Pure Soul

I stand by the window of my cozy living room, holding a watering can and gently showering the flower pots. The familiar scent of roses, lilies and daisies fills the air, a comforting reminder of the peaceful life I have built around my passion for flowers.

My mind, however, is far from the serenity of my home. It drifts back to Zack.

The moment I told him to leave my floral shop I was a bit hesitant, a bit scared of the outcome I’ll get. I expected anger, perhaps even retaliation for the insult I directed at him.

Yet, he simply looked at me with a mix of surprise and something I couldn’t quite place. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t try to intimidate me but apologized.

But my mood was so bad I didn’t take that apology.

So, he left.

I felt guilty afterward, but fear overshadowed my feelings. What if he was actually going to take revenge on me for the way I behaved with him?

That was another reason why I called him at night.

But the moment he answered my call and apologized again. In fact, invited me for dinner at his place.

It had thrown me off balance, making me question everything I thought I knew about men like him. I had expected him to be mad, to hold a grudge, to act like the stereotypical mafia man I have seen. But instead, he had shown humility, something I never imagined I would see from someone in his position.

My thoughts grow more tangled.

Maybe I have been too quick to judge. Maybe Zack isn’t like the others. Perhaps not all mafia men were the same.

The more I think about it, the more I begin to wonder if Zack has been forced into this life. Could it be that he had no choice, that circumstances had pushed him into the dark world he now inhabited?

Or is it possible that he had chosen this path of his own free will?

I’m not sure which idea unsettles me more.

I sigh as I place the water can down on the table beside the window when I hear the doorbell.

Don’t tell me it’s Zack now.

I dry my hands on the apron, walk out of the living room, approach the door and open it.

It isn’t Zack.

I smile so wide it almost turns into a grin.

The girl standing in front of me smiles back.

“Oh my God!” I almost squeal as I push myself forward and wrap my arms around her. “I missed you so much!”

“Well, I missed you too,” she hugs back, harder.

It’s Lizzie.

Our hug lasts for at least two minutes.

“I’m so sorry I forgot to tell you that my shop was closed today,” I say as I peel myself from her hug. Her hands still rest on my hips.

Dominic had plans with his girlfriend, so he informed me that he couldn't come to work today. So, I had a reason to relax at home.

“Come inside,” I say, stepping aside and letting Lizzie walk in while I close the door behind her.

I take her to the living room where she takes a seat on the couch.

“What would you like to have?” I ask.

“I don’t want anything Emily I just want you to sit next to me and talk,” she shrugs.

I pout “That’s not fair. We will talk while we eat,”

Then I turn around and walk away, making a path toward the kitchen.

I have one of the cabinets filled with snacks because whenever I have a day off I enjoy them while watching TV shows.

I take out a big packet of chips and then open my fridge and take out a pack of chicken nuggets and two cold drinks since it’s sweltering today.

I fry the nuggets and take all the snacks to the living room, placing them on the table.

“Here,” I say, taking a seat next to Lizzie.

“So? How do you feel about visiting Venezuela again after two years?” I ask as I offer her the nuggets.

“Amazing, you have no clue how much I missed you in London,” she takes a bite of the nugget and starts chewing on it.

“And I’m going back within a few weeks,” she announces.

My smile drops.

“Too soon?” I mutter. “I had some undone work that’s why I am here. “My holidays haven’t even begun yet,” she says, chewing on the nuggets.

“And when will it begin?

“I don’t know,”

“Why don’t you try to visit London?” she glances at me.

“Someday maybe,” I shrug, not fully sure if I will.

There is silence for a few minutes.

“Oh yeah! Emily,” she starts as I look in her blue eyes. “Do you remember when you told me that you texted the wrong number when you wanted to invite me for dinner?”

“Yeah?” I gulp.

“What happened to that?” she inquires.

I grab my cold drink and take a sip from it before answering.

She is my best friend she won’t judge me if I tell her everything.

“Well,” I’m a bit hesitant to speak. “It was a guy,”

“And?” she raises a brow curiously.

“Don’t give me that look,” I grimace but all I get in response is an eye roll.

“Don’t change the topic sweetheart,”

“Promise me you won’t get mad or upset?” I ask quickly.

“It depends. You know how much I care about you, Emmy. I hope this isn’t something serious?” her eyebrows scrunch in worry.

This isn’t serious for me, but maybe it will be for her.

“Alright. Listen, but please don’t overreact,”

She nods.

I know she will.

                                                                     **********

“What?!” she yells making me slightly flinch.

I knew it.

“And he is a what?” her eyes bulge like Galagos.

“M….Mafia,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her expression is blank.

“Wait…,” she chuckles like a psycho. “So you are telling me that you messaged an unknown guy for dinner thinking it was me? And then that guy stood at your door even though he knew it was a mistake, and you let him in?”

She laughs harder this time. “And…and now he has even invited you to dinner at his place,”

She’s laughing nonstop now.

“Oh my God Emily,” she wipes her tears. “This isn’t funny,” I roll my eyes.

“You know what, honey? I love you but don’t you think this is going way too fast?” she says as she tucks a strand of black hair behind her ear.

“What do you mean?” I narrow my brows while she raises hers.

What the hell?

“No no no no no no no, it’s…it’s not like that Lizzie,” I stutter.

“But someday it will be like that,” she winks as she grabs her cold drink and takes a sip from it.

“I suggest you carry a knife with yourself,” she grins earning a grimace expression from me. “What the heck.”

I know she is right. I can’t trust a guy I just met a few days ago. Besides, maybe he is trying to emotionally manipulate me. But I remember the words that he shared with me through the call. I feel like I can actually trust him but…Lord this is so confusing and frustrating. Alright, I still need to be alert and aware of everything he does.

“I shouldn’t go then?” I glance at Lizzie because I’m confused. “But I said yes to him,”

“Just turn on the GPS in your phone and rest I’ll take care of everything,” she assures me as she puts the cold drink down and takes my hands in hers.

“I think I’ll be fine.

“Still,”

I nod in reassurance.

Apart from this subject, we talk for hours about different things. Lizzie tells me what it was like for her to get settled in London with a completely different environment. She is even in a relationship with a guy called Liam.

I don’t know why speaking of guys always reminds me of Zack.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“Oh it’s 6 pm already,” Lizzie glances at her watch. “I have to go,” she glances at me.

“We will see each other again, very soon,” I say, pulling her into a hug.

“Best of luck with your first date,” she winks teasingly as she gets up.

“This. Is. Not. A. Date,” I roll my eyes earning a giggle from her.

I walk along with her until we reach the door and open it for her.

She spins around.

“Bye, Emmy.”

I wave as she turns around and walks away while I close the door.

Great.

Now I need to look at the clothes I have to wear for dinner.