by Elin Berger
“So, how was your day?” She smiled across the table. It was reassuring. “It was okay I guess, stressful, you know, school…” “Mhm” She took a sip from her coffee, not taking her eyes off me. “We had a math test today.”
We sat in a coffeehouse. A piece of Tiramisu on my plate.
“How do you think you did” “Not too bad…”
She put her hand on mine. “I bet you did better than you expect it to go. You are good.”
Just a statement. I’m good.
We sat like that for a while, staring in each other’s eyes. “I missed this.” I said, breaking it. We hadn´t seen each other in weeks. She was a busy woman. An acclaimed author, always travelling the world. But no matter how long we didn´t see each other it always felt the same. Familiar.
We had found each other on social media. Back then, she had just started writing and sharing her work. I had been a huge fan and she had been my biggest inspiration. A year later her first book was published, and she had the means to finally visit me.
She signalled at the waitress for the check. “I’m just going to the bathroom. You wait for me sweet. I’ll drive you to my apartment, and maybe I can make the time worthwhile for you.” She winked and stood up.
I quickly pulled my phone out to text my mom.
Staying out late. Study group. Will be home by tmrw morning.
There she was again putting her coat over my shoulders.
“Oh, before I forget,” And she pulled out a white envelope, giving it to me. I opened it. A beautiful silver necklace fell into my palm. A Peridot as a pendant shimmering green and yellow. “It’s beautiful” She put it around my neck. “Anything for you sweet.” She said kissing my cheek. I knew that her lipstick would leave a red print, but for once I didn’t care. We exited the small building, and she led me across the street to her car.
© Elin Berger 2023-07-06