Mood Music: No matter what - Calum Scott and Dreaming with a Broken Heart - John Mayer
“Good morning, Regina.” “Good morning, Doctor.” “How are you doing today?” “Fine, I guess.” “You seem bothered. What’s going on?” “Well, today is our last session, but I still haven’t experienced what I came here for. It seems like I’ve wasted my time answering all your questions about my family, work, and life here in France, but nothing else.” “What did you come here for?” “Well, I came here so you can help me forget.” The doctor raised her brow. “Tell me, what do you want to forget?” “I wanted to forget about the accident.” “What accident are you talking about?” “Doctor, are we going to do this again?” Regina asked with an irritated tone in her voice. “Well, I am your psychiatrist, and it is my job to ask questions. So, what accident did you want to forget?” “I keep on telling you, it’s the…” Regina knitted her brows. “At the hospital, there was a shooting…” she looked at the doctor. The doctor raised both brows, urging her to continue. “But… I’m not afraid of that a
That night, our family headed home only after the other guests had all gone home. My parents wanted to show our support to Mrs. Bennet and their family, and though my two older brothers left earlier, Raffy and I stayed with our parents. I wanted to show Owen I was there for him, even though he did not know I was alive. In my haste to leave, I forgot the black elbow-length gloves I wore as part of my outfit. I had a black conservative knee-length short-sleeve dress with a funeral hat and veil to appear sophisticated. At sixteen, I wanted to be viewed as a young woman and not as a kid anymore, but being an adult was such hard work. I took the gloves off as it was getting hot, and my hands were getting clammy since I was not used to wearing such things. I found them on the seat where I left them, and I was thankful because my mother would have scolded me for losing something she lent me. Just when I was about to head out, I heard someone moaning. I froze, scared it was Uncle Richard
Every Wednesday and Sunday was market day in the city of Carbon, the pasta capital of France. During market day, farmers near the city, with artisans, bakers, and artists, bring their produce and wares to the market square to sell.Tourists flock around the stalls snapping pictures and buying souvenirs, but to the locals, it was a way of life. It is where they get their fresh and organic groceries.Until recently, Regina had only passed by the market. She was living alone, and buying produce usually meant they were spoiled even before she could consume them.Regina was not an excellent cook, so thinking of a recipe took forever. If she dropped by the market, she bought bread, cheese, and pastries, things that were ready to eat and easy to prepare.But today would be different, as she was shopping with the ladies from the nursing home. A few able-bodied individuals would come to the market so they could plan their meals, and the excitement of the people around the square rubbed off on
Dear Owen, I’m sending this letter to you three months after the first time I received the treatment to erase my unhappy memories. By this time, the letters I’ve sent to your mother might have lessened or stopped completely because I predict I won’t be able to recall any of the events that happened during the time I’ve worked for your family. I’m doing this because I want to forget all the bad things that happened last year. I know it is but a fraction of what we shared, but it made a big impact in my life and I want to forget it ever happened. I’m not talking about my abduction because I remember none of it, but I’m speaking about my lost baby. Yes, I was pregnant, and the appendectomy I had was for another type of surgery. It’s another discussion for later if I ever remember about it. When I learned I was pregnant, I wished it was our baby, but I could not face the fact that something happened during the days I was missing, and it might not be yours. I wanted us to have a futu
Jason told the ladies he was in town to join his best friend in learning more about handmade pasta and preparing authentic sauces from the different regions in France. He was thinking of opening an Italian restaurant or adding some pasta dishes to the cafe menu so they could serve lunch. But, of course, since Jason learned Regina was on vacation, he thought it would be the perfect opportunity for them to get together. He did not expect to see Regina the first week he arrived, and it was pure coincidence, but he was happy about the outcome. Now that they were alone, Regina felt awkward being with Jason. She knew nothing about the man in her current state and was apprehensive that she was leading him to her apartment. “I’m sorry if I was too forward by inserting myself into your schedule with the women from the home care,” Jason said when he noticed Regina grew quiet on their walk home. “I didn’t think we’d have another chance to see each other if I let this opportunity pass.” “It’
The next morning, Regina came in earlier than usual so she could volunteer and go home without bumping into Jason. She had a feeling he would be there that afternoon to bring goodies during afternoon tea time, but she was wrong.Jason was already at the nursing home, cooking breakfast for the ladies when she arrived, so Regina could not make an excuse and back out.Being a nurse, she helped take their blood pressure, brought them their medicine, and asked them about any symptoms or ailments they felt in their body, jotting it down in a notebook that she would turn over to the head nurse later.She volunteered to help with the gardens and even helping with cleaning the toilets. “Why do I feel you’re abandoning me?” Jason asked later when they finally sat down for breakfast“I’m not. There’s just a lot to do, and I wanted to help.”He looked at her, and she knew there was no way he would have believed that lie, not when everyone kept asking where she was when they were around him.“I r
Jason took control of Regina’s kitchen, and she realized there was nothing to be nervous about because all her anxiety had been in her head. She’d never felt comfortable in the kitchen, but with Jason showing her the ropes, she felt more at ease. It made her think that having a boyfriend who can cook would be a plus in a relationship. Jason taught her chopping skills while they waited for the pasta to dry. They diced onions, minced garlic, and chopped basil for the sauce. Regina had never worked so hard for a meal in her life, but she felt satisfied that they were eating something she helped make. Regina thought following recipes was manageable, as long as it stated how much she needed of each ingredient. Grilling, baking, or sauteing meat was easy enough for her to handle, but she was not too confident with sauces. She felt they were always much more complex, and tasting the food constantly made her lose her appetite. After dinner, the couple sat on the couch close together, drink
That night, Regina dreamt a romantic dream about a stranger with deep ocean-blue eyes. He caressed her face and told her to wait for him, but by the time she woke up, the dream had been forgotten., and all that was left was a feeling of longing. The next evening, Regina wanted to make up for the disastrous night they had, so after work, she invited Jason out for a late dinner and drinks if he was not too tired. Jason was gone all day because his best friend demanded they get started on their restaurant plans. The trip would bring them out of town near the border of Spain and France. He was pissed that Jason kept squandering his time by being with Regina and the nursing home. It would be their first date, and she expected nothing to happen that evening, but since the tension had been building up when they got interrupted making out the previous night, Regina had an inclination that things might progress faster than she wanted, and they would have sex that night. Regina was so nervou