Love Games

Three: Lullaby

Could I have misread his signals? Have I misread everything?

I walk across the street, detached. I want to believe that I will meet someone who will make me happy, who will love me.

But now it's time to go crazy. To test my limits.

I look at my watch. It's already eleven. Emma could have finished work long ago. She'll come when she comes.

I get home and when I enter the flat, get dressed and go into the living room, there's a surprise.

A bouquet of white roses. With a card. I take the card and read it:

" I hope we will go from strangers to acquaintances. J. "

I'm a bit shocked, especially how the hell he got to the flat, how he knows where I live. Emma came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. I scream when I see her. She screams too.

" I'm sorry, but I was afraid of you. Who brought these roses? Did you get them? "I ask curiously as I calm down and my heart stops beating as if it is going to fall out of my chest.

"No, I just picked them up when they were delivered. You said to Miss Sarah. Do you have any idea who they might be from? ' Emma says, breathless from screaming, and fixes her towel.

" I'd be lying if I said no, they're probably from Jack. But why the hell would he send me flowers? We don't know each other, we haven't spoken. "I smell the flowers and look confused.

They smell. They smell of spring, of new hope, they are so innocent and sincere.

Slowly, very slowly, the alcohol leaves my body.

" Haha, he obviously likes you. " Emma laughs back. And fixes the towel to her hair.

" How did he get your address? Did you two ever have an affair? "I ask, hoping she will deny the allegation.

I don't want my best friend's boyfriend, no way. Even if it happened once and years ago.

" No, we never did, Jack has influence and people, of course he knows the right people who know everything, so if they can cover up one person's disappearance, the least they can do is find my address. " Emma remarks sarcastically.

" I don't even want to know. I find that man more and more disgusting." I reply.

And I sit down on the sofa. The more I think about it, the more I want to have something with him, maybe sometime in the future. Not that I've thought about it, or that it's a possibility.

" Sarah, now the bad side. He chooses a girl and does everything he can to make her fall in love with him. That's what I've heard, but it's been a few years since he had a girlfriend, the last one ended tragically, but you know how it is, it's just a rumor, but it's true that I haven't seen these girls for years. They may have moved away, changed their identities. Remember something, if you get involved with him, your life will change a hundred percent. " Emma says now loud and clear.

And I don't doubt her words.

Emma sits down next to me and puts her arm around my shoulder, the alcohol has left my body and all I feel is a new tiredness and exhaustion and definitely thirst.

Nothing happened, thank God. I will forget him and the flowers. I will block out the memories and his eyes that are glued to me. I will repress these feelings somewhere deep inside my mind.

" I am going to sleep. " I answer.

" Good, I'll see you in the morning. " Emma replies, slowly getting up and dragging herself to her room.