Her Royal Highness, Leonor: The Years Later

Yesterday's History

Everything has become lighter for me after resigning from the editorial house. My co-workers were shocked and sad to hear about it, so is Senor Carriesga as they thought I could really mold into something further better than what I am today, to potentially be a junior editorial associate the firm can have. 

I have to render two weeks to formally complete my working days at the publication house, and on my last day, they kept on asking me why would I let go of such a promising career ahead of me. I mostly just say I wanted to focus on teaching, as they would not believe it if I really told them the reason I have from staying away from writing any news relating to the Spanish monarchy.

The days after that, I somehow felt at ease, knowing I wouldn't have to go to work and not expect something in the news to throw me off first thing in the morning. During the weeks that passed, Leonor keeps on being sad over my decision, but I keep on reminding her I'm okay with what I have decided to choose with. There's a lot of things I could write about, a lot of writing opportunities I can explore, but Leonor, my Leonor – only exists once in this lifetime.

Despite this decision, I still haven't accepted the full time position that Seniora Agaffeta has offered me back in Andalusia. I still haven't mentioned it, even though I know I have to let her know about it in some other way sooner. The weeks after my last working day in the publication house, I mostly spent my time going home earlier and reading the rest of my books that I have not completed reading, rethinking the offer Seniora Agaffeta has offered day after day.

Leonor and I have not been able to continue meeting each other on a weekly basis, given her busy schedule in school, though she makes it clear that we have to call each other everyday just to know how we've been holding up with everything going on within us. There are times when I was not able to answer her call, and she was not able to answer mine, and we usually resort to letting each other know why the day after, and it has always been that way since. As I went home one day from the university and was feeding Tamen, I looked at the calendar and mentally counted that we have been so busy, it has been a month already since we last saw each other.

I sat on my couch, pondering over it. Unconsciously, I imagined the hours it would take me to get to her university if I visit her this afternoon, and realizing I may not be able to catch up to her last class, if I'll show up once again unannounced.

Tamen has finished his meal, and curled up on the couch, curiously watching me as I get lost staring at the wall. I reimagined once again how my afternoon would turn out if I ever travel to Madrid at this time of the day.

As I watch the hours ticked at one-thirty in the afternoon, I get up and put on my jacket and fixed my hair. Tamen was following my steps as I went back to the bedroom, retrieving my bag where I had put on my eyeglasses. Just as he jumped on the bed, I pinched on his cheeks, looking at me curiously.

"Te veré más tarde." (I'll see you later)

I went back to the living room and looked at my reflection in the mirror once more, running my hand through my jacket's sleeve—when I heard a knock on the door, and my brows knit together. 

I have no one to expect at this time of the day, and I know Leonor won't be going in here without her letting me know, making me curious. I straightened my shoulders, and went over to the door and opened it, and Josie's tears swollen eyes greets mine, and I immediately ask her to go inside.

"Josie, que pasa?" I whispered, as I turned to her after closing the door. "Eres bien? Dime que esta pasando?"

Josie tried to hold back her tears, but later on no words came out of her lips and she went on straight threw herself into my arms, and I felt compelled to embrace her tight, comforting her, concerned.