Page 6 of True Sight
I laugh at her warning and shake my head. We’ve had this conversation almost a hundred times already but no amount of less than cheerful anecdotes will sway my decision.
“I’m positive. Gran was sure, too, which is why she left me the money in the first place. She told me so in her letterand I want to make her proud—even from beyond the grave.”
“But you could always set up your studio here. There’s loads of people who would want to come to your classes—you’ve already built up such a strong local community anyway.” She shakes my arm and nearly whines.
She wasn’t wrong, Ihavebuilt up a strong local community here in London over the last five years. Falling in love with fitness and making it my entire career was never my original plan, it was more so something I fell into. After my parents kicked me out and wrote me out of their life, I struggled with depression and anxiety. Then one day Ellie asked me to go with her to a dance fitness class and the rest is history. I came alive in ways I had never experienced in that class and knew that if it could make me feel that way, it could make other people feel that way too. Dancing and incorporating it into fitness became almost like an obsession to me. It helped me become more confident and self-assured and I wanted to give that to other people. So I did the work and became a fitness instructor with a focus in dance fitness. Over the years, I started to share my workouts online and had amassed a following of students and supporters who tuned into my live workouts each and every week. For years I’ve wanted to open up a studio but never had the money to do so—until now.
“Ellie, I’m not staying. I’ve already got a spot for the studio picked out and the renovations start next week. The new tenants move in here just a few days after I’m gone. It’s a done deal.” I pat her hand to try and comfort her because I know my leaving is as big of a change for her as it is for me. We’ve been inseparable since meeting all those years ago and she’s become like a sister to me. She came into my life at one of my lowest points, picked up all my broken pieces,and carefully put me back together, showing me that I was still worthy of love every step of the way.
She purses her lips and blows out a breath before clicking her tongue at me. “I know it is and I really am proud of you for going after your dream. I know how much you’ve worked for this. It’s going to be amazing.You’regoing to be amazing.” She flings her arms around my neck and pulls me into a hug, sloshing our shared tea all over the floor in the process.
“No! That was the last bit of that,” I exclaim, pulling away from her and assessing the mess.
“Oops,” she says as her head shrinks into her shoulders. “Guess you’ll have to let me buy you a fresh cup then.”
“This is your way of getting me to procrastinate on my packing—it won’t work you know. Iwillbe getting on that plane tomorrow and you’ll be the one paying to ship the stuff that didn’t get packed because of your little distractions.” I flick a hand at her as I walk to find some paper towels to mop up the spilt tea.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” She sighs, standing from our spot on the mattress. “Come on, pet, let me buy you a fresh spot of tea.” She flings her purse over her shoulder and looks at me over the bridge of her small, rectangle sunglasses looking as posh as ever.
Tossing the sopping wet paper towels into the bin, I rinse my hands quickly and grab the keys to my flat before stepping up next to her.
“Think those southerners you’re about to call your neighbors will be able to make anything that even resembles a proper cup of tea? Do they even know what good tea is inCharlestown?” she jeers.
“Charleston,” I correct. “And yes, I’ll have you know that the only tea garden in the entire country is just outside ofthe city. I discovered that little fact one evening while I was researching my new home.”
“Onetea garden? Just one?” She draws out her words to depict just how sad she finds my fun fact. “I’ll be sure to send you a monthly box ofrealtea.”
I roll my eyes at her and open the front door, waving for her to go ahead of me. As I turn to pull the door closed, I take in my place and lick my lips apprehensively knowing that it will be one of the last times I do.
4
CONRAD
My fingers click across my keyboard as I work to finish the line of code I’ve been working on for the last several hours. What my current project lacks in complexity and difficulty, it makes up for in monotony and repetition. The current client I’m working for has asked me to reset certain parts of her site to make it more user friendly and responsive across all platforms—something I can do in my sleep after years of being in this line of work. While many people find what I do to be mind numbingly boring, I find comfort in my keyboard and the inner workings of all things digital. Computers and phones are as black and white as you can get—there is no guessing with them. You either have it right and everything works or you don’t and you need to figure out what the issue is. One or the other, no weird in betweens like you get with people.
And while Hanna might say that my line of work protects me from getting hurt again, I’m okay with that because it also helps me pay my bills. Even a few weeks later, her words from our first session still stick in my brain. So much sothat I feel like they’re starting to scream at me which is why I relocated to my favorite coffee shop to work for the day. That, and because I can get a triple shot of espresso here which I need after another tumultuous night of sleep because of a nightmare.
Normally I have to work from home at my full setup but the occasional project allows me to work just as easily from my laptop. So when I woke up this morning and couldn’t shake the lingering darkness of my nightmare, I packed my bag and headed here. Now I’m tucked into the corner of a woodsy coffee shop with high ceilings and old restored floors. I like this coffee shop most because people tend to leave you alone as they’re too busy bustling through their day to notice you in the first place. It’s the kind of place that people come to for meetings, work on their computers, or meet with friends on the random day off. There’s a buzz to the place that makes it feel alive without also being distracting.
Adingcomes out of my computer indicating that a new email has just manifested in my inbox. As an ‘inbox zero’ kind of guy, I expand the tab I keep open with it to find a new email from a client whose project is set to start in the next week. After agreeing to take his project, we’d signed the necessary contracts and agreed to start once he is settled in the Lowcountry. Pulling Henry’s email open, my eyes start to scan over his words.
Conrad!
I’m so very excited to get started on the development of my app and studio tech. I’ve been in Charleston for a week now and things are well on their way at the studio. My contractors have assured me it will be up and ready to take students by the first of the year. Is that enough time for you? If the app isn’t ready bythen, that’s okay, we will keep working on that after the grand opening.
I was hoping you wouldn’t mind meeting in person sometime soon? I’m very much a face to face human and love chatting IRL rather than online, which is funny because that’s how my whole business runs! Online! Anywho, let me know if you have some time next week to meet for a spot of tea (or coffee, as I’m sure you might prefer).
All the best,
Henry Baker
What the hell does ‘IRL’ mean? I pull out my phone and send a text.
What the hell does ‘IRL’ mean?
Margaret, my only friend outside of the guys, responds quickly.
‘In real life’, honey. It’s shorthand.
