A few days had gone by since then.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGei2ZQWHw
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALVBV6zifK
It was Thursday, my day off. The only thing I had to worry about was therapy. I had just arrived at my session when my phone went off. My chest jumped at the name that appeared on the screen.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw1ffYEsvK
"Are you free today?" - Summer
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL2d4nmhws
I froze in front of the office building.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGR6o9AF8V
"Yes." I waited for a reply staring at my phone screen. The door swung open with Mrs. Davis waiting for me to enter the room. I glanced at my phone one last time before walking into the room.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITiiAK4nvi
"Good afternoon, Thomas. How are you feeling today?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUGubjbspx
"I'm okay." I spoke while tapping my foot. I was impatiently waiting for a response from Summer but she hasn't answered yet.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSDsP1BTpX
"Are you sure?" She asked again this time her eyes moved to my foot and back to me.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRstWOBrNb
"Yeah I'm good." I stopped tapping so her concern would cease and we could move to whatever topic we were going to talk about today.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtCK6KfjBb
"How are you and your dad?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvEmhEJw5n
"My dad?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLutN3srgN
"Yes."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm9OT3HXDw
It felt like an odd question. She never asked about him. "We're okay."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6thp3PLnzG
"Have you spoke to him lately? I remember our last conversation about him was very brief because you mentioned that he's not home very often."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJfCjThTr4
"Yeah he's usually working but that's normal. No, I haven't talked to him."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71pwU4oH1n
"When's the last time you two had a conversation?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd5uqriLu3
"I don't know." I shuffle uncomfortably.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElhoK9jAL1
"Isn't it your birthday next week?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpQRl27g7U
"I forgot about that." I've been so distracted I forgot about my birthday. I didn't think anyone would remember but it warmed my heart a bit knowing Mrs. Davis did. "He'll be back before then I'm sure." I didn't feel confident in my own words but also my dad never forgot my birthday. Even when he was away for work he sent something over or texted.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswz06su1ga
"There's something else coming up as well, isn't there?" She sat attentively waiting for my response.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEHFQrCbTw
"The anniversary of my mom's death. It'll be a year."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiMFqAJzuD
"How are you feeling about that?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CLomyOppW
"How should I feel about it?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1By86Mhabu
"There's no right or wrong way to feel about it, Thomas."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCABhrc48c
"Well why ask such a stupid question? Should I tell you I'm excited about it? Should I tell you I'm looking forward to spending my birthday without parents? Or that I'm miserable? What do expect to hear asking a question like that?" I frustratedly snapped at her. It was unintentional.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA8RPPqZVu
"You're dad is still with you, he's still here-"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaCdBIIchS
"Where is he?" I cut her off mid sentence. My question was clearly rhetorical but it was a question I desperately wanted answered. I haven't seen him or talked to him in months. He was always off doing something for his company or in his office. I couldn't blame him entirely for our lack of communication considering I didn't reach out either but it was mostly due to the fact that he angered me.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8XjxINnfx
He pretended like things were the same and that we were normal. Nothing about our relationship was normal and nothing will ever be the same. It felt like he moved on too quickly. It felt like everyone around me wanted me to move on because they did but I can't. It happened and I'm still not over it. Before Mrs. Davis responded, my phone buzzed again revealing a response from Summer.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdXvy9zVMb
"Are you able to meet me for lunch?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87YTRfcVTg
"I have to go." I abruptly stood up, leaving her no time to answer to my question.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Z0qLoXj8
"We still have 40 minutes left." I ignored her words and left anyway. I felt a bit guilty for blowing up on her like that, I knew she didn't deserve it and my anger was displaced but I didn't have time to apologize. I needed to meet Summer. Before I forgot, I responded asking for a location to which she sent a pin at a local cafe 15 minutes from where I was.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzK3X0JIIj
Once I arrived I entered the glass building which revealed a floral themed coffee shop with plants all throughout the walls. I scanned the room full of people before spotting Summer already sitting down with her laptop open and a coffee in front of her.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvhjIKAQkZ
"Hi." I spoke while sitting down in front of her. She chose the seat closest to the window so we had a view of the pedestrians crossing outside the city.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAg68gkVbE
"Hi Thomas, I'm glad you could make it." She flashed a warm smile and I returned one. Her hair was up away from her face in a ponytail and her glasses were falling down the bridge of her nose. She seemed really into whatever she was working on before I showed up.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWMZm1rwUA
"Did you order anything yet?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbekLharCq
"No, I was waiting for you actually. I've been here a while so I just got a coffee."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfpTsQXf0f
