Page 8 of The Last of Love

Fleur looked down at her glass, swirling the red wine thoughtfully. “What do I miss? Hm... I haven’t really allowed myself to think of that,” she said, her voice trailing off slightly. “Instead of diving too deeply into it, I’m going to tell you about the food I miss the most. That’s all I can handle to think back to most of the time.”

Lena leaned in with a small, genuine smile. “Alright, then. What’s the one thing you’d crave if you could have anything right now?”

Fleur’s eyes lit up as she responded with a playful grin. “Well, what I really miss is a McDonald’s cheeseburger meal with some large fries and a Diet Coke. Wow, I’d love that right now.”

Lena’s eyebrows shot up in mock astonishment. “McDonald’s? Really? That’s what you miss the most? And Diet Coke? I heard that stuff is terrible for you. Didn’t your fancy studies teach you anything? What about a beautiful steak or a proper home-cooked meal?”

Fleur laughed, the sound bright and carefree. “HEY! I don’t care what they say. That was my guilty pleasure after a long, grueling day. I was never really one for the high life; I just liked indulging in those simple, small joys. Let a girl be!”

Lena shook her head, smiling warmly. “I can relate to that. Sometimes it’s the little things that keep us going.”

Fleur tilted her head with a mischievous glint. “Alright, since you’ve judged my fast-food cravings, I’m expecting something truly spectacular from you. What do you miss the most?”

Lena chuckled softly. “Well, if I’m being honest... I’d say just a really reallyreallygood slice of pizza. The kind with the cheese pull that takes your breath away!”

Fleur’s eyes widened in playful mock surprise. “Pizza? Pizza, really? That’s so New York of you.”

“And McDonald’s is soooo American of you,” Lena shot back with a grin.

They both laughed, the tension from earlier conversations lifting in the air as their banter continued. It almost felt like normality. As if the world around them was back to the old days, pre-virus.

“I’m very curious though,” Fleur said, leaning in. “What made you become a firefighter? Was it your height? Did everyone tell you that you had to do this?”

Lena smirked at the jab. “Actually, I was kind of bred to do something in public services. Both my parents were involved for as long as I can remember.”

“Oh really? What did they do?”

“My father was a fire chief in my hometown, and my mother was a paramedic.”

“Wow. That does sound like you were destined to follow in your father’s footsteps. Was that something you actually wanted to do?” Fleur asked, her curiosity genuine now.

Lena considered the question for a moment, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the arm of the couch. “I don’t really know. I don’t really care. It’s what I’m good at, so I don’t regret it.”

Fleur raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Lena’s pragmatic attitude. “That’s a positive way to look at it. But did you ever have dreams outside of firefighting? Anything you wished you’d done differently?”

Lena’s gaze turned introspective as she pondered the question. “I suppose there were times when I wondered what it would have been like to pursue something else. I was always good at science, math, things like that. But I never really had the chance to explore those interests. Everything was so focused on public service and following in my parents' footsteps.”

Fleur tilted her head, reflecting on Lena’s words. “It sounds like you were shaped by a strong sense of duty and responsibility. Did you ever feel pressured to live up to that legacy?”

Lena sighed, nodding slowly. “Yes, definitely. There was always this expectation to live up to the family name. It wasn’t overtly pushed on me, but it was there, in the background. I think that’s why I didn’t really question it too much. I just fell into it.”

Fleur smiled softly, understanding the weight of inherited expectations. “I can relate to that. My own journey was quite different, but I also had expectations to meet.”

Lena’s interest was piqued. “Really? How so?”

Fleur took a deep breath, her expression becoming more reflective. “I’ve been bright from a young age. I had a thirst for knowledge that couldn’t be quenched. My parents weren’t really involved in my education. They sort of just sent me off to a school for advanced students and left me to navigate it on my own.”

“That sounds incredibly difficult. How old were you?” Lena asked, her tone both curious and empathetic.

“I was about 12 years old when they sent me away,” Fleur admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and regret.

“12? That’s insane! I can’t believe they’d do that!” Lena exclaimed, sitting up in shock. “Were you scared? Did you feel abandoned?”

Fleur nodded, her eyes distant. “At the time, it felt like I was being abandoned. I resented them deeply. But now, with everything that’s happened, I see it differently. It was a harsh path, but it shaped me into who I am today. It made me resilient and independent.”

Lena leaned forward, genuinely interested. “So, you’ve made peace with it then?”

Fleur gave a small, wistful smile. “Yes, I have. I’ve learned to appreciate the strength it gave me, even if the process was painful.”

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