Old friend

I arrived at work late for a change and all crammed in; I tried to smile when my supervisor passed by me, staring at me with his typical everyday contempt, but as if it was possible to smile at such a creature, and on top of that feel satisfied after facing wars to get there and that effort was worthless ?

I occupied my table ignoring the memos placed on it, I went to the coffee machine while my Jurassic machine turned on; Helen was there flirting with Paulo as she would with anyone who wore pants and had a sports car; I felt the vein in her forehead throb as she stared at me.

“Why, look who graced us with his presence today. I thought you wouldn't grace us with your company, did you sleep too much Esther?

I took a deep breath as I picked up my cup and filled it with coffee, I wish I didn't have to put up with that woman every day, but I think pressing her head on the copier would be considered wrong.

— I wish, not everyone has the availability to take a ride with Paulo to work Helen, by the way, I liked your perfume, it looks a lot like what your wife wears, doesn't it, Paulo? Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work. — I left Paulo baffled and Helen spitting fire; normally I wouldn't make that kind of comment, but today in particular, my patience was exhausted.

I went back to my table and prepared myself for the day's fuss; it was a long eight hours sitting in front of my screen, filling out forms, listening to customers screaming on the phone, cursing, prank calls and even flirting; it was the same thing every day, and again I was walking out of there totally drained, famished because I'd spent my lunch break filling in my arrears, so there I was again, walking home on a Monday night in shambles.

Would I live like this forever? I didn't earn enough to start my college, just enough to pay the rent and cover expenses; At that moment, when I was sitting on the old bench at the bus stop, I asked myself where I had gone wrong in life to get me stuck in that vicious cycle.

Before I started mumbling alone there, I saw a familiar face stop in front of me; I would never forget those pairs of brown eyes; with a backpack on his back, wearing dark jeans, sneakers, a black T-shirt and a jean jacket over it he approached and smiled, embarrassed and shy, maybe he didn't quite know how I would react, he seemed afraid to open his mouth, he hadn't changed in nothing, absolutely nothing and I had seen him a few times; her hair was longer now, shoulder length, with a slight wave and she wore glasses; the dark-haired boy sat next to me and finally opened his mouth.

- Hey! I... I knew I had seen you earlier today and, what a coincidence to find you here... - His smile remained shy, but it didn't leave his lips, he adjusted his glasses on his face and looked at me curiously, I understood that that was mine time to say something.

“You wear glasses now. - Serious? Was this the best I could get?

— Ah yes, result of work; I'm working in a graphic alias, it's close by and... where do you work? I mean, I assume you're coming back from work or college?

I huffed in exasperation.

- Work. I work at an agency nearby; it's small, it's starting and... well, I still don't earn enough for college. — I shrugged, maybe I should shut up now, I was talking too much, I didn't need to confess my failures and frustrations to someone I hadn't seen in so long.

“I know you'll make it in time. Do you still write?

“Actually I stopped some time ago; I couldn't reconcile with everything else.

“It's a shame, but I understand; after I entered the print shop it became more difficult to maintain the routine with the books, but I try the way I can. He smiled, shrugging, in a sweet, shy and cute way; I even forgot how kind and talented he was too, I used to read everything he wrote, I think that's what bonded us in the beginning, until we lost touch over the years; Before I could say anything more a bus stopped there and he smiled wanly, as if he was apologizing, he nodded and I saw him get on the bus, squeezing his way past the people who wouldn't give way; he stared at me through the window and waved again; that day I still didn't know that he was the person with whom I would share the rest of my days.