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Oh, where is it? I need to hurry since I purchased tickets online ahead of time. It saved me those precious extra minutes, which I’ll lose if I can’t find the damn kiosk.
It might be embarrassing to admit, but I watched videos on YouTube to get a sense of the layout ahead of time. Funny, right, but I am horrible with sense of direction, and this is the first time I’m using Victoria station to travel. My eyes take in the full view of the gigantic structure, my heart beating excitedly in my chest, and I pick up my pace.
“I am listening, but the station is so busy. A few elephants almost trampled my feet to death. So, I’m busy trying to act like I don’t want to scream and cry like a baby.”
After I get the ticket, I have enough time to buy snacks and water for later, then head to find my seat. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m nervous about today’s meeting.
“Are you on your period? Have you not heard anything I said? I gave you some tips for a night out.”
My heart is in limbo, and my body is numb, but my sisters still hope that one day I’ll just wake up and everything will be ok.
The past version of me is gone. In Sandra’s place is a different woman, one who has been glued t
ogether piece by piece, shard by shard, with bleeding hands and my bowdlerized heart reshaped into this new being. Echoes of the past sewed in the core of this newfangled existence. In my ice-blue eyes now resides sadness, and rarely do they reflect joy. But my sisters try anyway, and I don’t have the guts to crush their hopes.
“Listen, I’m on the train. I’m going to try to get some shuteye. Take care, Aisha. Love you, bye!” I disconnect the call before she can respond, and try to set me up with someone.
A shaky smile touches my lips and I raise my head, breathing in this ambiance washing over me as the train starts to move. Every atom of my being has this impression of inevitable change but, for some reason, I’m not frightened by it. I welcome this uplifting energy into my sad life, even if just for a moment.
“Ahem.” The woman sitting opposite clears her throat and I look at her.
Probably around sixty-five or so, the lady is dressed very eccentrically for her age. Her shiny grey hair rests in elegant waves over her shoulder and her sharp eyes are narrowed at me in annoyance. She’s wearing riding boots with aquamarine tights, and a darker shade check-marked sweater that seems too warm for this weather we’re having today. A colorful necklace hanging from her old neck draws my curious attention.
I raise my snooping eyes to her old face that has big, round, black-framed glasses hanging on the tip of her nose. The lady is definitely making a fashion statement with every single piece she wears. While I observe her, I realize she must have said something to me.
I’m so taken with her image that I don’t hear it at first.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” My cheeks grow warm in embarrassment.
She gives me a lopsided smile. “I said that you look like you’re about to be thrown into the rabbit hole, dear Alice.”
Arching an eyebrow, I watch this peculiar, compelling character sitting in front of me, unsure of what she means. Did she notice the darkness residing in my empty eyes? It alarms people that something is wrong with me. Sometimes I forget to hide it. Did she notice I am not like the rest of them?
I’m not planning to allow them to see my suffering soul through the cracks in my armor. Instead, my lips stretch into a broad smile, and my eyes sparkle with amusement.
“Why is that?”
“There is something about you, darling, that makes me think you’re on the cusp of change, perhaps even revelation. My advice is, don’t waste any moment of your life fighting it. Instead, embrace it.”
She winks and stands up, getting off at the next stop, leaving me sitting there with raised eyebrows and chills running down my spine. Her unrequited advice echoes in my heart as I walk from the station and goose bumps explode on my skin.
Nearing the airport terminal, I check my watch, and see I’m still on time for my flight to Liverpool. My boss, Joshua, waits by the display screen at the entrance, playing with his smartphone, grimacing at something he reads on the screen.
Joshua Price is five-foot-eight, with brown hair streaked with silver. The natural highlights kissed by age make him look like a handsome silver fox. My boss is athletic, in his late forties, and clean-shaven—one who turns many heads.
As if he knows I’ve been observing him, Joshua raises his head from his phone and looks towards the entrance, spotting me almost immediately.
It doesn’t hurt that Joshua graces me with his pleasant, heartwarming smile as I walk towards him. In a black suit, bright pink shirt, with a burgundy striped tie peeking out, he looks sharp and ready to conquer.
Before I reach him, I check my phone and see I’ve arrived right on time. “Good morning, your assistant has arrived and is ready to report. How is your day so far?”
Being a true gentleman, Joshua puts his phone away and takes my handbag from me, steering us away from the crowd.
“Good morning, Cassandra. Glad you made it on time. I was worried you might get stuck, it was quite a busy day at the train station.” His relieved expression makes me happy I am a meticulous planner.
“Well, I am not. Let’s get some coffee, we’ve still got a little while.” Amused, I lean in to whisper, as I look at the women squad a few feet away. “By the way, have you got all the numbers of the interested parties so far?”
My oblivious boss looks around and lets out a small laugh as he notices all the attention he’s getting. I’m not surprised; his smile is infectious and his voice has rough timbre to it. He scratches his silver head, bewildered.
