N.I.A.A

Introduction

I loved a man once, and he died.

I made a tough decision, and it backfired.

I ignored my children, and they still accepted me.

I thought I had a friend, and they are now my enemy.

I fell for my enemy...

***

The weather wasn't terrible today and there weren't many cars on the road. I sat in the back of an old taxi that hovered down the desolate road. The driver and I didn't speak on the way to my destination. I told him where I wanted to go and we left it at that.

I opened my phone to see if I received any new messages. My sons, Tyler and Elliot, were at school so there was no reason for them to contact me. I went on a three-year leave from my job to spend more time with my family, which I may actually resign from soon.

Then that one message that was sent 5 hours ago at 3:42 a.m. blinked in my save files. I opened the blinking message.

'Hey it's me, I'm back... it's been a few years but I finally made it back. I hope your children are doing well, you have some bright boys you know. Anyway, I think you know why I'm sending you this message. I know you are probably busy, but if you have any time, please meet me at the bridge at Harriet Park today, at 9 a.m. I hope to see you, Nora," the message read.

I've waited three years to get a message, a call, anything from him. When I first read this at 3:42 a.m. in the morning, it woke me out of my sleep state. I felt a tightness in my chest, a form of glee in my heart, but an anger burning throughout.

I didn't tell Tyler or Elliot because I knew they would have wanted to come with me to greet him. They both talk about him so much it almost annoys me, but I'm happy to see how much of an impact he's had on there lives...and my life as well.

"Ma'am, we have arrived," the taxi driver said. It brought me back to the moment.

"O...thank you," I said and paid the man. I grabbed my backpack and put it over my shoulder.

Before I opened the door I stopped and looked back at the driver. He stared back confused.

"I have a question...what do you do when you are meeting an old friend...but that person lied to you?" I asked trying to be sincere. Sincerity is something I've been working on recently.

"Well...I wish you could have asked on the drive over here instead of waiting until the last minute when I have other passengers to go pick up..." the driver stated.

I rolled my eyes and he noticed.

"You could just get out my car if I'm bothering you..." he replied.

" I'm sorry...I really need some advice though."

"Well, ma'am...when it comes to friend's, tell them how you feel and don't sugar coat it...at the same time try to understand why they lied to you and empathize with them," he said with a smile. I could tell he had meaning behind his words.

I looked down at my phone then back at him.

"Thank you, that means a lot to me...I have one last question then I will be out of your hairs."

"Ask away but this is the last question."

"Do...do I look alright...like do I look presentable?" I asked like some dumb teenage girl. I covered my face in embarrassment and realized what I just asked. I never cared about how I look, nor do I care about what people think about my appearance. However, I couldn't help but ask for some reason.