8

I was silent as Carlos continued to look at me, waiting for an answer.

I ran to get off the bus as soon as it stopped at the next stop, I was relieved when he didn't get off, I took a taxi back to where I left my car and drove home.

The luxurious condo, looking extremely empty, I walked in and sat down on the couch, unable to focus on anything other than what Carlos had said. “I still owe her a wedding.”

To be honest, Carlos really owed Michelle Mary a wedding.

Years ago Michelle gave up on Carlos, the same way he gave up on her.

Even if she had refused the money and insisted on staying in town with Carlos, he would have dumped her.

It seemed that he had no right or wrong in their case.

He should have given her a big wedding years ago.

I had just taken her place and it was time to restore everything to its place once and for all.

While I was lost in my thoughts when Lucy Gray called me.

She was my friend. And everyone knew I didn't have many friends, she ran a pet mall in Seattle, the space was beautiful and perfect with animals in the decor. However, the business was never good, it would not be able to sustain itself without my financial support.

I held up my cell phone and asked, “Hi, how are you?”

She looked really excited. “Remember the music hall next to our store? There's a piano concert tonight, I hear you're a great musician who just returned from a tour of Europe, aren't you the one who likes the piano so much? Come on tonight.”

“I only liked the piano because Carlos played.”

The bank card I left on the table caught my eye, thinking back it was a waste of time and energy trying to 'buy' the love of strangers on the street. Everyone treated me like a crazy person, plus I had the bad luck to bump into Carlos while he was acting crazy in the middle of the street.

I had nothing else to do with my money, so I figured I'd give it to Lucy, after all, the pet mall could use it as funds.

Decide and answer. "I'll be there in an hour."

I tidied up the room so that when I got back I could find it organized, I took off my makeup and changed my clothes, I didn't have much time to get ready.

Finally I put on a black coat and called a taxi to the pet mall, it was still snowing heavily, I took a deep breath and exhaled hard, creating a small cloud in the air, I was ready to have fun and in high spirits that's how I entered the store.

Lucy immediately dropped the glass that was in her hands and came to meet me, hugging me tightly, as if we hadn't seen each other in years, then asked with a smile on her face: "How are you, my dear?"

I lied to her saying I was busy with work.

She released me without suspecting anything. “Sit here for a while, I'll make you some coffee, there are still some things I need to sort out, wait a little bit.”

I sat in the reception, comfortably and soon a white kitten appeared jumping in my lap. As he admired the cars and pedestrians passing by on the street, they all looked exuberant.

Suddenly, a slender figure caught my eye.

It was a figure of a man who looked lonely.

For some unknown reason, I was shocked, before I knew it tears were streaming down my face.

I stared at that figure, for a brief moment, I felt that it was that girl who followed the man she dreamed of. The figure looked a lot like Carlos, triggering all sorts of memories.

I got up abruptly, the kitten got scared and jumped out of my lap, I ran outside and desperately looked for him in the streets, but the man was nowhere to be seen, he disappeared into the crowd like a vision.

Lucy followed me in a hurry and saw me crying a lot, she was perplexed and asked me very worried: “Natália, what is wrong with you? Why are you crying so much?”

“It was him…”

"It was such a strong feeling that I'm sure it wasn't a mistake."

That man overlapped that man who lived in my memories and dreams.

“Was it really Carlos?”

“Could it really have been him?”

No one else made me feel this way other than Carlos.

Who else could it have been, if I'm fooling myself?

I remembered Katie said she had a concert before.

“Is it going to be in this music hall?”

“Does that mean Carlos is here right now?”

I wiped away my tears and turned to Lucy, I was surprised to see her crying too and asked, "Lucy why are you crying?"

“Natália, why do you always look so sad?”

She hugged me and kept crying. "I've seen you cry so many times, I don't even know why you married that man."

She was referring to Carlos.

I haven't had a chance to tell her about my divorce yet.

I closed my eyes and forced a smile. “Perhaps the snow was too cold for my eyes.”

We went back to the store, I found the white kitten that jumped out of my lap scared and I took it back and hugged it gently in my arms and said, "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you."

“Meow.” The kitten rubbed its head on my arm, very cuddly and finally I managed to smile naturally. “Good kitty.”

I stayed at the store until dark, unfortunately Lucy was busy with a lot of things and couldn't join me for the show that night.

She gave me the tickets and dashed out late to attend to some unfinished business.

I left the card next to the notebook at reception and went alone to the show that was next to the store.

The hall was already crowded, I managed to find my seat after some effort, the young couple next to me were whispering something to each other, looking sweet and very much in love.

I heard the girl say, "When will you marry me?"

The young man replied, “Soon, soon, my pretty one.”

I discreetly turned around so I could see them, they looked to be under 18.

If it was said that love at that age meant everything in the world and would be unforgettable for the rest of your life, that was exactly the story of my friend Lucy.

She fell in love with a boy at the same age, that boy had nothing to offer her, not a house, not money, not anything, but she was completely in love and sacrificed everything to be with him.

She didn't mind one bit, and she told me many times, that he loved her more than anything in the world, she knew that nobody in the world would love her the way he loved her.

Her words echoed in my head to this day. “He might look… A little scruffy, but if you give him a chance you'll see he's got pure mud, I totally understand his vulnerability. I can say that he has great self-esteem, and he is willing to do anything for love. Natália, he is no less important than Carlos, he is a man of good character and pride.”

She was absolutely right, that boy had nothing to offer but his own life, and he was willing to sacrifice himself for Lucy whenever he needed it.

He saved her from a car accident.

He had passed away and Lucy had felt empty ever since.

She has never dated anyone since then.

Me, sitting there while the show went on, slowly feeling bored.

When I was about to leave, a melody that I always dreamed of started to play.

With tears streaming down my face, I turned sharply to see the artist sitting at the piano.

I saw a pair of slender and beautiful hands dancing over the piano keys.

“Street where the wind lived.”

“Did he still remember?”

The man playing the music seemed extremely gentle, his fingers bringing the melody to life and transforming it into a refreshing spring breeze.

His figure coincided with that of the man hiding in the depths of my memory.

The song ended too soon, I hurriedly went backstage to look for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

An indescribable fear took hold of me, I was so afraid that he was going to be gone for good, I was afraid that he would marry someone else the next day.

I wanted to meet with him, and let him know who I was.

I looked everywhere for him, to no avail, and left the room in disappointment.

The sky grew even darker, and the snow heavier.

I took my time wandering the streets with dimly lit lamps, illuminating the snow under my feet. Suddenly, I came across a slender figure standing just ahead.

I remained motionless and raised my head little by little, as if hesitating to look him in the eyes.

I held my breath as I looked up, he was wearing a navy blue knee-length coat, with a black shirt with a high collar, a beige scarf was loosely tied around his neck, it was exactly the same outfit I had seen the other day.

After all, it had been him, the person I'd seen on the busy street.

I pressed my lips together and wanted to ask him why he chose to play in that little house. However, before I could say a single word, he smiled at me and said, Girl, are you following me again?”

Hearing that, I couldn't help but bite my lip, hard until I tasted blood.

"Girl."

“Does that mean he remembers me?”

With tears in my eyes, I gathered all my strength and said in a low voice, “Carlos Sky.”