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The child is lovely and still quite young, maybe not more than five years old.
I groan and stroll closer to the playground. I watch the youngsters play while I sip my coffee and rest against the railing. I groan as the alcohol warms me up. The cup’s warmth on my palm is so lovely and calming.
I saw a tiny kid swinging with her dad. I can hear the kids laughing, and I don’t even realise it, but another smile comes to my lips. It’s always nice to see them perform. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it.
I turn around, and just as I’m about to sit down, I notice Mr Derby, the elderly guy who cleans the park, using his broom to sweep the leaves off the grass and the sidewalks. He sees me too.
I wave my hand at him and say, “Hi Mr Derby!” in a happy voice.
“Are you enjoying the sunset again?” he says in his usual grandfather voice.
“As usual,” I say with a smile.
He nods and goes back to work. Everyone here likes Mr Derby.
I sit down in my favourite location, still holding the cup of coffee with both hands. I close my eyes and breathe in the calming smell. This usually helps me relax.
I look up at the sky again. It’s becoming dark. The buildings block the view of the setting sun, but it’s still a stunning picture. Red, orange, and purple.
I wish I could show him this vista. The one I miss the most. The man who couldn’t see, but who stated I could give him his sight every time he was with me.
My throat hurts because I want something so badly. I slowly pull my phone out of my jeans and look for his photo. It’s a photo of him sitting in a hammock, looking up at the world around him with a happy look on his face and a grin that rarely crossed his lips.
I want to keep the happiness in his eyes forever, and my eyes are watering as I look at the brightness in his eyes. That look makes me sad.
I miss him.
A much.
I wipe my eye after my tear drips on the screen. I think about him all the time.
Is he all right?
Does he still have that spark in him?
I sniffle and look at my watch. I need to get on the train soon. I’m late for Kate and Tyler.
I placed my phone back in my pocket and finished my drink while staring at the gorgeous twilight sky.
LIAM
I go along the sidewalk with a hoodie on my sweater to conceal my hair and face.
If my opponent knew I was out and about, it would be awful. If that happened when Emily was here, it would be even worse.
As soon as I get into the park, I know Mr Derby is waiting for me. The sound of his broom sweeping stops as soon as I get to the place. I can hear his boots getting closer to me.
“She has left,” he adds as I stop. “She had to get on the train.”
I nod.
You could assume he’s simply an old man who cleans the park, but he’s actually a member of Eagle Wings. He is really close to my family. We have faith that he will look after the cabin beside the lake. My family has a lot of memories there, and now it’s even more precious because I spent time there with Emily.
Mr Derby says, “She’s doing well.” “Safe. No stalker. Except for you, of course.”
I listen as he tells me more about Emily, such how she spent her day, if she sounded happy, who her friends are, and if there’s anything I should be worried about.
I feel much better knowing that she’s okay.
He warns me, “She still cries because of you.”
I have a knot in my throat that I have to swallow. I don’t want her to forget about me, but I also don’t want her to cry. I keep telling myself to wait for the day when she goes on and stops thinking about me.
Mr Derby pats me on the shoulder, and I start walking again towards the coffee shop.
When I push through the door, the fragrance of coffee hits me. I adore the fragrance because it makes me feel close to her.
When I open the door, I can feel the customers turning their heads to look at me. I swear under my breath. I don’t know if it’s because I’m taller than other people or because my face doesn’t show any expression, but people definitely notice me as I walk. This hoodie is not doing what it’s supposed to, and that makes me mad.
I can still hear Mr Derby’s remarks in my brain, and the next thing I know, I’m following her shadow.
“One cappuccino,” I tell the barista what I want.
I heard that Emily went to this coffee shop after class and had a nice cappuccino.
I heard that she had a nice time talking to her pals here.
I close my eyes and wait for my coffee to brew. I can hear people conversing inside the café, glasses clattering, drinks being mixed on the counter, and college students coming and departing all the time.
What she heard.
When the barista gives me the drink, I open my eyes and smell the drink she likes most for a second.
I could practically hear her sigh of happiness, the way she chatted to her friends, and the way she laughed when she heard anything humorous.
As I go back to the door, the warm liquid within the cup touches my palm. It’s something that makes me feel better.
I go outside and feel the wind on my skin. This strong emotion inside me makes my chest feel constricted. It’s the air she breathes that makes me feel her. All over.
She’s with me, sharing her happiness, till I can’t feel my wrath anymore.
I hear kids playing, the swing, and a ball being kicked when I go back to the park. The notion of her smiling while she watched them makes my heart feel good.
I sit down on the bench and drink my coffee. I let out a sigh. It has a sweet and bitter flavour like us.
I miss the girl who offered me a new view when I lost one. This sight she provided me made me feel whole.
The wind brushes across my skin again, as if it’s attempting to ease the ache of missing her.
I let out a weak breath and a tear falls from my eye.
I love her. I can feel her all over.
I adore Emily Fiat, and I don’t need to see her to know it.