Man In The Middle

Part 10 - A proper send off

— A Proper Send-Off

Deon awoke the next morning still feeling the glow of last night. His face hurt from the stupid smile that had been plastered on it since dropping her off at her room. It hadn't even gone away while he slept. He felt like he was floating as he rose from bed and stretched his body. The usual creak of his bones was gone today. The stiffness in his neck and shoulders—nonexistent. It was like a weight he'd been unknowingly carrying had suddenly lifted. Everything just felt good.

He reached for his phone. Several new messages, but his eyes went straight to one name. The others didn't even register.

Amina.

The already broad smile grew even broader. He opened the message as quickly as his fingers would allow.

Amina: Good morning. Last night was...😁. But I'd love to see you again. Need to, really. I don't want to say the rest in a text, so... 9 AM, our café? You don't have to respond. That's where I'll be if you want a proper goodbye.

He checked the time—8:20. Enough time to take a quick shower and get over there. It didn't matter what she had to say; he had a few things he wanted to get off his chest as well. From the tone of her message, there was no way this was going to be a negative conversation.

"This could be the start of something new," he sang to himself.

I really need to grow up, he thought as he jumped into the shower.

⸻

He arrived at the quiet café they'd gone to the day before for breakfast. He was a bit early—8:45 AM. He settled into a booth and waited for her to arrive.

She walked in about five minutes later, dressed in her usual low-key style but with some key changes. She still wore an anime hoodie, but instead of her loose-fitting baggy jeans, she had on a skirt. Instead of her well-worn sneakers, she wore stylish sandals. It was a mix of her casual self and the sexy confidence she'd shown on their first date. He was really liking this new look. It might even be his favorite.

He watched her scan the room until their eyes met. Her face lit up, and she flashed him a beaming smile that made his heart skip a beat. She strolled over and sat next to him instead of across from him. Almost as if he'd expected it, he made room before she even reached the table.

"So you came," she said, brushing shoulders with him while glancing down at the menu, pretending to read it.

"Was there ever a doubt?" he replied, taking the menu away and turning her to face him.

"I was using that."

"Doubtful."

"Oh? How can you be so sure?"

"I'm a bit of a detective."

"Oh? Do tell."

"Well, I have it on good authority that you frequent this place. You also seem like the type of girl who knows what she wants. So, if you come here often and know what you want, there's no way you walked through that door without knowing exactly what that was."

"Not bad. But here's a real question for you, detective. What is it that I wanted?"

"Oh, that's tricky—but also easy enough. What you came for isn't on the menu at all. You came for closure."

"Ding, ding, ding," she said, imitating the ringing of a bell. "You're spot on. That's exactly what I'm in the mood for."

He put the menu back on the table. They maintained eye contact for what should have been an uncomfortably long time, but instead, it felt like they were speaking directly to each other's souls. He could sense her anxiety, and she could feel his longing. But most of all, they sensed each other's regret.