The Thorne in My Side

Chapter 1 Maya 20th June- Half Past Four in the Evening "Oh my word." The brass clock on the mahogany wall mocks me with its relentless ticking. Every second echoes in the deafening silence of the half deserted office. Glancing around, I see only a few other of my co-workers hunched over their desks buried knee-deep in paperwork, the quiet hum of productivity replaced by a pre-weekend lull. Today is my last day as a temp at this Law clinic and while a part of me genuinely enjoys the experience I've gained, another part vibrates with barely contained excitement at what tomorrow holds. I've just been offered Assistant Lead Counsel at Crestwood Investments Corp and though it is not what I saw myself doing when I started out, the pay is great and God knows, I need it. My mind is a million miles from the giant and dusty ethics code books lining the towering shelves on the other side of the room. Feeling a pang of guilt for wanting to leave a place that has treated me well, I force myself to focus. "Hey, Marian," I chirp, my voice a touch higher than usual. That's my “I need your help." voice. God, Celia was right. I hate it when she does that, reads me like a book. I forget that my mind has drifted for a while till Marian draws my attention to the fact that I had called out her name. "Uhm, yes. I'm sorry. My mind was just elsewhere. Say, you wouldn't mind doing me a big favor, would you?”Marian looks up, her brow furrowed ever so slightly. Unlike me, Marian sports a permanent aura of serenity, even when faced with the most debilitating situation. This is not a good sign. "Wait, Maya. Why are you still here? I thought for sure you'd be out throwing back cheap tequila at the bar across the street by now. What do you want? she asks, her voice as calm as a summer breeze. "Anything involving money and I gotta warn you, I'm still paying off my student loans and I live with my mother and her new boyfriend, who charge me an exorbitant amount for rent and so I'm afraid I don't have any to spare." I wince. God, money is always such an issue especially when it involves friends and I'd like to think that Marian and I are not just co-workers. Why does her life have to be so tough, I've never seen anyone work as hard as her and so I smile back. “What? No, no money, I promise. It's just… I was wondering if you could cover the rest of this shift alone. I have a doctor's appointment at five and I wouldn't want to be late." The lie hangs heavy in the air and my nose begins to tingle. God, I'm pathetic. I can't even tell a lie with a straight face. It's embarrassing, to say the least. Marian's gaze sharpens; it's like she can see right through my transparent web of deceit.“Sure, and I'm Princess Leah. " she raises an eyebrow. “You don't really have an appointment, Maya. Stop lying to me." My cheeks burn. "Well, it's, uh… a follow-up for… you know, girl stuff." I gesture vaguely, hoping the vagueness will carry the weight of medical confidentiality.Marian's lips twitch, a hint of a smile playing on them. "You know I would gladly take over your shift, after all, I have nowhere else I need to be and I wouldn't mind hanging here for a few more hours so I don't have to run into my mum…" she trails off, her voice taking on a mischievous quality. "But only if you tell me where you're really going. And you don't have to lie girl, it's your last day here, nobody would hold it against you if you wanted to go out and celebrate.” Busted. My shoulders slump. "Okay, fine," I concede. "But you can't tell anyone, especially not Sarah. She'll freak."Marian's smile blossoms. Sarah, our ever-efficient boss, would definitely not see it as a funny situation. Taking time off of work to attend to a personal issue, wouldn't go down well with her at all. "Your secret's safe with me," Marian vows, her eyes twinkling. "Spill the tea, woman." O take a deep breath. "It's a date. Sandro… Well, he's taking me out tonight. He called it a 'special date.'" My voice dips to a whisper at the end, anticipation bubbling in my stomach. "A special date, huh?" Marian echoes, her voice laced with amusement. "How long have you guys been together again?" "Seven years," I say, a blush creeping up my neck. "Since high school.” Marian's eyes widen. "Jeez, Maya, that's… a long time. Seven years and he called it a special date? There's only one thing that could possibly mean."I feel my heart skip a beat. Is she thinking what I'm thinking? "W-what do you mean, Marian? What are you trying to say?" I stammer.Marian leans in, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "He wants to propose, silly!" A mixture of excitement and terror washes over me. Oh my God. It had been a dream whispered between us, a distant maybe nestled in