"Who is that in table 5?" Emma asked, focusing her gaze on the guy She had just spoken to.
"I don't know, this is the first time I am seeing him here.""Here."Mark passed Emma the coffee he had ordered for."Does someone have a crush?" Mark said teasingly.Emma smiled, picking up the order. "I haven't even known him for an hour.""Love works in mysterious ways, my dear," he said and Emma chuckled.As Emma moved over to table 5, She caught sight of the smile that welcomed me."Thank you.""You're welcome,"Emma was ready to leave when he handed me the pay."Here."She checked in it and he had left a 100-dollar tip. No one leaves that much tip."Thank you."She walked back to the counter after she had resisted staring into his eyes again and behaving like some freak. He was fine actually, She wouldn't deny that."He gave a 100dollar tip.""Wow, he probably likes you too.""Mark," Emma said, raising my eyebrows at him."But he seems old.""Why would you say that? He is so fine, probably in his early twenties.""Who reads a newspaper these days, if they are not maybe 40 something.""People still do, Mark. Not everyone likes the internet.""You're defending him already."Emma smiled "just saying."She whirled around to look at table 5, but nobody was there. He departed while she and Mark were speaking."Table 5 is gone."Did you at least ask for his name?"Why would I do that?" Emma said, rolling her eyes at Mark."Perhaps because you don't seem to have stopped talking about him since he came in," he suggested and She laughed while going back to work.Time went by slowly at work today and Emma just couldn't wait to get home.She waited tables as usual while brainstorming on how to get past the first page of the book she was writing.Writing used to be easy for her. At first, she had thought it was the usual writer's block but it's been months now and still, nothing has changed.She had written a couple of short stories in high school and also several poems but nothing She felt was worth being published.She kept most of my writings to herself, and never really showed anyone. Even when people asked, She just always made up an excuse to not show them.She just always felt She wasn't good enough but then She knew how much She loved writing and felt complete doing it.Her phone beeped and She realised it was a message from my sister.I am home.She smiled as She read the message."I need to leave now," She said to mark, untying my apron."We are not closed yet.""It's almost time, please cover for me," She said, packing my stuff into my bag."You came late, now you're leaving earlier than everyone," Mark said, narrowing his eyes at Emma."Please love."Emma hurried out through the door "thank you, I owe you one."Helen came home mostly at least once every month but Emma hadn't seen her in two months. She missed her a lot and was excited to see her again.Helen was two years older than Emma, she was married and that was why she only came to visit once a month.Helen was Emma's greatest cheerleader, best friend and sister all in one. She could tell Helen everything and anything.On days when Helen visited, they both stayed up all night, binging their favourite N*****x series and catching up on everything that they had both missed out on.Emma was home after some minutes. On most days, she walked back from home because according to her, it helped clear her head and that was necessary for a writer.On the second knock, Helen opened the door and Emma flung her hands around her, engulfing her in a tight hug."I missed you.""I missed you even more."Emma released herself from the hug and then stared at Helen with a smile like she hadn't seen her in forever."We have so much to catch up on," Emma said, as they both walked in.They both went into the room and then sat on the bed. Emma dropped all she brought from work and sat eagerly next to her sister."Tell me everything, I want to know," Emma asked eagerly."What do you want to know," Helen chuckled."Everything," Emma said, hitting Helen playfully on her arm.Helen winced and pulled back in reflex."What's wrong?" Emma asked concerned noticing how Helen's face fell."Nothing.""It's nothing.""Leave it, it's nothing."Emma tried pulling Helen's sleeves up but she was resisting and wouldn't let her."I said stop!!" Helen exclaimed defensively, getting up from