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His phone beeped another text, who is it this time? It was his girlfriend: "It's over Tom, bye." Tom smiled, at least it wasn't all bad news. He'd had a long heart to heart with her over lunch and he told her straight it wasn't working for him, he just didn't feel a connection with her. She took it pretty badly but thanked him for his honesty. She agreed things had been stale for a while and there was no point in denying that.
Tom told her he was happy to keep seeing her just as long as she knew it was no longer a serious relationship. She had looked surprised by that and said she needed some time to think about it. So she had made her mind up, probably best for everyone.
Tom sat on the floor and stared up at the full Moon. He knew he wouldn't sleep much tonight. The Moon always had that effect on him. He'd stay up late, meditate and take time to be alone and to reflect.
So, now all of a sudden, I'm single again. I'm free to keep on looking for that special connection. I'm free to search for that girl, for Helen. Now, that's a big challenge - how to find a girl with no contact details. I don't even know where she lives. It suddenly struck him, she could be anywhere.
Maybe Jim was right. Maybe I'll have to let that fantasy go and get out there and meet someone new. Maybe I'll have better luck now that I'm single, I won't have any guilt about talking to other girls. I've always been good with women but I could never pursue anyone because I was stuck in that relationship limbo for so long.
Time for a change. Tom watched the Moon light flickering on the river and watched a couple walking hand in hand across the bridge. They were smiling and whispering something to each other. They looked happy, very happy.
That could have been me, if only, if only I'd asked Helen for her number. Stop it, stop it! I need to get her out of my head. This is driving me crazy. What was it Jim said? Oh yeah, I need to get out there but do it in my world, at the festivals and workshops, in my world, yes, that's where I can meet someone special. And seminar season is starting soon, who knows, maybe I'll meet Miss Right For Me. By the next full Moon that could be me walking across the bridge with my lover.
* * *
The airport cafe was noisy and jammed with people craving their caffeine fix. Jim did his best to ignore it and scanned the conference agenda.
"Is that seat free?" someone asked.
Jim looked up at the stunning woman with the long brown hair standing before him with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other. "Ah, yes, please, sit down, take it."
Jim couldn't help staring, "Excuse me, have we met before?"
"I don't believe we have but nice to meet you, I'm Helen."
Jim couldn't believe his ears, "I'm Jim. I know this might sound strange but did you fly from Heathrow a couple of weeks ago?"
"Yes, I did, I hope it's not a crime to be a frequent flier," Helen joked as she pointed at the police logo at the top of Jim's papers. "I even stopped for a coffee at this very cafe, if you must know."
Jim laughed, "No, not at all, it's just that a friend of mine, my best friend actually, meet a girl here a few weeks ago and he never got her phone number."
"His name's not Tom by any chance is it?" Helen asked nervously.
"Yes it is actually. Now, I know why I recognize you. Here look at this." Jim handed her his phone.
Helen stared at the photo, the one Tom took of her holding the book cover next to her face. Her jaw dropped and she looked back to Jim. "This might sound crazy so please don't arrest me but I've been trying to find Tom, I spent ages online looking for him but I came up with nothing. I really like him, I'd love to see him again. How bizarre is this, bumping into his best friend like this. It must be destiny."
"He's been looking for you too. I can assure you, you are all he's talked about for the past two weeks, it's starting to get tiring to be honest with you. I think he's head over heels over you. He's lost his appetite and he's not sleeping much. He's on the love struck diet. You two had better meet up asap for the sake of my sanity if nothing else." Jim took out his wallet and handed a card to Helen. "That's his card."
"Thank you. I'll phone him as soon as I get back in two weeks. I'm boarding in 10 minutes so I'll have to dash. Great meeting you Jim, and I mean that, really, really great meeting you."
"And you Helen, talk soon, bye." Jim grabbed his phone and dialed Tom.
Tom took the call as he sped over the bridge, rushing to beat the traffic lights, he was running late for a workshop.
"Hey Jim, what's up? Shouldn't you be in Berlin by now for that techie conference with the boys in blue?"
"I'm on the way, I'm waiting for my flight to show up on the departure board. Enough about that though. Guess who I found? You'll never believe this but I just spoke to Helen."
Tom squealed. "You did? That's fantastic. Where does she live? So, that computer search eventually did the trick, wicked."
"No, Tom, I bumped into her at the T4 cafe."
"Get outta here, really?"
"For real, Tom. I'm not joking. I showed her the photo and everything, she can't wait to meet you. I gave her one of your cards, the cards I keep in case I meet a nice new age chick you'd like."
"Okay, Jim, this is a wind up right? Don't mess me about on this. I'll murder you if this is a joke."
