Page 117 of Until You Came Along

“Are you spending time with your brother?”

“Yes; Tom took a few days off to stay with me, but on January 2nd he goes back to work.”

“Wish him a Happy New Year from me. I hope to meet him someday.”

“Also send my greetings to Catalina and Baco.”

“I will. They miss you too.”

For a few seconds we remained silent, just knowing we were there.

“What were you doing?” he asked.

“We were about to go out. Tom insists that we go to the beach to see the fireworks from there because he says it’s a beautiful spectacle. We’re just a few minutes’ walk from the coast.”

“Delfina, do you want to see me?”

“I told you I miss you.”

“I’m desperate to see you, I can’t stand another day.”

“Baco told me you haven’t been going to the office. What have you been doing these days?”

“Thinking about you and getting organized, because my life is going to change.”

“Why do you say it’s going to change?”

“Because I’ve changed, my love. I realized all the mistakes I’ve made. I swear in these days I’ve gone through an internal process, I looked inside myself and the only significant thing there is the love I feel for you. I erased everything else, I didn’t even leave the scars, there’s only the immense and true love I feel for you. I need to know if you still love me.”

“Yes, I love you, Hermes. I never stopped loving you. I was deeply disappointed by your actions, but the love remains intact,” I confessed.

“That’s good for me,” he affirmed, relieved.

Again we remained silent for a few seconds.

“I want to see you,” he stated.

I sighed, exhausted.

“I’ll be back soon, but first I need to resolve my housing situation. Yesterday they notified me there’s a buyer for my apartment,” I informed him.

“Our home is waiting for you. The house isn’t the same without you. Felicia and José miss you very much too, and I...I’m dying without you. These days my only companions are pain and terrible remorse.”

“First we need to have a conversation,” I said.

“We will.”

“I have to go. We’ll talk soon. Goodbye, Hermes,” I said farewell.

“See you soon, my love. Think of me.”

I ended the call and held the phone to my chest, I missed him so much. Everything he said made my heart beat at a frantic pace. I was sure of my love; now I needed to hear what he had to tell me, but that would have to be done in person.

I headed to the living room looking for my brother and found him talking on his phone, so I went to get a coat to go out and left him alone to speak privately. When I returned, his smile revealed the joy he was feeling at that moment.

“What a beautiful smile! I haven’t seen you smile like that in many days,” I exclaimed.

“Things are working out, that’s why I’m happy,” he said, without losing his smile.