where she was sitting.Emma stood with her, she walked close to where Helen was standing."You promised you would leave the next time it happened."Emma knew what had happened, it wasn't the first time. The pain, the situation and the reaction all were familiar."He promised he will change.""That's the same thing you said the last time," Emma said, her heart aching for her sister. She knew she didn't deserve any of it, no one did.Helen used to smile a lot, was bobbly, always happy and had great dreams. She got married and everything changed.Her smile faded gradually and even on days when she smiled there wasn't any shine in her eyes. It was distant, blank and had no colour.She withdrew from everyone and wouldn't talk much. She stopped doing all the things she used to love and she stopped dreaming.She was lost and was now a shadow of herself but she was oblivious to what had happened to her.Mike used to love her but after marriage, everything changed. Helen believes he still loves her and never means to hurt her but Emma knew it was because he was so good at manipulating Helen.Helen sat back on the edge of the bed, and Emma sat next to her."I can't just leave, I have nowhere to go. I have no job, nothing. He gives me money when I ask for it and I use it to help mother with bills too.""You have I and mother. We will always be here for you. You can come back home, there is space, we can share my room like we used to.""Mother is barely able to feed you two, I can't come back here. It's going to be tough on her.""I am sure she will understand.""I don't have a job, it's going to be hard because I have no degree.""You have always talked about fashion school, you love to design and your designs are amazing too.""Life isn't that easy, Emma. Some dreams don't come true.""This can," Emma said, holding her sister's hands in hers and looking at her pale face."I know you're worried about me but I am going to be fine. I promise you."Helen pulled Emma into a hug but Emma wasn't convinced still. She was really worried for her sister."What can I do to make you leave him?" Emma asked."I don't know.""I am serious," Emma said."Maybe find me a job at a fashion store or get me to fashion school and a place to live," Helen laughed."Now stop worrying, I will be fine. Mother raised strong girls.""Now tell me about your new book.""I want us to talk about you," Helen smiled."My life is boring, yours is more interesting," Helen said. She wanted them to stop talking about her life because it made her understand the reality of all of it more, which she is afraid to face.Helen pulled Emma towards her, making her rest her head on her shoulder."What happened this time?"Helen hesitated for a bit, as memories of the night came flashing back in her head."He found out about my contraceptive pills, he was enraged, threw everything out, hit me till I fell on the floor crying."A tear slipped down Helen's cheeks, as she narrated what had happened.Emma raised her head looking at her sister's face lingering with sadness and fear. Emma's heart aches for her."I don't want to have a baby with him, I don't!!" Helen sobbed and Emma pulled her into a tight hug.Emma knew that all that Helen said about it being hard to leave was true. Their mum was already too exhausted from taking care of her alone and if Helen were to ret
"Are you journaling?" He asked, looking down at the book on Emma's legs."I am writing," She said and could see how confused Eric looked, so she added. "I am a writer.""Like Shakespeare?" He asked, raising his brows.Emma chuckled. He was like every other typical person, who saw writing as probably something mundane."Yes, like Shakespeare but I haven't quite gotten to Shakespeare's level yet though.""So, is this like a hobby or something?""I want it to be more than that. I want to make a living out of it one day. Sell thousands of copies of my books, be the best-selling author someday," Emma explained with so much excitement.Eric noticed how her eyes shone, as she spoke about it but then the glow was drained out in a few seconds as her face fell and she looked down at her book."What's wrong? You seem both excited and sad about it.""Because I have to write a book to be an author and I can't seem to even get past the first chapter.""It's going to get better," Eric said, unsure.
