Page 4 of Their Stolen Kisses
As far as pep talks went, the one I tried to give myself was pretty terrible. Imagining my mother’s crestfallen, heartbroken face when I would break the news about the house sent me into a fresh bout of sniffles. Thinking about the sushi I had for lunch and the plans I was making to take Mom to the place turned those into full-blown sobs.
I knew I shouldn’t have eaten the stupid sushi.
For all my brave words about finding more work, I was out of my office and heading for the elevators as soon as I finished my last tasks and shut down my computer. I needed to get to the nursing home so I could talk this over with my mother. She would know what to do... She always did. And even if she didn’t, she would tell me that things always work out in the end, and I would feel better.
An elevator dinged as I walked into the hallway, just as I felt another wave of salty droplets tug at my already swollen eyelids.No no no, not right now…
I managed to jog past the elevators, nearly tripping in my heels, and I plopped myself down on one of the benches so I had an excuse to look out the window instead of facing whoever stepped out.
Footsteps brushed the carpet of the hall softly, then disappeared - but it was too late. My eyes had already found some hidden reservoir of tears to add to the ones that had already fallen.
I kept an ear out for anyone coming to the elevators until I could finally control the waterworks behind my eyes. The five minutes after that, I spent just gazing miserably out the window. If those buildings weren’t in the way and the distance wasn’t too great, I’d be able to see our house from here.
Then there was a ding, and I jumped, sending a furtive glance over my shoulder. All I saw was movement, then the door sliding closed. At first, I was a bit unnerved by my reaction. But I had to admit I felt… well, almost calm. Like someone had noticed I was crying but decided not to approach. Someone who cared about me.
