FD

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Melissa

Today is Tuesday and I looove Tuesdays because I’m going to see Tanya at lunchtime. She is my friend since we started highschool. I think she is a good listener, I trust her and I know I can tell her anything, she wont judge me and she has the gift of showing the other side of the story. That's kind of helpful when you are emotionally involved and you can't see things straight. We keep in touch and in the last couple of years we tried to meet once a week and that is becouse we kind of work togheter. Tanya is a Police officer and I am auxiliary personnel for Police, wich means I do forensic work. I like the job because it keeps me really busy and that helped me a lot when I broke up with Denis. It was a very difficult time for me. I didn’t know since that time what heart broken means. Well... now I know! Only time has the power to heal this kind of wounds, and even after two years I’m not so sure I've completely overcame the whole situation. The time and the distance were my two allies. Distance helped me because I moved from London to Manchester and I never had to see Denis not even by accident. As soon as I moved I got this new job that kept me busy and so time passed faster and now I can see things clearly. As far as I'm concerned Denis was the love of my life. But and there is a big BUT, I think the timing wasn’t good for us. We wanted different things, we had different plans. I wanted career, he wanted to do... whatever he wanted. None of us was prepared to move to the next level with that relationship. I took the split up like a personal failure. Maybe family is not for me. Maybe I’m not ready yet or maybe I will never be ready for that.

Hello! How are you? Said Tanya.

Hello! I gave her a hug and smiled. She knew I was far far away with my thoughts and didn’t asked me more. I just sipped a bit of coffee and let her start the conversation.

- How come you came earlier? Did you order?

- No, just coffee. I waited for you. What shall we have?

- Maybe some salad.. I've heard about some salad with nuts and cheese. Let me seek for it.

The truth is I m not that hungry and I accepted the salad without having to view the menu.

-I think the salad is a brilliant idea!

-Excellent! I hope you are coming to the gym in the afternoon. I booked two hours of cycling.

-Bleah .. can't do it. One hour it’s enough for me. She laughed and my mind flew at that inconfortable bicycle at the gym. But the truth is I do sweat and that means it is useful.

- How is your non tooth pain? Still hurts?

I started laughing.

- No, no. I'm pretty fine, thank you. Than my thoughts drifted on those moments when I saw HIM and all I could hear was his soft voice, kind of liked his proximity and ...

- Hey! Earth to Melissa! What’s the matter with you? Are you OK?

- Yes, of course, I’m ok. Seems like my uncomfortable gum pain is part of the healing process and there is not much to do but pe patient. Anyway I’m better now. The thing is.. the doctor changed this time. I mean, he was a he, a man.

- Oo.. you noticed! That is a good thing!

- Please, don’t make fun. Actually I think he is the husband of the lady doctor I saw the first time. You know, there were two doctors with the same last name and I presumed they are, like, married. That’s annoying, sort of .. and I kept that last thought to myself.

- Ok.. and what’s the problem?

- No,no. There is no problem, just that..

- What?

Well, I didn’t know how to explain it, not even to myself. I felt angry with me, felt like loosing control and that doesn’t come naturally.

- You see, I continued, when I entered the medical office there was something, I felt like he was watching me.. differently. Maybe I’m imagining things, being in pain.. Honestly, I wouldn’t recognise him, he was wearing a protection mask and all I remember is a soft, masculine voice and glasses.

- Soft voice? Oh, my God. You just describe a man in more than two words. That’s news!

- Please, don’t! I saw her smiling. He is married and I have no idea why am I telling you all this.

- You just assume he is married, Don’t know it for sure. And as far as I’m concerned, I’m glad you noticed him. I thought you lost the ability to observe men!

- You know I tried! I said and we both started laughing. I know what she means, she thinks I should see people, go on dates, but I really needed some time off. You’re not helping, Tanya!

- Oh, but I am! I even support you and encourage you to make another appointment and see if you hear the same soft voice.

- There you go.. I will never do that. She was looking at me amazed. I remembered how close he came to me and how I had to squeeze my knees in order to stay still and not run away that instant. Of course I couldn’t tell Tanya all of that, it was just a stupid situation.

- Do you want me to do some research on him? What did you say his name was?

- I didn’t! And I don’t want you to do anything! I don’t even know his full name. On the door there were two names: Mr. D. Fraser and Mrs. A. Fraser. It doesn’t even matter. I’m not going back there.

- Ok ok. No need to worry. How about gym? Later?

We had our lunch chatting about different things from work and about several sportive activities that she was about to pursue and this time I was amazed, than we got back to work and I agreed to meet her at cycling at 20 that evening. Of course, she was going to be there at 19.00 to attend her two hours of cycling.