Eric stared at the notepad, on his bed as he scrolled through his phone. He was trying his best not to open it because he didn't know what might be in it.He picked it up from where he had kept it, staring at the cover. He eventually opened it without thinking, he was bored and exhausted from all that had happened in the day and just really needed to do something different. He turned the first page and even after the bold warning of "do not open" was written on it, he still went ahead to open it.He saw her first poem written on the second page and read it slowly, it was nice and he loved it. He sat up straight on his bed, turning the pages one after the other and reading them. He had completely forgotten about the warning at the beginning and how she would feel about it if she found out.He wanted to know all there was to know about Emma and the book with him was one way he knew he could.Emma hurried to the park once it was time for her break, she was hoping to find her notepad th
Emma sat on her bed with her notepad in front of her. Staring at the only thing written on the first page which was "chapter One".She picked up her pen and then began "she knew him even before she met him. Everything about him was familiar, his touch, love, speech. Everything."Emma continued for about 2 hours later. She smiled as she dropped her pen, scanning through the two pages she had just written.Her writer's block was finally over and she couldn't be more excited."He has been sitting there for close to an hour, are you going to talk to him?" Mark asked as they both looked in the direction of Eric.He had been sitting at the restaurant and had requested to speak to Emma but she wasn't bulging."I don't want to," Emma said, picking up an order."He doesn't look like he will leave there.""Then he will have to remain there forever because I am not speaking to him.""I am lost about something. Catch me up real quick," Mark said, "you were going on and on about this guy some week
Emma looked forward to going to the park on most days. It was becoming a routine and a part of her life.She went there for her breaks and to brainstorm on ideas for her books while Eric found it so relaxing being with her."Why do you write romance genres?" Eric asked.They were both sitting on their usual bench at the park. It was a sunny afternoon and not so quiet one at the park like on most weekdays. Kids were playing on the swings while parents sat around, making sure their kids were within sight.Emma figured it was summer break and everyone had their kids at home and that was why the park was so filled. Emma dropped the pen she was using on her notepad then turned to face Eric."Because I love love," she said and Eric smiled"what does that even mean.""I feel love is the best emotion ever and it wouldn't be a life well lived if one didn't get to experience it.""It's just an emotion, nothing serious.""Don't talk about love that way, it's more than that. Love is beautiful, a
Eric checked his phone realising he had actually missed his mother's calls. He had been too busy with Emma and had completely forgotten his mother asked him to be home early because his dad wanted to discuss about something. Eric got home several minutes later and hurried inside the house. "You're late," His dad said, as he walked into their mansion.His parents were at the dinning table, they were done eating and the maid was picking their plates up already."I am sorry, I got caught up," Eric said, sitting at the table."I called the office, you weren't there.""I went out for a while.""To where? I have been calling you all day. This isn't how business is done.""He is sorry," his mum said, glancing from him to his dad."Your son needs to learn how to keep to time and that he can't just wander off to God knows where," he said, cleaning his hands with the towel. "That's not how someone who wants to one day manage a group of company behaves.""I am sorry," Eric said."Your dad has
"Here is your coffee, table 5," Emma teased placing Eric's order on his table.He had come in and sat on table 5 since the first day.Eric laughed."Why do you like to sit here anyway?" Emma asked."It's the best sit available here.""And how did you come to that conclusion?" Emma asked raising her brows."It just happened," he said and they both laughed."When do you leave for break?" he askedEmma checked the wall clock "few minutes from now.""Alright then."Emma went back to her table for work. Eric read a newspaper while watching her work. He did this on some days and it had really become a routine."I really like to walk in the park, clears my head," Eric said, while they both made their way across the park."Same here.""How is the book going? Finished yet?""That's not how books are made, you need time," Emma said and he smiled "okay.""When do I get to read it?" He asked."Soon, I need someone to give an honest opinion about it.""I will and when the book is done, I need a si
"Emma!" Her mother called from the kitchen. "Have you heard from your sister yet?" Emma came out of her room towards her mother who was in the kitchen."I am going to see her later this weekend," Emma replied, picking up chips in the fridge and going to sit in the dinning area."Alright."Maria turned towards her and walked to the dinning. She noticed a package on the table and the inscription on it was from daisy's. It was the shoe Eric got her."Where did you get that?" Maria asked, moving towards where the shoe was."What?""This," Maria said picking the shoe up. "These are from daisy's right?"Yes."She dropped it then looked towards Emma."You can't possibly be spending this much on shoes now. You know how many bills there are to pay!""I didn't spend anything mum.""Everyone knows these are the most expensive shoes in the city. You know we can't afford that," Maria said with a straight face. Emma stood to pick up the shoes. "It was a gift.""From a friend," Emma added.Maria s