Artificial Tears

Chapter 4

About a week has passed and I am starting to get used to the work, place and new people. I think I can say that I have made friends too!

I haven't had any nightmares either, so that's really good. I do still have difficulty sleeping often, so that's a bit less fortunate.

Today I'm free and am going to a café with Nova and two other former classmates, we take the train to a busier part of the city.

"It's gonna feel weird to meet them again." Nova tells me while waiting inside the speedily moving train. 

"Yeah, we haven't seen them after the  graduation party, right?"

"Maybe we should have went to visit them earlier, like you said back then."

I think for a bit, but then I remember what she means.

"Oh, you mean my idea of going on vacation together! But the others were too busy finding work, so it wouldn't have mattered."

Nova sighs: "Maybe they should have just made some time."

All the old university memories suddenly come flooding back to me, leaving me melancholy about it all. Time goes fast doesn't it?

I will never forget the times we hung out, the one time when Jonathan accidentally started a fire during chemistry. The time we came too late, because Nova wanted to pet all the cats and dogs we saw. The time Nina and I had a presentation, what ended in us just making it in an hour before we had it. (Too bad she couldn't come, by the way).

The cramming for tests. Peter's habit of taking notes so continually that the teachers almost went crazy.

[LAVENDER STATION, LAVENDER STATION]!!!

The voice takes me out of my daydreaming.

"This is our stop." Nova shares and I give her a short nod, letting her know I heard her.

"Let's see what our good ol' friends have been up to."

Is it just me or did Nova sound  a bit sarcastic right now? Well it doesn't really matter.

We arrive at the café, it is one close to our old university. Nova picked it for old times' sake, it's a slightly older one. Supposedly it used to be an observatory, for looking at the stars. The interior still shows it and the owner has decided to take it as inspiration, so planets and stars are part of this cafés aesthetic.

I look around in awe. It still looks exactly the same as the last time we went here, although it hasn't been that long ago it feels as if it's my first time again.

"Edith, they are over there." Nova points at the two of our waving friends.

"Nova, Edith, I'm so glad you could both make it!" Peter laughs friendly.

We take a seat at the leftover chairs by the table.

"Hi guys! Long time no see!" I give a short wave back.

"Good morning." Jonathan smiles kindly.

"Dude, it's almost noon." Nova corrects him.

"Right, I almost forgot." He laughs embarrassed.

Then the three of them stare at me.

"Is something wrong?"

An awkward silence takes place.

What is wrong with them?

They all look away and Peter tries to change the subject: "So, hey, what do you guys think about the houses they are building on the moon?"