"Sorry to make you wait."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlDZOQ1kqO
"No, no you're fine! I was doing work here then you came across my mind. Let's go ahead and order."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfnQWw9MHf
I nodded my head as she got up and I followed behind her to the wooden menu attached to the wall.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3yLvQfa4Q
"Hi! What can I get started for you two?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC0UYGLwz5
"May I have tomato basil soup and a grilled turkey sandwich?" I watched her scrunch her nose while deep in thought trying to figure out what else to get. "I think that's all."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv1UzF6qvI
"I'll get the same thing." She looked up at me with an unreadable expression before straightening her face and looking back at the lady taking our order.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUvWU0GQny
"That'll be $40.75." I tapped my card on the kiosk before Summer could get a chance to fully pull her wallet out of her purse. Once the purchase went through, we walked back to our window seats.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2L18TQYwOR
"You didn't have to pay for me you know."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r6Ne6s0mZ
"I know, but I wanted to."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqKl27RiZm
She opened her mouth to say something but shook her head and let go of the thought. "So tell me, how have you been? I see you're back with Frankie how are you two?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9ZdVXfWv9
"I'm n-" I cut myself off. I had to think about what I told her because I knew I already pushed some boundaries in the past so I tried to withhold things that I felt might alter her view of me. Like Frankie and I not being together. I didn't want her to think I still had lingering feelings for her even though I didn't even understand them myself. "I've been good. She's been good too."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxTnd8uo9O
"I was glad to see you two together the other day, have you two worked things out?" I just nodded as a response not wanting to speak too much in fear of my lie unraveling. "What about you? How are you?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSZ1chqvA5
"I've been good! I got a cat, Juniper. I kind of co-parent her with Jason but she mostly stays at home with me." She spoke excitedly moving her hands while speaking.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XNqBtYJ2v
"Jason?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kUsv4CNbK
"Yeah."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqGpOw2TnY
"That's nice." I tried to hide behind a smile showing that I was happy for her even though the thought of her and Jason together made my ears ring.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp4OL1eKe6
"Do you have any big plans for your birthday?" She leaned in on her palm while staring deeply into me. "How did you know it was my birthday?" I asked confused.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AVfwSdTse
"Your birthdate was written by your name in my old files."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZ4LFdcP0s
I looked down and took a bite of my sandwich and a let a smile wash over my face at the thought of her remembering my birthday. I looked up to see her smiling back at me before looking down at her soup.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5uw9znzmk
"No, I think I'll be at home for my birthday. Nothing special."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLVmlTtWtN
"Will you be with your dad?" I shook my head.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSBQkeMWPH
"He's out of town." I continued chewing.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBv33IhaWWb
"I see. Maybe Frankie will plan something for you?" She had a hopeful look and I didn't want to crush her spirit and tell her I'd most likely be spending my birthday alone. "Yeah, maybe." Her eyes lingered on mine for a long while before she moved them from me. It was weird having a casual atmosphere with her after so long. It felt like having lunch with an old friend. I enjoyed her being like this rather than her professional front because I felt closer to her this way. It felt like she was more comfortable with having a conversation with me after some time passed. Maybe she felt I stopped caring.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdPbUo4N3j
"I actually need some advice. My friend's sister's in the hospital and he wants me to come with him to visit her."She waited for me to continue. "The problem is, I haven't been in a hospital since..."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qGPshyiAq
"Your mom." She completed my sentence with the words I was meaning to say. I just gave her a look of confirmation showing her she was right.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNYtVTj3NI
"I understand it's close to the time she passed?"
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYu9LUuT4A
"Yeah."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKthMF12hs
"If you don't feel comfortable going you probably shouldn't." She phrased her sentence as if she had more to add. "But...this could be an opportunity for you to be the support you didn't have. Your friend reached out to you because he knew you'd understand his situation probably to feel less alone in what he's going through."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkSP5FswKD
"Yeah." That was all I could manage to get out. I knew it was a big deal for Gio to call me about an issue because in the past we never really talked about anything past parties or school.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaWhQ0aCXI
"Maybe you can think about it as having someone with you. You two can bond."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz5WCed8nv
"I guess." I shrugged. "Thank you for the free therapy."
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3r8i1Hu0WR
She chuckled lighting up the room with her smile. I sat admiring her for the entirety of the moment before she looked at to me. I held her gaze until noticing her hiding her bottom lip with her teeth holding back a shy smile. My eyes dropped down to her lips before I shifted my attention to her attire. She had on a low cut top and a skirt that reached her knees. There was a clear contrast between her dressy top and skirt to my usual sweats and compression shirt.
28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJngdTsZ2nJ
"It was really good seeing you."
ns18.188.119.49da2