the future. But tonight? God, suddenly it all makes sense.The way he's been acting all twitch and suspicious for the past two months. He's also been particularly affectionate and generous. I should have known he was just working up the courage to ask me. Oh my God, and he booked us tables at this very fancy place. How sweet. Relief floods me as I see genuine happiness for me etched on Marian's face. "Oh my god," I breathe, a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration bubbling in my voice. "Do you really think so?" Marian pats my hand reassuringly. "Think about it, Maya. It all fits. Oh my God, girl. I gotta say, I'm happy for you and kinda jealous too. You guys made such a cute couple.” My mind races. Do I want to get married? Sandro is my best friend, my confidante, and the only boyfriend I've ever had. And sometimes late at night, I've often allowed my thoughts to wander to a future where we both were living our dreams in a nice and beautiful cottage in the countryside with our 2.5 kids.But this, this is still so out of the blue. I mean, I'm just 21. But I love Sandro and I won't refuse him if he asks me. What if it's happening a little sooner than I thought? Isn't life what happens when you're busy making other plans? "I don't know, Marian," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "What if… what if I'm not ready?” "Hey," Marian says, her voice firm but gentle. "You don't have to decide right now. Just go on your date, enjoy yourself, and see how things unfold. And hey, if he doesn't propose," she winks, "we'll celebrate your freedom with margaritas at that new place on Ninth Avenue." Her words calm the storm inside me. Marian is right. No need to put so much pressure on myself. With a newfound resolve, I turn to her, a grateful smile spreading across my face. "You're a lifesaver, Marian. Seriously, thank you for covering for me." Marian chuckles. "Don't worry about it, kiddo. Now go get yourself dolled up. Tonight might be your last night off these streets." " Technically, I haven't been on the streets for as long as you've known me.” " Get out of here.” Marian chuckles. "You don't have to tell me twice." But as I practically skip out of the office, briefcase swinging in my hand, the feeling is different. My life feels perfect and I can't help but be thankful. The crisp evening air of the streets of New York feels electric, charged with the anticipation of the unknown. I hail a cab and rattle off the address of my tiny apartment, already picturing myself getting ready for the biggest night of my life, maybe. Upon reaching my building, I practically fling myself up the four flights of stairs, my heart hammering against my ribs. I unlock the door and I'm greeted by the familiar clutter of my shoebox-sized apartment – mismatched furniture inherited from various relatives, a perpetually overflowing bookshelf, and a lopsided poster of Salma Hayek gazing serenely down on me from the wall. Ignoring the mess, I make a beeline for my closet. My little wardrobe offers little in the way of "special date" attire. There are the usual: a collection of graphic tees, ripped jeans, and a couple of flowy skirts I reserve for the few occasions when I'm feeling fancy. Scanning the meager selection, a pang of doubt flickers through me. A "special date" calls for something more… glamorous, no? With a sigh, I pull out my phone and dial my best friend, Celia. “Hola chica. Cómo estás?" Celia's voice crackles through the receiver. She's probably knee-deep in assignments and such, cramming for her upcoming med school exams. "Emergency!" I declare, my voice a theatrical whisper. "I need fashion advice, stat!"Celia, bless her soul, understands the urgency in my voice and responds with "Okay, coming through. See you soon." Twenty minutes later, my best friend in the whole wide world, breathless and flushed bursts through my apartment door, clutching a garment bag. “All right, spill," she says, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene. “Where is Sandro taking you tonight and why are you so nervous about it." I launch into a breathless explanation, omitting only the potential proposal part. By the time I finish, Celia is sprawled on my bed, a wide grin on her face. "Whoa, Maya," she says, her voice filled with excitement. "This could be huge! But don't freak out, okay? And besides," she adds, a mischievous glint in her eyes, “I've got just the right thing for you." A few minutes later, we're done and I look super amazing. With a final deep breath, I grab my bag and turn to Celia. "Wish me luck," I say, a nervous smile lingering on my lips. Celia hugs me tightly. "You don't need luck, Maya. You've got this." She winks. "Now go knock 'em dead. And by them, I mean him.”