintly. The air was filled with the familiar scent of yellowed pages, dried ink, and a trace of forgotten tea on a table.
Natalia picked a book at random and settled into her favorite corner, under the warm glow of a green-shaded lamp. She tried to read, but the words melted into her thoughts. Sebi’s voice. His smile. Those eyes that made her forget the world. She closed the book, reopened it, sipped absently from her tea, then set it down again.
Later, she moved to the café across the street. She spent hours there, watching people go by. A sweet impatience stirred within her, a kind of thrill she hadn’t felt in a long time. That evening, she would see him. They would see each other. She thought about him, about them, and suddenly, breathing felt easier.
She went home. Wandered aimlessly from room to room, checked her phone a few times, without knowing exactly why. She chose a simple but beautiful dress. Got ready slowly, carefully, spending more time than usual in front of the mirror.
As the hour of their meeting drew near, a knot formed in her stomach. Excitement. But also a sliver of fear — the kind you feel only before a new beginning. She checked her phone: there was a voicemail from him. He must’ve called while she was in the elevator, with no signal. She pressed play, smiling.
“I can’t believe we’re starting this chapter together. I’ll be there soon. I love you.”
She listened to it twice. Then checked the time. He was already twenty minutes late. Her heart skipped a beat.
She called him. Voicemail. She left a message too:
“I’m waiting outside your building. I love you. Hurry.”
She stepped out. Leaned against a lamp post, clutching her phone in both hands, trying to calm the beating of her heart. At first, she wasn’t worried. Sebi ran late sometimes — work, traffic, a hectic day. But after another twenty minutes, she started biting her lip. Her phone was silent. She sent a short message:
“Everything okay? I’m waiting.”
Nothing. No reply.
An hour passed. Her palms were cold. The hollow feeling in her stomach had grown. She kept glancing toward the corner of the street. She pictured him walking up — his slightly hurried steps, that smile that always calmed her.
But the corner stayed empty.
At last, she sighed and, with a tightness in her chest, headed to the restaurant. Maybe he was already there. Maybe his phone had died.
She walked quickly, her steps echoing on the empty sidewalk. Around her, the city seemed frozen. Even the air felt like it was waiting. Natalia pulled her coat tighter around her. Her heart was pounding. She called again. Straight to voicemail. Again. Nothing.
Maybe he forgot. But Sebi never forgot.
Maybe...
No. There was no point in imagining absurd scenarios.
And yet, something in her knew.
- Writer
