𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐃 | 𝟏𝟖+

sixty-four; pride

A U R O R A

"I know things will never be the same, time we lost will never be replaced. I'm the reason you forgot to love. So don't be scared to live again."

. . .

Carla is coming today. And I'm a bit nervous, even though I'm not the one she's going to talk to.

Riccardo has been pretty cool about it. He isn't worried nor affected by the fact that he's going to see her today.

My mind has been distracted, and while I succeed at focusing on work, the thought that she's coming over keeps on nagging my mind.

I want to talk to her. But I know that it's not my place and I don't deserve it.

The thought keeps on plaguing me, even when I go out for lunch with James. He's talking about something and even though I'm responding and nodding every once in a while, my mood is a bit down.

I get up and head for the restroom, entering with another girl at the same time. She's a bit shorter than me, has the slightest tan and dark brown hair. You'd think it's black. Though I notice she has dyed the layer underneath the top of her hair red.

I see a lot of girls doing that, lately.

She sends me a sheepish grin and lets me enter first. I thank her and enter the restroom.

"Hey, uhm, do you have a pad?" she asks, making me turn around. "Oh, yeah, sure," I tell her and dig into my purse, taking one out and handing it over to her.

She has light-brown eyes, with a hint of green in them if you look closely. Like mine, a bit. Her lips are full and she has a lean figure.

"Thank you so much," she breathes and enters one of the stalls. I do the same.

"Of course," I chuckle. "Wouldn't want you to leak through your clothes."

"Ugh, I know. I think it should be normalized, though," she replies.

"That's so true! I think it's so sad when women don't tell each other when they've leaked through. They say we need to support one another but are doing one hell of a bad job at it," I sigh.

"That's what I say all the fucking time. People call me crazy for being a feminist. Like what?"

I snort. "They're stupid."

"Period."

I giggle. "I'm Aurora, by the way," I say.

"That's such a beautiful name! I've got the most boring one," she says.

"Thank you! What's yours?"

"I'm Julie."

"Nice to meet you, Julie."

"Likewise, Aurora," she says and I can hear the smile in her voice. We both exit the stalls and go to wash our hands.

"Good talk," she smiles, and I return it. "Good talk," I laugh. It eased my mind off the whole Carla thing.

She surprises me by pulling me into a hug. "Everything will be fine, don't worry," she says and her voice holds a promise.

And then she exits the restroom, and she's gone as if she was never there.