Anonymous

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It wasn't too late to leave, but I couldn't force myself to turn the car around. The sky flared red and yellow before the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the atmosphere in moody darkness. I got out of my car and began to approach her house. The dew on the grass moistened the tips of my shoes. The sound seemed to give me strength as I stepped onto the porch. I tried to figured out what to say to her if she answered the door. I was about to knock when the door creaked open and drawn her from the inside.

"J-Josh." her eyes widened upon seeing me standing before her. "I-It's nice seeing you."

For a long moment, neither of us moved. With her gaze locked on mine, I realized that it was wrong to have come, to have shown up without a warning like this. I knew I should say something, anything, but nothing came to mind. All I could do was stare her. It's been years since I've seen her, this close.

"E-Ellie," I finally said .

It wasn't until I spoke when we realized we were staring at each other for a long time already.

"It really is you, Josh." she cried.

Soon, she was sitting across me, our plates before us. She poured two glasses of wine in front of me. The carbonara was steaming, and the aroma reminded me of how hungry I actually was. After taking a bite, I motioned toward it with my fork. Her eyes held mine for a moment before I looked away. I took a sip of wine, trying to imagine what her life was like now.

"W-Why are you here, Josh?" hesitantly, she once again, stared at me.

"I am not sure also." I replied trying to ignore her gaze.

The way she was looking at me made the past come rushing back, and for a moment, I relieved every emotion, every hope and dream I'd had for her. For the both of us. She was once again the young fair lady I'd met with her life ahead of her, a life I wanted to make part of my own.

"Honestly," she somehow maintain her glance on me. "I mean it, Ellie. I wasn't sure why am I here."

The moment our met, the memories came rushing back then, all of them, and I noticed how she changed for a couple of year we haven't seen each other.

"Isn't it?" she teasingly answered me and turned her attention to her untouched carbonara.

She ran a hand through her hair, causing the ring on her finger to catch the light. No words came out of my mouth upon seeing her ring.

"Y-You're married?" I knew that shock was  shown on my face.

She traced my eyes before sipping in her wine and awkwardly looked at me. "Y-Yes." she smiled.

Her smile was strangely sad, and for a while, I once again bombered her with a question. "How long have you been married?"

She shifted in her seat. "It'll be three years next month, 26th day of December."

"Are you happy?" I courageously looked at her, hearts breaking into pieces.

She played with the pasta using her fork. She turned to me.
"Of course I am, Josh." I felt a pang. Her words were like knives stabbed on my heart.

After placing the plates on the sink, we grew quiet. It was awkward, and neither of us dared to talk once more. The sound of crickets can be heard between the sound of silence.

"I should be get going now, Ellie." the steps I made were so heavy, so is my heart.

Saying good-bye was the hardest thing that I should do. To someone who was dear to me. To someone I loved.

"Are you okay?" she finally asked.

I nod and smiled. "Your husband." I shifted the topic. I felt the pain inside of me grew bigger.

"What about him?" she naturally replied.

"When can I meet him?"

Instead of answering, Ellie stepped out of the porch, and started to walked away from me. She looked down on the grass she was stepping, not minding her feet became wet.

"It's weird but you've already met him," she said, turning around.

"It's Timothy." I almost lost my balance upon hearing her answer. It wasn't the answer I was expecting.

"I'm married to your best friend."