Thursday afternoon
The last person she expected to see at Terra kulture on a random Thursday afternoon was Daniel. But there he was, sitting alone at one of the cafe table outside the theatre entrance,a book in his hands , coffee in another. Velma had come to pick up ticket for a client art show. He looked up and saw her. And for a moment,neither of them moveda. Just two people suspended in memory trying yo decide if they were brave enough for the present.
"Hi", Velma said finally. Daniel smiled softly and responded to her. "Mind if I sit?".she asked. He gestured to the chair across from him,this time it was a real smile. There was silence,the kind of silence that held space. He closed his book and looked at her properly."You look good",he said "so do you",she responded."You were at the party",he added."Yes,I saw you and olivia ". He nodded slowly" that wasn't how I wanted you to see us", Daniel muttered. Something in her chest tightened. "Are you two together",she asked before she could stop herself . He paused,"we are close,it's complicated". Velma nodded but her hands had started to tremble a little under the table. "Why did you leave like that,vel?",he asked quietly . No anger,just ache. She looked away. "I was breaking",she said "Back then, everything felt too much ,I didn't want to ruin you with my ruin",she added. " You didn't let me decide that for myself", Daniel responded. "I didn't know how to let someone hold me without dropping anything". He exhaled sharply" I would have carried it,I would have carried you". The words hit her like rain in dry season. She blinked" but you didn't and I didn't ask",she whispered. He was quiet for a while. Then he asked her"did you miss me?". Velma looked straight into his eyes"I still do". And that was the first truth they had shared in four years. "Do you want to talk again?",he asked. "I think I do" ,she nodded slowly. He smiled,after some time,Velma left,they didn't hug when she left but for the first time in four years, Velma didn't feel like a ghost anymore.