Anna, the Professor, and the Confidante

It was my first day of law school. I was the oldest student in my class by far. I noticed Professor Marques was sitting at is desk quietly typing away at his computer. He appeared to be searching for today’s Presentation. He seemed oblivious to what was going on in class with students talking aloud and wondering around saying hello to each other and chatting away. I knew no one, not a soul. I always sat in the front row. I’m very talkative. If I sit anywhere else, I don’t focus, I can’t think. I looked up, who appears magically to my surprise? It’s Anna Luna. Anna and I had met at university while we were working on our undergrads. Anna was a chatty girl, but she was very timid and meek. I remember her always trying to befriend me. I liked her, but I always noticed a sadness behind her eyes, as if some earlier trauma had left her without a voice. To my surprise, she waves and walks right past me to the professor. She hands him what appears to be a cup of coffee and small brown paper bag. The professor barely acknowledged her presence. I knew at that moment that something was going own between them. Their utter lack of eye contact spoke volumes and told me there was something there. That was impossible. Anna was married to a much older man. If they had broken up, I’m positive she would of been blowing up phone with a million and one texts. Anytime there was cosmic event happening, she told me the entire story with chapter and verse. What was going on? Class was almost ready to start when Anna makes her way to me with a very secretive look on her face. It so not like her. Anna had a secret: I know she would never be able to resist sharing it with me. Anna was young, in her mid twenties I would say. She had long dark hair to about the middle of her back. She wasn’t pretty in the classic way. She never wore make up or dressed to impress. I always thought she looked a fright, like someone that if I could just give a makeover, she would look lovely. There was a sadness about her. She was always wearing a smile, but her smile always seemed like a facade. “Hello Anna honey! I’m so happy to see you. I didn’t think we would run into each other today, “ I said with a slight roll of my eyes. Anna could sense I was asking for information. “Hello Lucy! I knew I would see you. How are you? I’ve missed you so much!” Anna said with her loud voice. Everyone noticed her. She was so loud, it was all that Latin blood. Anna was from Cuba. She came here as a child with her mother. My family was also from the island. They came to the states many years prior. I had been born here. We were so different, I was old enough to be her mother. My own kids were both older than her. Anna’s husband was a bit of a mystery. She always seemed frightened. She seemed like a person that had been through something. Something traumatic. I noticed Professor Marques looking in our direction. He looked at us with curiosity in his eyes, like to say, “”What are you two chatting about? They don’t even look like they would have the same circle of friends.” How curious was the expression on his face. “Lucy? we’ll be taking a break at about 10ish, do you want to have coffee with me?” Anna said. I, of course, agreed. I was dying to hear the scoop, “ok Anna! Meet me by the elevator. I have no idea where the cafe is. I looked forward to our coffee break. Luckily time flew by,