° Julia °
_________________________
The morning next day was a blur. I woke up and felt that it was too early for me to wake up. I saw the time and it was 4A.M. I usually wake up at 6:30-7A.M. But today I felt like I needed to get out of bed and do something. The idea of getting fresh air struck my mind and with that thought I got ready by 5.
A run. That's what I needed. I've been running for an hour now with little breaks in between. I got tired by the time it was 6-6:15 and I could see children leaving for their schools. I found a place to rest. I can see the shore from where I'm sitting. The sea is pretty nearby to my apartment. I use it to my favor sometimes. There's something about those waves just hitting the shore and returning back that makes me feel like I can go on with my life as long as I try to become like the shore. Unaffected by the waves coming and going. My dad told me this once. That's the only thing I remember of him, which makes me feel like I had a normal father. A normal family. A normal life.
I lose track of time and suddenly my phone rings. It's my mother.
I pick up the call to hear her biting tone too loud in my ears even when it's not on speaker.
"2 months. Really Jul? Did you really think if you wouldn't tell me, I wouldn't know? Had you lost your mind or did you just donate it to the traumatized children's charity you're working for?"
Question after question was fired and the angle of shooting was directed towards me and the accusation was that I broke up with that piece of shit who my mother thought was worthy of compromising.
"I couldn't compromise mom. I'm sorry. But I don't want to explain myself for choosing peace. It was the right thing to do. I had lost feelings long ago. I can't stretch a relationship just for your sake. Because it's me who has to go through it, not you."
"You're forgetting Jul, I compromised for yo-"
"I never asked you to. And by compromising, you only hurt me more. You just kept saying yourself that you were doing it for me. But it wasn't for me mom. And you know it."
I hang up on her and let out a sigh. I don't want to go through it over and over again. The same conversations everytime makes me feel like I'm caught in a loop that I can't escape from.
By the time I return to the apartment. I see two trucks. Packers and movers. Maybe someone new moved in. I don't bother myself with unnecessary inquisitions. It's not in my nature. I get into the elevator and reach my floor.
Okay, it's getting hard to stay in my nature now. Because, I see a few men moving furniture into the flat next to mine.
"Is someone new moving in?" I ask the building owner, Steve who I don't know why was standing there observing the men.
"Ah, Miss Julia. Yes. It's your new neighbour. Dr. Torres. He's gonna reach here by tomorrow. But his stuff reached here earlier."
"A doctor! I see." I say, as I take a peak on the initials E.T. engraved on the bookshelf that the men were now carrying inside.
I unlock my door, and get in as I wish Steve a good day, shutting the door close. "You too, sweetheart" I hear his voice through the door.
...
The day went by with a lot of work I had. I had to write a lot of copies and prepare 2 presentations for a client. I worked as freelancer. And I loved it.
I go out to dispose the garbage bag into the bin outside and I see that the movers were gone. It is getting dark outside. I decide to stay home. I won't be able to do that next week when my friend, Vannie will be visiting me. Well, Giovanna was her name but I called her Vannie, and honestly everyone else did too. It was easier to speak.
I go back in and snuggle in with a book.
'Letters to Milena' by Franz Kafka. I loved reading letters and journal entries of famous writers and poets.
...
The alarm rang sharp in my ear when I see it's already 7A.M and half asleep I have snoozed it 2 times already.
I wake up with a jerk, because I suddenly remember that I didn't finish the remaining work yesterday.
Seriously, I must be the queen of procrastination. All procrastinators should put me on a throne and follow my taglines of "I can do it tomorrow!" And "I still have enough time."
I quickly get ready by 8A.M.
Uh the jeans I've been wearing since past 3 days, a black top and my purple panda hoodie, those where the first things that came to my sight and yeah, I wore them.
My hair was a mess. I try to put them in a pony but fail successfully. What was I thinking? Why would today be any different! 'Good hair day' came in my life very very rarely.
I put my hair up in a messy bun and rush through the door.
I rush back because I forgot the keys to my scooter.
I lock my house. And wait for the elevator door to open.
The sound of elevator rings in and the door opens.
It opens. And I stand there. Still.
A man in suit. Who wears a suit this early? That was the first thing that came to my mind, but that thought was soon gone, when I saw how well the suit suited him.
His eyes.
Before, I could proceed taking in every feature of his.
"Hey" he said.
"um..sure." Did I really just say "sure"??? What is wrong with me?
"I mean, hey." I say with an awkward smile.
"You can get in if you want to. I was just getting out on this floor. I moved in yesterday. I mean, my stuff did. I reached here this morning." he says, stops for a moment and then asks again "do you live next door?"
The elevator was straight infront of my door and his house was next to mine. He must have guessed it so, because there were only 3 people living on this floor.
One of them was out for vacation, and the other barely stayed here. Now, including him there were just us 4, on this floor.
"Yeah. Welcome to the neighborhood!" I say and he gets out. I quickly enter in the elevator. And press the button.
"Thank you." he says with a smile. It reached his eyes.
The elevator door closes.
Dark brown.
His eyes were dark brown.