It was raining and it was terribly cold. I thought i could walk through it and quickly get to my apartment complex but not at this point. I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore and it was at this moment i regretted not wearing a jacket.
Sighing out my frustration, i sight a cafe up ahead and i could only thank God.
I enter quickly and sit down as i begin to warm my hands to stop the shivering. I hoped the cafe owners wouldn’t be offended by my soaked clothes.
“what would you like to order ma’am” a perky voice asked as i looked up. The middle aged waitress angled her eyes towards me and the soaked clothes.
“Just a hot cup of coffee. Black. Thank you” i replied and she walked away. I closed my eyes and leaned back. I brought out my phone and saw there were no missed calls, no voicemails, no text messages. Then i remembered, it’s been 6 months.
The perky woman came back with the coffee and what looked like dry clothes but my memory had drifted.
We were inseparable and this isn’t to sound cliche.
We literally did everything together, we went to the same college, studied the same course, had the same circle of friends, went to the same church, loved the same things.
I knew without a doubt that i would be with him forever and he knew too. There was no doubt until 6 months ago.
We couldn’t lie anymore, the spark had died and neither of us wanted to revive it anymore. Our friends and family couldn’t believe it and the incessant questions of what went wrong was tiring but i didn’t care. We both didn’t. We decided it would be better to part. After 5 years.
I got up quickly to change to the fresh t shirt and whispered a thank you to the waitress. The coffee was still hot by the time I got back and i quickly sipped it for warmth.
It seemed the rain had finally come to a halt. I picked up my keys and paid the bill then got up. I had to get home as soon as I could before the rain started again. My apartment was only 10 minutes away according to google map.
As I walked out, i bumped into someone slightly but just mumbled sorry not looking at the person.
“Nice t shirt” the person shouted back. I looked down and realized it was a “Friends” t shirt.
I was about to open the door when i heard the voice again.
” Do i know you? ” The voice asked and i turned to finally get a good look at him.
Tall ,dark, small eyes. The face wasn’t familiar.
“I’m sorry I don’t think so” i started.
“or maybe you do but i don’t know you” i replied sternly.
I didn’t want any conversations and this stranger wasn’t getting the hint.
“You seem really cold and it’s still raining a bit out” he continued. Who was this person for Goodness sake? And why did he find it so easy conversing with someone he didn’t know?
” I’m fine, thank you.” i answered.
” Okay then” he ended and finally seemed to face his business.
I ran out as quickly as I could and before i could walk 10 steps, the rain descended on me.
” Argh” i groaned as i entered the cafe again.
“Ah the one with the t shirt is back” i didn’t even bother looking up at the person. It was the same bothersome stranger.
” I’m really not in the mood for a conversation” i answered as I walked past at him and took my former spot.
As i sat down,my phone beeped and i quickly checked it. It was my best friend, Meg.
“You should join us for dinner tonight. This isn’t a night to be alone. Love you.xx”
I sighed with more frustration. I really just wanted to go home and hide under my duvet. This would be the perfect night to sleep well afterall i had been sleep deprived for months.
I understood her intentions but my friends had no idea how hard i was struggling. It was hard enough that we were all friends. Today was just a better day for me.
Still playing with my phone, i opened my Instagram. i hadn’t opened any form of social media in weeks but i just needed a distraction.
Scrolling through Instagram stories, seeing my friends have the time of their lives, celebrating new jobs, getting engaged. How did i miss so much? I hadn’t seen a lot of them since ‘it’ happened.
Still swiping, I didn’t know i had opened his story. I didn’t even know i was still following him.
He was out with his family and he looked happy. He didn’t look this happy with me.
Then the tears came again but i stopped them from falling. I closed the app and closed my eyes.
“Bad night” The annoying voice came again.
” I would really love to be alone right now” i gritted through my teeth.
” If you are sure then i would leave never to be seen again” he answered but i had no reply.
I truly needed someone that didn’t know my history, our history. I didn’t want that look of pity.
” You have very sad eyes” i looked up and saw he had taken the spot in front of me.
I scoffed. Every night of reminding my self to move on and it ended in tears. My eyes had to be sad.
” I’m not sad” i answered.
” Of course, i only said your eyes were sad” he laughed and i smirked. There was a bit of silence then he broke it.
” How many years?” he asked.
“5 years” i replied.
“Wow! Marriage or relationship?” he asked again while laughing. It wasnt funny but i laughed this time.
“It was a relationship. From college” since childhood, i wanted to continue.
Our parents used to call us soulmates. They were so sure we would end up together. I was sure too.
” How do you feel right now?” I was stunned. Noone had asked me how i felt in such while. Everyone assumed,some said they could relate, some didn’t just want to bring it up.
” I.. i..i don’t know” i said at first but he gave me a doubtful look. Inhaling deeply, i continue,
“Truly and honestly, i feel terrible. I feel like a failure. I feel like i made the right choice but I’m not so sure anymore” The stranger kept looking straight at me as i continued.
” I gave basically all my adult life so far to work on it. We both did. And i had all these plans,we planned everything together because we were so sure. So so sure” then the tears came again and this time i didnt stop them from falling.
“ I don’t think i love you anymore, Liz” his voice echoed in my head.
” The fights don’t seem to end. Maybe we need to just stop trying” i remember the words we exchanged during our last conversation.
” With all I’ve achieved in my life, i was always the problem solver. i just couldn’t work this one out” i continued in tears.
” I really tried. We really tried but it just wasn’t working out anymore.” I took a deep breath finally.
“You both didn’t want to resent each other” the stranger finally chimed in and i looked up at him listening.
” Stop blaming yourself. I wish someone told me this when i got out of a divorce and all i had was the bottle” he continued.
” You did your best, it didn’t work out.” i shook my head.
“Stop shutting out your friends. They only respond to what you show and tell them” he ended with a smile.
“Thank you”i replied and there was the silence again. We both looked outside, The rain had finally stopped.
“I didn’t get your name” i asked as i got up.
The stranger got up too, paid his bill and began walking out.
” William. William Darcy” he grinned and walked out.
What an odd name
I picked up my phone and called Meg, she had to cook my favorite dessert tonight.
“Meg” i called.
“Elizabeth!”She screamed and she started rambling. I missed her ramblings.
Walking home and listening to her talk about her new recipe, i looked up. There was a rainbow out and it felt like it was smiling at me.
