Destined Love

Chapter 5- Enzo

I desperately wanted to see Lisa after I found her. I even wanted to talk to her, but now I'm unsure where to start. Lisa's reaction might be justified, but I know nothing about the past. Our past. I'm standing at a blind edge. The past decade is a deleted scene that isn't letting my life story proceed. My hands trembled while pulling out the card Lisa gave me at the hospital. I held it with my shaky hands and started dialing the numbers. My hand felt so weak the moment it landed on the call button. Even if I do call her, what will I say to her? The question kept roaming in my mind.

I pulled out a cigarette from the inner pocket of my coat and lit it. It kept burning in my hand, and so did I! I should text her first to see where this goes. I typed and erased for a full hour before sending a text, which I'm not sure she'll reply to, but it's worth the risk. She seems worth the risk. My mind is constantly forcing me to create scenarios I don't even find logical at this point. Lisa is pretty, with her deep brown eyes and wavy long black hair that reached her mid-thighs—ideal height with perfect curves. I brushed off the unnecessary thoughts and decided to leave a text first. Since I'm not sure about her working hours, I'll text her at night. It might be convenient for her. And me! Less wait, and less anxiety as I might get a quick reply. It's 4 PM, Enzo. Few are hours to kill. You can do it!

The clock ticked 21:00 hours and 'Hi! It's Lorenzo,' was all I could manage to write. My heart raced with each passing second as if I were running in a marathon. I pulled out another cigarette and lit it. I've been smoking continuously since the moment I pulled out Lisa's card from my wallet. Before the cigarette reached my lips, my phone vibrated with the notification of a new message. I hope it's from Lisa. I put aside my cigarette and unlocked my phone with trembling hands. Why the fuck I'm getting nervous like a teenager!

'Noted' was all I received from her. I stared at her text for absolute fifteen minutes before I managed to write another text.

'Can we meet tomorrow during your lunch break?

My heart started skipping beats, betraying me at the wrong hour! I managed to calm myself and picked up the cigarette again from the ashtray.

One minute.

Two minutes.

Three.

Four....

Ten minutes and no reply.

I picked up my phone again. I opened the chat, doubting she might have ignored the text. I mean, even if I don't know the history, I should still prepare myself for all sorts of worst-case scenarios.

Nope. The text has been left delivered, and she hasn't even come online after her last message. I was about to lock my phone when her text popped up: 'Working double shifts today till Friday. Saturday at 5 PM?'

'Great. Venue?' I enquired

'Will inform you'

'Sounds good,' with a thumbs-up emoji, was my last text which was left read.

Seriously, Enzo! Killing a few hours was no less than being in hell, and here I have to wait a whole fucking week! I lit another cigarette, but this time, it ended up under my shoe. I picked up my car keys and started driving without a destination. I need to clear up my mind. One week and all of this will be over. All I have to do is figure out where to start and find a linkage that's been holding everything related, and all of this will be over.

Driving didn't help me, so I went straight to the club. The bartender made the usual. Some tequila shots were what I needed to numb myself from every emotion flickering inside me.

As I sipped my drink, memories of Lisa and me started to surface, fragmented and confusing. It was as if my mind was trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces. What happened between us? Why can't I remember? The bartender, noticing my distress, poured another drink without me asking.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," he said, sliding the glass towards me.

"Something like that," I muttered, downing the tequila in one gulp.

The warmth of the alcohol coursed through my veins, offering temporary relief. I glanced around the dimly lit club, the music a dull throb in the background. People were dancing, laughing, and living their lives without the weight of forgotten memories. I envied them.

As the night wore on, I found myself scrolling through old photos on my phone, hoping to find something, anything, that would jog my memory about Lisa. There was nothing. It was as if she had been erased from my past entirely, leaving only a lingering sense of familiarity.

My phone buzzed again, pulling me out of my thoughts. A message from an unknown number:

'Saw you at the hospital today. Hope you're doing well.'

It wasn't from Lisa, but it made me realize just how many people I might have forgotten. How many connections were severed because of my lost memories? I decided to save the number and replied,

'Thanks. Trying to piece things together.'

'If you need any help, just let me know. We used to be close.', The response was immediate.

I stared at the message, wondering who this person was and what role they played in my life. The night was becoming more surreal by the minute.

Saturday couldn't come soon enough. I needed answers, and Lisa was the key. The following week dragged on, each day blending into the next. I went through the motions of work, social interactions, and sleepless nights filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Finally, the day arrived. I dressed carefully, choosing an outfit that was casual yet presentable. I arrived at the coffee shop an hour early, unable to sit still at home. Lisa dropped a pin-location of this cafe that was near her hospital. It was a small, yet elegant, vintage setup. I ordered a coffee and sat by the window, watching people pass by, my mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions.

When Lisa walked in, it was like time stood still. She was even more beautiful than I remembered, her presence commanding the room. She spotted me and smiled, a small, tentative gesture that made my heart skip a beat. She was wearing an emerald-colored silk, knee-length dress with a belt wrapped just below her chest. Her heels complemented her height and her hair was tied up in a ponytail, with a few strands flaring around her face.

"Hi, Enzo! I mean.... Lorenzo!," she said, sitting down across from me.

She, too, seemed quite nervous. Her anger from Monday at the hospital was replaced with confusion.

"Umm Hi," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

I stood from my place and waited for her to settle on her seat. We sat in silence for a moment, the air between us thick with unspoken words. I took a deep breath and finally managed to speak. 

"Thank-you for coming"

°°°°°
Hey, Readers!

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I hope you're enjoying the story. Just be patient because there's so much more to come...
Happy Reading!