And If there was a tomorrow

Chapter 16

 Mary arrived in Paris and was about to head to the internship site. But before, she had a liberating idea. She was still at Charles De Gaulle airport, she didn't have much time, but all she needed was a few minutes. She left through the landing area and searched for a shop where she could purchase a local SIM card for her phone. After all, she'd stay there for one year. She never again wanted to hear Ed's voice. He had already served her purpose. She was uncertain if she should record a message or not. After all, it was the middle of the night in Brazil and he'd be with his cell phone on the 'do not disturb' mode, so his phone wouldn't ring. Except if he had put her phone number on the list of favorites, but she doubted he had done that. She bought the SIM card, looked at her mobile, thoughtful, and decided to wait until she enrolled for the internship, just to make sure. It wouldn't take long.

She noticed a voice message and was afraid it could be him. She called the voice mail and heard the voice of her other boyfriend breaking up with her. Deep down, she expected that. The journalists talked to her, she had been at Ed's house, they appeared in several media channels. She couldn't deny that they were together, and that they were cheating. She took a deep breath. She would find someone else eventually, and who knows, maybe someone who would take her further away.

She left the airport, took a cab, and asked to go straight to the internship address. Of course she had also changed the hotel she'd stay with Ed for a Airbnb apartment she rented for a long season. Therefore, he wouldn't find out where she was, except for the internship location. She still needed to figure out this part.

She got to the place and went to the reception, in order to register. There, a kind secretary named Amelie helped her. She gave her a form to fill out and some papers to sign. Mary started making small talk, improvising her French. After a while, she asked the lady for some advice.

─ Amelie, can I ask you something?

─ Of course. ─ she kindly answered.

─ I was coming here with my boyfriend. But I learned horrible things about him on the day of the trip and we broke up. I changed my phone number and the place where I'd stay here in Paris, but he knows where I'll do my internship. If he calls here and says horrible things about me, or if he tries to speak with me, is there any way I can avoid that? I'm very scared.

Amelie was empathetic towards her. She got a little surprised with the revelation, but quickly replied:

─ Wow! That's horrible! Do you want to talk about it?

─ I don't think so. But if I give you his name, you can certainly read the article written about him. You'll only need to translate it because it is in Portuguese.

─ I'll need his name indeed, because if he tries to call here, they'll transfer it to me, so I need to know it's him. I'll say you never showed up here, okay? I'll deny you registered for this internship.

─ Would you do that?

─ Of course! What's his name?

─ Edmund Cercato.

─ I'll leave a note, so I won't forget. You can trust me. And I'll read the article.

─ Thank you so much. I don't know how to thank you.

After saying that, she left the room. She closed the heavy and old wooden door and looked at her phone again, which still had her old number, and called Ed's number. It went straight to voice mail, as she had expected. She waited for the beep and recorded a message:

"Ed, I 'm grateful for the time we spent together, but after I learned about all the things you did and who you really are, I realized that there isn't us anymore. You are too selfish, self-centered, and careless about anything that isn't your own ego, your pride and yourself. So, I wish you happiness, but far away from me. Have a good life."