Reflections - Part Two

Again, this is a non-fiction tale. Just another weird snippet from the last eight months of my life

I remember that Monday morning well; it had been another nondescript, lonely weekend and I had been desperate to get back to the hustle of university. I had arrived early, as was my habit, and meandered over to the canteen for a cup of tea and to loiter around, in hope of bumping into you, or another of our cohort. The canteen was mainly empty but the few occupied tables were alive with eager catch-up chatter. I spied some familiar faces, but yours was not amongst them. Joining the table, I listened half-heartedly to the conversation, my eyes fixed on the canteen door in expectation of your arrival, until the time came to head off the first lecture.

As we were making to leave, you wandered in looking somewhat dishevelled, plugged in to your MP3 player as usual. We stopped briefly to talk, as the rest of the group ambled on.

"Hi," I said, with an excited smile.

"Hello," you replied, in the usual sing-song way. You looked distinctly sad. I waited as you paid for your tea.

"Did you have a nice weekend?" I asked, knowing your girlfriend had been visiting. I felt a surprising pang of jealously.

"No," you replied, eyes downcast. I was a little taken back.

"Oh," I said, innocently, "I thought your girlfriend was visiting?"

"Yeah, she was," you said quietly.

I thought it was best not to ask any further questions; I didn't know you well enough yet.

Later that week, with my heart trying to pound its way out of my rib cage, I asked you, in as casual a tone as I could manage, if you wanted to go for a meal after uni. You smiled and agreed enthusiastically. After our over-priced and somewhat disappointing Nandos, we went for a drink. I was driving, so was on diet cokes, but you hit the beer from the off.

Later, inhibitions lowered, you said you had something important to tell me. My throat tightened; I had no idea what you were going to say. When you described your weekend, how your girlfriend of three years had broken up with you and how you had no idea it was coming, I wanted to hold you and make it all better. I settled for slinging a friendly arm around your shoulder and tried to console you by regaling you with horror stories from my own failed relationships. We laughed, chatted, and for the first time I felt that connection that I have come to value so highly.