The Swan

who is she?

The woman sat at the desk in her office looking out of the floor to ceiling windows. She could see all of Glenwood from her chair. She loved the view and the feeling of power it gave her At just 29 years of age, she was the assistant director of her company. She was engaged to be married and had her whole life in front of her. She couldn't be happier.

Her good friend since high school strolled into her office looking excited.

"What's gotten into you?" The woman asked.

"You have to see this," her friend responded. "I was walking past that little cafe on Main Street on my way to the gym and saw your fiance with some woman. I took a couple of photos," she took her phone out, opened the photos, and handed the phone to the woman.

The woman glared at the photos with anger and jealousy. 'Who is this woman? She looks somewhat familiar.'

"Do you know who this woman is?"

"No clue," her friend replied. "I don't recognize her."

The woman said "I don't either, though something about her appears familiar. I just can't place it," she felt frustrated. "What else was happening?"

"I don't know. They were laughing and appeared quite smitten with one another," her friend said.

"If this b*tch thinks she's going to get close to David, she's got another thing coming," the woman pounded her desk.

The woman vowed to learn who this lady was and make sure she doesn't come between her and David.

She used the intercom to ask for her lowly secretary. That was her opinion of her anyway.

"I'm sending this photo to you. I want you to find out who this tramp is," she barked an order at her secretary when she entered the office.

"I will do my best, ma'am," her secretary replied. This made the woman angry.

"Are you stupid? I didn't ask you to 'try', I told you to do it!" she reiterated before dismissing her secretary with a look of disgust. She turned to her friend. "I swear, it's impossible to find good help these days."

***

Eve arrived at her family home later that evening. She looked forward to seeing her gamma. She felt guilty for being so far away after her papaw passed away. She knew her gamma struggled. She tried to call her and video chat with her often. She flew her gamma out often over the last ten years to where she lives.

After parking, she got out, retrieved her luggage from the trunk and locked the car before heading up the walkway.

Before Eve even arrived at the door, her gamma threw it open and hurried out to greet her! "Oh, I'm so happy to see you Eve!" Her gamma hugged her before helping her with the luggage and ushering her inside.

Eve felt like she was stepping back in time. Everything looked the same as it did ten years ago. Her gamma didn't change anything. Warm memories came flooding to Eve like a movie reel. She could almost see her papaw sitting in his favorite chair with a newspaper opened. He would spend every morning reading it while her gamma fixed breakfast. She could almost smell the eggs and bacon being fried in the kitchen. Eve would watch her favorite cartoons before breakfast while her papaw read the newspaper. She would go to school after breakfast. This happened throughout her childhood. Her mother couldn't raise her, so her grandparents did. Growing up, Eve saw her mom often throughout the week. She knew her mom wasn't able to raise her and never held it against her. The mental health problems she battled daily prevented her from having a normal life as a mom.

Eve was brought out of her thoughts by her gamma waving her hand in front of her eyes.

"I'm sorry gamma. I wasn't expecting all of these emotions when I stepped foot through the door," Eve had unshed tears in her eyes. She was, once again, hugged by gamma.

"Here, you must be starving. Let's fix supper," gamma redirected Eve into the kitchen.

About that time, they both heard Eve's stomach growling, which made them laugh.

***

That night, Eve was sitting up in her bed, making plans on paper. She had one week to work out the logistics of her plans for revenge. There was a list of people that would be attending attached to the invitation she received for the reunion. Maria was a member of the committee. Eve saw that Maria's two friends were also planning to be in attendance, as well as others that tormented her in high school.

Eve found herself suddenly thinking of David. His smile, his voice. She brought herself back by reminding herself that she didn't have time to attempt any type of relationship. Once her plans were completed, she'd be going back home.

Eve decided to read one of her many childhood books. Everything was still where she last saw it. The books were mostly young adult thrillers. She picked one and using her phone, she turned some calming instrumental music on, then laid the phone down on the table stand next to her.

Opening the book, she tried to concentrate. But her thoughts kept drifting back to her coffee with David. For some reason, she found herself feeling excited. She actually felt a stirring when she thought about him.

***

Eve walked down the street before going into one of the clothing shops. It was the next day and she wanted to start getting ready for the reunion. She wanted to make an impression.

A young woman, looking to be 18 years old, came over immediately. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Um, I don't know what I'm looking for exactly. I figured I would know when I see it," Eve replied.

"What occasion are you buying for?"

"A high school reunion. I want to make an entrance."

The saleswoman nodded and led Eve to a rack of elegant gowns to choose from. "These are popular this year."

Eve studied the dresses and picked two possibilities. "I like these, I just don't know if they would give me that awe-inspiring look," she took them over to the mirror and held each dress up to her body. The first gown was dark red with a basic trim around the neckline. 'Hmm, I don't think this one works'. She held up the other dress. This one was a deep blue with white lacing around the waist. She didn't like this one either.

Eve spent over two hours in the shop but didn't find the right dress. Thanking the saleswoman, she left the store. She didn't feel nervous because there were several shops to look through. Shopping was one of Eve's favorite hobbies. She felt confident she'd find the perfect dress.

Eve didn't see the woman glaring at her from across the street.

***

The woman still couldn't figure out who she was. She couldn't get the image of her fiance with this woman.

The woman walked toward Eve. She wanted to tell her to stay away from her fiance.

Eve was deep in thought when she looked up and saw Maria staring at her.