Hide your Demon
1110 Words
“Shuuuuuuuuu”
Emma watched the whistling sound of the kettle and she found herself giggling like a teenager.Her mind drifted off to her previous encounter with an annoying sophisticated younger client Ryan Conner.
“Humans are too predictable, especially the arrogant ones”.
She muttered to herself reminiscing over his futile effort to intimidate her.He had pinned her to the wall and demanded she reveal her identity when she asked if the whistling sound was his trigger.Being in his line of business,it was normal to have trust issues she concluded.
Emma blushed furiously as she remembered how his countenance dwindled, replaced with self doubt when she boldly declared her prowess.
“I am your healer,the one to save you”.
Ryan Connor was going to be back,she was sure of that.Her doorbell ringing jolted her out of her trance.She hastily switched off the heater and poured herself a hot cup of tea before rushing off to open the door.
“Damn Jane! Always taking days off because she knew she wouldn't get fired,do I have to deal with all these by myself?”
She kept soliloquizing till she turned the doorknob.There stood a lanky tall young man with an unpleasant expression on his face.
“Are you Miss Emma Hale?” He said, eyeing her disdainfully.
“It is a Mrs”, she responded hastily, returning his hostile energy.
“You have a package,sign here”, he said, handing over a brown envelope to her.
Emma eyed him with contempt and decided to let it go. It seems being rude is the new trend among youngsters,she wondered.She collected the package and signed where necessary.
Without waiting for another word from him,she withdrew into her office and slammed the door on his face.She could hear him muttering inaudible words at the other end but she couldn't care less.
The angry blaring of her phone made her rush over to her table with the brown envelope still clutched tightly in her grasp.One look at the caller id,her heart sank but she summoned courage and picked it up.
“Mrs Emma Hale,have you gotten the package?”
The caller's question made it all realistic.She hesitated for a second still staring blankly at the brown envelope she was holding.
“Mrs Hale,are you there?”
“Oh! Sorry Mr Winter,I got it a few seconds ago,thank you”, Emma responded forcing a smile on her face.
“Okay,once you are done signing it,you can send it back to the firm”.
Before Emma could respond,the caller dropped the call. Emma fought back her tears that were struggling to flow out.He caller sounded so emotionless that she felt it didn't matter to him.
That very moment she was grateful she had left her schedule free for that day,she had only allowed Ryan Connor’s booking because he was a first time client and he had always piqued her interest.
She picked up her teacup and held it to her lips.It had cooled down enough and she gobbled it down at once.If it had been a night,she wouldn't have minded getting herself a good bottle of strong wine and dealing with the nasty hangover later.
“Oh my God!”
She shouted loudly as two drops of the tea had found its way to the brown envelope which she had dejectedly dropped on the table,the water spread so fast creating an illusion of more wetness than it was.
“No!no!no!”
She muttered under her breath with a thumping heart and hastily unraveled the white A4 papers the envelope was housing.Reality washed on her as her eye had caught her name written in bold lettering below and the signature space obviously left for her.
Her attention was stolen by the very name that used to make her heart flutter,her husband Michael Hale.His signature space was left blank too.Was he going to agree to this?
The decision to get a divorce was something she had never in her wildest imagination ever thought possible,they were high school sweethearts.Their love had survived the test of time until suddenly the sparks was all gone.All that was left was tolerance and the facade of a happy family to make their two children happy and have a balanced life.
Emma knew she couldn't do it anymore,in her mid thirties,she was still so stunning but Michael doesn't seem smitten by her anymore.She was a psychologist that had helped a lot of people fight their demons and live well.Didnt she deserve a share of her own happiness too?
The doorknob turned without warning and she almost lost her balance when Jane rushed in.Emma hastily packed up the brown envelope and unsigned divorce papers preventing Jane from snooping around.In the process it raised Jane’s suspicion.
“What are you hiding carelessly”, Jane said mockingly.
“The first thing you get to say to me after disappearing all freaking day!” Emma thundered nettled.
“Come-on sister, I got an impromptu antenatal appointment, remember I was only following your advice as a first time mum to take every sign seriously”, Jane said and winked at her.
“Urgh! Again with the emotional blackmail Mrs Wilson”, Emma said playfully and they both laughed.
Jane sat down as her heavyweight pressed the couch to its least, Emma knew her cousin was going to make a great mother and was happy she had a great partner to share the burden with.
“By the way Emma,what were you hiding?”
Emma didn't respond and Jane took it as a clue to overlook it. If she was willing to share,Jane knew she always does.In a bid to change the topic and lay to rest the awkwardness in the room,her mind flickered to something important she had forgotten.
“Emma,I almost forgot, someone booked the whole of tomorrow,I got the call in the sonographer’s office”.
“My whole day?” Emma questioned bewildered.
“Surprisingly he was willing to pay a double of our usual charge”.
“Who is that aloof?”
Jane blushed sheepishly “Every lady's secret crush,the one with a skin like a porcelain jar”
Emma still didn't understand,Jane is always attracted to all good looking men,no wonder her husband was no less.
“I already accepted the offer so do not say no! I need to see him in person,gosh! I am going to drool if I do”, Jane said with an element of sarcasm.
“Don't tell me…..it was….”, Emma started.
“None other than Ryan Connor” Jane affirmed and Emma's heart thumped loudly.
- Writer
