Fallen Angel

3. Supermarket and a note

Aurora went out early in the morning to shop at the supermarket. It was a pleasant Saturday morning; the wind was soft and the sky was very blue. As she looked through the vegetable section and checked her shopping list, someone approached her from behind.

"Wow, shopping on such a splendid morning?"

Before turning around, Aurora already knew who was the person talking to her. How could he always find her everywhere to bother her?

"Yes..." she said, ignoring him.

"What a coincidence, I'm also shopping."

"Okay."

Aurora moved away from the vegetables to approach the dairy products. Ethan followed her.

"Do you know what I think? I think that anyone who sees us would think we make a good couple."

"What are you saying! No one would think this" she said. "Also, weren't you interested in Olivia?" she continued in a calmer tone as she took a package of yogurts.

"I only said that they would think we make a good couple, not that we have to be a couple".

"It's a very strange comment if it doesn't imply anything else."

They both went to the till to pay and then left the supermarket side by side. A few meters further, they found a neighbour. She was an old lady who knew Aurora for years now.

"Hello, Aurora! How are you?"

"Hello, Isabella! I'm fine, I went to buy a few things."

"Oh, but a girl like you must take advantage of a day like today to go for a walk and do fun things! Is he your boyfriend?" she asked, pointing to Ethan, who had stayed behind Aurora.

"What?! Oh, no, no, not at all. We are classmates." —Suddenly embarrasment ran through her body.

"Well, you make a very good couple."

Ethan smiled and gave Aurora a soft tap on the shoulder as if to say "see, I told you so."

"Ah... hahaha I don't think so. Well, see you soon!"

Aurora cut off the conversation and left before Isabella could add anything else. The couple remained silent for a few moments, but Ethan couldn't help but talk about the subject.

"What did I tell you? I was right."

"And what do you want, a medal?"

Ethan didn't say anything else, and since he was right behind her, he didn't notice Aurora's blushing. They continued in silence until they reached home. Ethan was about to enter the elevator when Aurora stopped in front of the mailboxes in the lobby and opened hers, slowly and with a sad face, again. Ethan was going to yell for her to hurry up, but he noticed that she was absent. What did she expect to find there, in the mailbox? When she closed it, he reacted.

"Aurora! Come on, the door is closing!"

"You're so irritating, I'm here!"

And suddenly it seemed that she had not felt that sadness of a few seconds ago. She was pretending to be strong, he was sure about it, but in reality, something was worrying her.

***

On Monday they returned to class and Olivia, as usual, was already knocking on Aurora's door and ringing the bell like a madwoman.

"Come on, Aurora, we're going to be late again!"

Ethan came out of his apartment, weirded out.

"Hey, what happens? What's all this noise?"

"Oh, good morning, Ethan! Aurora doesn't come out, as usual. She's a sleepyhead."

"Wow, she looks so responsible though."

"By the way, what are you doing here? Don't tell me you live next door to her?"

"Well... yes, coincidences of life."

"Oh my God, and she didn't tell me!"

Olivia made a face of disappointment and continued hitting the door.

"Oh, look, if she doesn't want to come, it's her problem. I don't plan on being late today."

"Damn, it's hard to wake her up," he added. Immediately, Olivia took his arm and forced him to go with her to the faculty.

Aurora didn't go to class that day. Olivia called her later and Aurora explained that she was not feeling well and hadn't slept well. Her friend wished her a speedy recovery, and Aurora almost assured that she would be fine the next day. This conversation took place while Olivia and Ethan were coming back home after class. He heard it all and sighed. Behind the appearance of an angel, in the end she was a human.

Arriving home, Olivia went to the elevator and Ethan stopped for a moment at the mailboxes to check his. Then, he entered the elevator.

"Listen, Olivia... do you know who Aurora is waiting for a letter from?" he asked, before Olivia went to her apartment.

"Letter?"

"Yes... Every day I see her looking at the mailbox. I guess she's waiting for a letter. Do you know who it could be?"

His blue eyes settled on Olivia's grey ones, begging for an answer.

"Ah... no, I don't know, I'm sorry. —Olivia looked at the floor with an expression somewhere between sad and disappointed.

"Yeah... I thought that since you're her best friend, maybe you'd know. I guess there are things that are always kept private."

"The day she wants, she will explain it to you."

"I don't think that day will ever come, she doesn't like me very much."

Olivia laughed softly and went home. Ethan looked at her strangely, but he ignored her giggle and went inside his apartment.

***

Aurora was already feeling better and, the next morning, she went down to walk near the river. But first, she looked at the mailbox. Opening it, tears appeared in her honey-coloured eyes. There was a letter. Or, better said, a note. Finally, after so long. Turning it over to see what was written on it, she read:

"Smile, baby. Life should be lived with more smiles and fewer sighs. I hope you are feeling better. You know I'm always by your side (literally).

—Ethan

PS: Please don't burn this note even if you hate me. I've spent the day worried about you, and that's not one of my jokes."

"He's dumb!", she thought. But actually, as much as she wanted to be angry, he couldn't help but smile. And at that right moment, Ethan entered the building, while she hugged the letter to her chest.

"Aurora smiling in front of the mailbox? I'm glad my medicine worked." Aurora turned around, surprised, and blushed.

"Uhm! Don't even think about it! How dare you leave me notes in the mailbox? Don't play with my feelings!" she exclaimed, pretending to be angry.

"Whatever you say, but I managed to make you smile instead of sighing, and with that I'm already satisfied," he winked at her while he fixed his hair, which had been stirred by the wind, and entered the elevator while the doors were closing.

"He's stupid!", she said to herself. But she realized that he hadn't laughed at her or made a joke about her hugging the letter; nor had he touched her like other times or had played the bad boy role. She realized that, deep down, that note had made her happy. Happier than she wanted to admit.