Mr and Mrs Denver

Chapter 14

They say people go through so much pain trying to avoid pain. But the content of the adage was seldom understood avidly, notwithstanding even the broad knowledge behind it's meaning. It never made sense before, the gravity to which the heart can succumb to pain in plain sight when the mind is trying to steer clear of a prejudice pain. Not until Tommy Denver resolved into a desperate need for a transfer.

A slow train of anguish ran through his heart that very morning as he walked out of the manager's office. His eyes gazed at the floor as he dragged his feet away from the office and headed to the lounge. He didn't hear the distinct heys and hellos from his colleagues flooding past him. Few faces that noticed his absence switched from a look of pleasantry to a furrowed glare, but just for a brief moment.

"So?" Ricky sprang off the coachella sofa on the sight of his friend walking into the lounge. "Was it an approve?"

Tommy shook his head. Ricky huffed out disappointed. He looked at Tommy, silently wishing he could do more for him, that is, if he could do anything at all. "Can we still go out for a drink?"

Tommy took a quick glare at his friend, before lowering the glare to his wristwatch. It was about the end of his shift for the day. "I think I left my coat in my office. I'mma go grab it real quick," he excused himself.

Ricky's response to it was a nod, so he sat back as Tommy disappeared from the lounge. He stretched out one leg while sitting to allow his hand go in through the pocket-sized passage in the side of his pants as he reach for the cell phone harbored in his pocket. The apple device came into view as he brought it up close to his face. He scrolled through his contacts, his eyes gawk on the numbers moving up the screen. A faint keypad dial resounded in the air on picking out a number from the log, and he put the phone to his ear.

"Hello," a melodious voice ricocheted.

"Babe," He scratched his head, "I can't make it to lunch today, I'm sorry. But if it's okay, we can push it to dinner. I'm hanging out with Tommy, he needs a..."

"I understand." She interrupted him, "dinner is great."

"Alright. See you soon."

"See you soon."

Ricky hung up and looked up. He saw Tommy casually strolling into the lounge. He noticed a bland expression ripped on his face like he just received another unimpressive news. He pushed one foot in front of the other, in a unexciting movement as he draw nearer.

Whatever happened to the exciting Tommy? Ricky wondered.

He has had his fair share of experience with broken relationships and misplaced trusts among others, but, it has never been enough to wash the innate gaudiness off his punim. Maybe when he's had a six years relationship imploded over mere contradictory upholds on religion, then he'd understand the grievance in Tommy's sudden intent to redress his work environment and be gone from California.

It could only take a lot of damages in both stigma and emotion for one to embrace the idea of running to live for another day...

"Let's head out."

Tommy nodded towards the door, he slipped a hand into the armhole of his coat, looking up just in time to catch his friend jump out of his head back into reality.

"Yeah, sure man." Ricky sprang up on his feet, waving a hand for Tommy to lead the way.

They exchanged head nods with two colleagues walking frantically into the lounge. No words of greetings accompanied the gesture as a devastated Tommy had lost his momentum to outspeak, or maybe it was his vocal cords that went out of a nightmare? As it was, nothing less than a handful of impeded brows furrowed to cipher his recent hostility towards pleasantries. It was so unlike him, a rare version of Tommy to behold.