Blurred Reflections

Chapter 2

Angelina dreaded the passing hours as she sat in her office, her mind consumed by apprehension. She had arrived early that morning, desperately hoping that her encounter with Ben was nothing more than a haunting dream. With her eyes closed, she wore her glasses, shielding herself from the piercing sunlight that seeped through the windows and would only make her overly partial blindness worse. With a racing heart, she called out to her phone, "Hey Siri, what time is it?"

"10:55," Siri replied, leaving her with a mere five minutes to compose herself before Ben's arrival. The thought that unsettled her the most was her inability to recall the events that had transpired between them all those years ago. This meant she couldn't afford to let her guard down and trust him blindly again. She had made a promise to herself, vowing to forget the four names that had once been her lifeline, reducing them now to nothing more than burdensome memories carrying the deadweight of her eyesight. As her mind wandered off, she slowly found herself being trapped once again in these very memories.

It was April 25th, 2005 when Angelina found herself annoyed by one of her best friends, Becca, incessantly badgering her about attending a party. Parties were never her scene. She would much rather lose herself in the pages of a good book or indulge in her favorite TV shows. However, with three of her four closest friends being raging extroverts, it was often the majority that emerged victorious in their debates.

"Lina, come on. It's just one party. You're 19 and in college, for crying out loud. Have some fun!" Becca argued, determined to sway Angelina to her side.

Seeking solace, Angelina looked to her other friends, hoping they would rescue her from Becca's relentless persuasion. Hayden, much like herself, preferred the comforts of staying in rather than subjecting themselves to blaring music, sweaty bodies, and crowded rooms.

"Becca, we've already been to one party this month. I think that's enough for you," Hayden interjected, his voice calm yet resolute.

"Do you even hear yourself right now? One party a month is ridiculous," Jessica chimed in, her tone laced with incredulity.

"I don't know, guys... I'm with Lina and Hayden on this one. I'd rather stay home this time. I guess only Tom can break the tie," Ben finally spoke up, voicing his agreement with Angelina and Hayden.

Angelina casted a grateful glance at her friends as they continued to debate the merits of going out versus staying in. She couldn't help but smile, cherishing the bond they had formed. Back then, her only wish was for their friendship to endure indefinitely. But somehow, the word "indefinitely" had unraveled within a mere five months after this day.

A knock on the door jolted Angelina back to the present, January 21st, 2022. It had been a while since she had experienced such vivid flashbacks of those memories. She grew angry with herself, frustrated that just the sound of one of their voices had the power to transport her back in time, eroding the progress she had painstakingly made in moving forward.

Taking a deep breath, Angelina straightened her posture, determined not to let the past overshadow the present. She steeled herself for the impending reunion with Ben, her heart heavy with dread.

And as she heard the door open, Angelina's unresolved past and uncertain future converged in with the sound of his boots being the first thing Angelina made note of. She opened her eyes slightly, only seeing blurred blobs that didn't even look human. The bright light hurt as it always did, but yet she still tried in hopes that she could actually see something other than just blobs.

"Ms. Romano, your 11:00 appointment has arrived. He's entering now."

Her assistant Olivia stated. Angelina nodded, fearful of what her voice would turn out to be had she spoken. She heard the sounds of his heavy boot draw closer, and closer, and closer. Until she could feel his presence on the other side of her desk.

"Good morning Li-sorry, Angelina. Thanks again for doing this."

Ben said as he awkwardly stepped in. Angelina took a deep breath and kept her composure the best she could.

"Have a seat, please." She said in a steady tone. They sat in silence for a few seconds, but she decided to be firm in her approach with him.

"Let's get straight to the point then. Why are you here, Ben?"

He sighed and kept his gaze on Angelina although he was sure that she couldn't tell. He looked down, dragging his fingers through his hair. It was shameless of him to ask her a favor. He knew that very well, which is why she was his last resort.

"I'm being...framed for something I didn't exactly do. Every lawyer I've been too has tried to talk me into pleading guilty which will only result in jail time. I can't go to jail, Angelina. I just managed to get my life together. Your law firm was well talked about so I decided to give it a try, but I had no idea that you owned it until I sat in on the trial yesterday and saw your face. You've really done well for yourself, Lina."

Angelina sucked in a breath. This wasn't missed by Ben, however. He could only imagine the pain she felt that night, the pain she must feel for not remembering what had truly happened. It was better for the past to stay hidden, even if she deserved to know the true.

"If there's a possibility that you could be charged then that means they have enough evidence to prove you wrong, right? I need the whole story here Ben, I can't help you without it."

She replied, releasing a long breath. This was the last thing she'd wanted to hear from Ben. Although Angelina didn't wish to associate with him, she couldn't help but feel a bit of worry creeping in.

"Ok, Im sure you don't know much, but I started a company with Hayden. Things were taking off