Two weeks. It had been two weeks since she last saw him.
Lazily, Frida gathered her painting supplies in the briefcase. Today, like the previous time, she forced herself to attend the painting class with the one and only hope to see Benny. However, her illusions ended up shattered on the floor like autumn leaves as soon as class started and he didn't walk through the door. She was beginning to wonder if he was really okay as he boasted. His texts were too convincing, although few. But just that, texts.
For the past weeks, after she showed up at his flat that drunken night, Benny and Frida had shared texts almost every day. Well... more like she had been trying to maintain communication every day. Benny seemed rather distant. Not good for her restless mind. The lack of contact from him was pushing her into a deep precipice of anxiety and worry. Frida had expected a change in their relationship after the last time, but a positive change not a negative one. Not a change like this.
Benny was having a difficult time, she was no one to put pressure on him. But holy cow, she missed him. Texts weren't enough, she wanted to be with him, support him with her presence, hold his hand and kiss him until that gloomy expression on his beautiful face disappears. But they both reached an agreement. Deep down, she knew it was for the best at the moment, the stakes were high: Henry had his sights on her.
After spending three nights away from home, it was best not to give any more reasons to question her morals. Frida could not give Henry any reason to suspect her. Not when Henry himself was balled up with rage. He had not taken the news well, that Benny was one of the candidates for the higher position of the Parliament, the Speaker, went against his plans and he made it known very well two weeks ago when he arrived home after disappearing all night; Henry was beside himself, his reality had been altered, he wanted the position and would do anything to get it. Frida, of course, had her hands tied. As his wife, she had a duty to support him, and she let him know so, she emphasized over and over again that they would make it together, that she would do whatever it took to help him gain the Council's trust. But it wasn't enough for Henry, she had had to deal with his bad mood. He was worse than ever. Suddenly the security in her house had increased, a bodyguard accompanied her everywhere, everything became suffocating and dangerous for her secret love. It was impossible to see Benny in these tense days, and that weighed on her soul because she knew that Benny needed her too, even though he insisted on being well.
It was a difficult moment. Even more so when the last thing she heard from his mouth was the confession of his love. "I'm in love with you." Those words were her refuge, her prayer, her comfort. Not a day had passed without repeating them in her memory, over and over again. They were healing, they were protection for her heart that was beating uncontrollably for him. Benny, her Benny.
Frida slung the briefcase over her left shoulder and took the small green handbag, ready to get out of here. Or rather, resigned. The other students had already begun to leave. It was disappointment that lived in her chest. He did not come.
The walk to the exit took forever. An art exhibition had been organized, so the gallery was packed with people dispersing into the different exhibition rooms. Frida cringed and brought the bags to her chest as she passed through a small crowd blocking the hallway. She turned left and finally the sunlight from the entrance illuminated her vision. Frida looked up and when she did...
...Her heart jumped with an emotion that almost left her breathless.
There, right at the entrance, leaning against the door of his car, hands in his pockets, feet crossed at the ankles and a simple black shirt... there he was. He came.
Unconsciously, as if her system had been designed merely for that, her feet walked faster. Her heart raced because of the oxytocin. Her vision became sharper and her grim expression brightened. Frida stopped until she was an arm's length away from him, all she had to do was reach out to touch him.
