Always And Forever

02

Asante

Its been three years. Three years since the passing of Nathaniel and my child. And its been hard. I get these sad waves everytime i think of them or whenever i see anything that reminds me of him.

A few weeks after the funeral i moved to The United States, Seattle. I couldn't take it anymore. Australia had many memories of Nate. It only brought me sadness.

I walked out of my apartment and got a taxi to work. Everyone had to be early today as they were apparently introducing a new CEO because our old one went into pension. The cab reached Sky Attorneys and i got out. No  I'm not a lawyer. But I'm in law school.

I walked through the doors and everyone was piled up in front of the front desk. Charile Black, our now former CEO was at the front reciting some speech. I slid in between my co-workers and went to the front since I'm a bit shorter than alot of these people. "Now that I'll be gone i hope that you all we treat Mr Cortez with the same respect that i received. Mr Cortez." He called out and he walked out.

That was him. It was my Nate. It was Nathaniel. But it can't be he died in the crash. He looks exactly like him he's just a bit taller and more well built than the last time i saw him. "Thank you Charlie" he smiled and that voice and smile. Its his. "Greetings everyone. I'm Nathaniel Cortez and yes i will be the CEO of Sky Attorneys from now on and moving foward. Hopefully we can all treat each other with respect and we'll all get along perfectly." He ended his short speech with a smile and a tear left my eye. His name is Nathaniel.

He caught my stare and squinted his eyes as if  he's trying to remember something. More tears left my eyes and i quickly left the crowed and headed towards the bathroom. Taking out my phone i looked for a picture of Nate and it was him.

I dialed Elizabeth's number and she answered on the second ring. "Asante. Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"Liz. I am. I am at work i just need to confirm something"

"Are you crying? At work?"

"Nate. Was he identified before his burial?"

"Asante." She was hesitant. "I couldn't. I couldn't bare the thought of seeing my boy in a wooden box so i didn't go. I asked for his casket and went on with the burial"

"Oh okay. Bye" He didn't die. He couldn't have died, he's here in the very same building as me. But he did. He died, I saw his lifeless body on the hospital bed and the doctors pronounced him dead. I remember everything from that night. The hospital called me and i went there. I went into his room and he wasn't breathing.

Maybe i was imagining things. Yes. No. They just look alike. Nathaniel Cortez and Nathaniel Miller aren't the same person. Maybe Liz had twins. But if it were so she would've remembered it.

I fixed myself and managed to stop the tears than walked back to the reception and everyone was clearing out. I was about to go when Mr. Black called me. "Charlie" i smiled at him. We were good friends so I was allowed to call him by his name.

"Asante. Since you've been working here for a long time I was thinking. Mr Cortez here is in need of a PA" I wasn't about to protest because I'm not a lawyer and technically with Charlie resigning I'd be going back to being a receptionist but i don't want to be his PA. "That didn't come out right. Not necessarily his PA but someone to help out Nathan here whenever he needs it" why did he call him Nathan? His name is Nate.

"I think I'm in need of a PA"

I turned to 'Nathan' and he smiled softly at me. "I don't think that's necessary" I turned back to Charlie.

"Asante you'll be getting paid more than when you were working with me." I could use extra. Maybe I could reconsider.

"Okay fine"