Page 40 of Pillow Talk
‘Sen, I get it, you know.’
‘Get what?’
‘Loving someone so much that you’ll celebrate their achievements even when that person has hurt you.’
Sen remained silent as he turned into the driveway of his grandfather’s mansion.
Shona yawned, stretched and kicked off the blankets.
She’d had an odd dream about her grandmother. The old woman was shouting at Shona’s dad and he just kept his head down and walked away. Shona stood up to her: ‘How dare you speak to my father like that?’ Her dream was so vivid that now, awake, Shona was ready for a fight.
She went to the bathroom, brushed her teeth and stepped into the shower. The hot water washed away her anger and she smiled, remembering that Anni had got back last night.
After a quick breakfast, Shona packaged two veils to drop off at the courier. There was no headgear to go with them; the brides simply wanted tulle featuring Shona’s intricate embroidery. She hadn’t done embroidery in a while so her fingers still hurt from the fine needlework that had taken many hours to complete.
Shona dressed in denim shorts and a tank top. It was ascorching day and the courier company was quite a distance away. She could have taken a taxi but she wanted to be outdoors. She slipped on her most comfortable pair of flat sandals, grabbed her handbag and set off down the stairs carrying the two packages.
About five minutes into her walk, someone called her name. She turned to see Sven approaching her.
‘Hey Shona. Where are you going with those?’
‘To Go-To Couriers on Armstrong Street.’
‘Let me help you and tag along,’ Sven said, taking both packages from her.
‘Thank you. When do you leave on your next mission?’
They walked slowly, side by side.
‘Actually, I’m not going back. I resigned and flew back home. I’m taking a three-month break and then I start at a hospital in Grayston.’
‘Wow, that’s amazing,’ Shona replied.
‘It is but it wasn’t an easy choice. I loved the outreach work, helping people who needed it the most. But the politics got too much for me. Too many want to be the boss and too many are slacking off. I just had to make a decision and leave,’ he explained.
‘How did you feel when you resigned?’
‘Like the biggest jerk alive. I felt like I was letting down so many people. But I felt liberated too and I told myself I wasn’t going to look back. Does that make sense?’
Shona nodded.
‘It does. I made similar changes recently,’ she replied.
‘I know,’ he stated.
Shona stopped walking. He stopped too. She looked at him.
‘You know?’
‘I just got home on the afternoon of…’
‘Afternoon of what?’
‘I shouldn’t have said anything, Shona. I’m sorry,’ he said.
‘Please tell me, Sven,’ she pleaded.
‘I was unloading my boxes from the service lift when I overheard the fight with your boyfriend,’ he said awkwardly.
