Divine Affinity

27

Tacoma's airport lounge was busy on that Christmas Eve. The air was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls, and holiday music played softly in the background. The lounge was decorated with twinkling lights and garlands of greenery, and a towering Christmas tree stood proudly in one corner. Families huddled together on plush couches, sipping hot cocoa, and chatting excitedly. Despite the rush there was a sense of calm and joy in the air. Strangers exchanged warm smiles as they passed by each other, united by the shared experience of the special time of the year. Eiry ventured to drive Rae to the airport even under the usual Seattleite rain, something she was now used to. The two were sitting on a bench sipping on a hot tea while waiting for Rae's flight.

"I can't believe Stone didn't offer to bring you!" Eiry blurted suddenly breaking the silence between them. Rae turned her face to look at her and Eiry realized her friend looked sad. "I'm sorry, Rae..." She whispered.

"I asked him not to." Rae took a deep breath and closed her eyes as if feeling ashamed of her decision.

"Why?" Eiry's eyebrows furrowed. "Why would you even ask him that? Did he offer? Rae!" She bombed her with quick questions not even giving her time to organize her ideas or words to say.

"I just didn't want to say goodbye here..." Rae shrugged. "I know it's stupid, but I don't know..." She shrugged again. "I just didn't want to... end it... here it would be the real ending." Rae looked in Eiry's almond eyes. "This way is like nothing ended and it's just on a limbo..."

"You like him!" Eiry waited a few seconds, but Rae didn't add anything and her expression turned even sadder which cracked Eiry's heart. "Oh, Rae..." She wrapped an arm around her shoulders and the two pouted. "I feel sad when you feel sad, you know that."

"He invited me to come back for New Year's eve." Rae decided to tell her. Eiry pulled away and grinned, but Rae started shaking her head.

"Why not?" Eiry frowned again. "Why not accept his invitation? We are all going, Rae. He is inviting you to be his plus one..."

"Come on, Eir..." Rae rolled her eyes. "Stone is a guy in a band with a lot of girls around him. I don't want to fall for that again."

"Wait..." Eiry rested her cup of tea on the bench and raised her hands to make her stop. Their eyes locked. Then, both her index fingers pointed up as if she had reached a conclusion. "Stone is a guy with a lot of girls around him... I agree..." Eiry nodded. "BUT..." She emphasized. "...it's not like he is a womanizer or anything like that."

"Eir..." Rae rolled her eyes again. "You heard all the gossip in the restrooms as much as I did."

"And that's just it! Gossip!" Eiry paused and the two girls looked at one another. "What? Do you think I believe in it?" Another pause. "Rae! I would leave Ed if I thought half of the things I hear were true. Same about Sone. Obviously he isn't a virgin or a saint, but I can assure you he isn't what those girls say either."

"You only know him for a short time. What do you know?" Rae argued, trying with all her power to find a reason to leave behind all she lived while staying in Seattle.

"I know him enough." Rae saw Eiry almost taking her words at heart. She looked almost offended. "Stone has had his affairs, his one-night stands, his broken relationships like you have." She pointed at Rae that moment. "But he's not an idiot. He's not your ex. But, hey..." Both her palms turned to Rae as she shook her head at the same time. "...it's your life, your decision. I won't say no more." Rae remained silent for a while, just sipping on her tea, and looking at people passing by, and Eiry did the same knowing she was just thinking about what she told her which was her goal.

"Eir..." Rae called after a while and the two looked at one another again. "Do you think he really likes me?"

"I think he does." Eiry nodded at the same time. "I think you like him too and you're struggling. Come on, Rae... you even missed your flight yesterday. You were lucky enough to find a flight back home today."