The Diner

he's lost her and found her, all at once.

The warm tones of the sunset and earthy décor in the diner contrast sharply with what’s in front of him.

A girl, his age, maybe younger, looking older. Dark shadows beneath her eyes, betraying the easy smile that he envies, admires and despises. It falls from her lips effortlessly, sincere despite it’s obvious lie.

They speak of memories, things they should’ve long-since forgotten but that stick fast to the insides of their minds. It’s almost like the rest of the world doesn’t exist for a while, and it’s just them in their booth, the dying sun warming their shoulders.

But then it’s closing time, as they are informed by a sympathetic looking waitress with wistful eyes and an infectious false cheer.

Before they part ways, he catches her arm and tries to catch her eyes with his own. Are you okay?

She gives him an odd look, and says, Sort of. I’m only sort of okay.

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He leaves the very next day. An unavoidable business trip, something he has been dreading since he heard of it. He sends her some sort of message each day, trying to keep ahold of his tie to her for the week he’s in Hong Kong.

He needn’t try too hard, he finds. Each day, there’s something that makes her come to mind. The way a bracelet winds it’s way around a mannequin’s arm, the shine dimmed but still distinctly charming.

He buys it for her.

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She’s waiting for him at the airport terminal, staring blankly at all the other passengers, filing out of the plane and into the arms of family.

He spots her and his eyes light up. Towing his bag behind him dutifully, he waits until he’s right in front of her before dropping everything he has and wrapping his arms around her. She waits until she hesitantly returns the embrace before finally relaxing.

He’s been tense. He’s missed her. She smells of home, and he’s so glad to be back there.

I lied. Her voice cracks, and he pulls back minutely, so that he can see her face, but not so that they’re fully apart. I’m not ‘sort of okay’.

He says nothing, just looks into those dark eyes as they water. I’m broken, she whispers, and he watches with reverence and profound admiration as her walls fall down, leaving a cracked girl in their place. Fix me, please.

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Finally, he’s done it. He’s found her, the girl he once knew, the girl he’s always loved.

 

 

 

 

 

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Always, he promises.