Prelude to kisses

Chapter 19

Heartbreak has a sound. Just like glasses make a sound when they shatter on the ground, the same way a smile can be felt in one's words. The same way the wind makes a sound when it blows, or the smell of coming rain. It's all somehow connected. It all somehow says I'm here. Can you see me? Can you feel me? It calls out your name, it says I've been here for a while, did you have any idea how long I've been here, waiting for you to notice me, to see me.

Jossie had found herself on the verge of tears when she walked into the bedroom to find Jackie like that. Sprawled across the bed, her bare shoulders cold when she tried to shake her. She'd only taken the extra blanket and covered her, shifting her body so she could get some room to sleep. It seemed as though their pain had met last night. Had danced together and become acquainted and they both had no idea. She had no idea what could have made her go out and drink like that, much less why it felt like she was running away from herself.

She knew that feeling all too well. Only, she'd finally stopped running. She had become comfortable with life and its ups and downs. she could storm the weather, could sail in the storm now. When she looked at Jackie sleeping there, she was taken back to a time she had no idea what life would be. To a time, she had tried on more than one occasion to end her life, because it was so hard back then. So hard to breath to the point she had wanted to put an end to it all.

The next morning, she found Jackie standing by the stove, her eyes bloodshot red, like she hadn't closed them at all last night.

"Hey, you up?", she said turning to her.

"Yeah, how are you feeling?" she asked as she took a seat at the table.

Jackie put the fried eggs in a plate before she put it back down on the table. She did the same with other plate and poured coffee into two mugs, "My head feels too big for my body", she said with a smile.

"An apple and salt will help".

"I'm sorry you had to see that", She sighed before continuing, "It hasn't even been 48 hours since I arrived and I'm already causing trouble".

Jossie laughed, "You sound like I'm a decade older. It's okay, we all deal with things differently".

Jossie took a bite of bread, before sipping on her coffee, "I'm working on it", Jackie said before taking a bite of her own food.

"Are you still free to go apartment hunting with me?"

"Yeah, of course".

When Jossie was done getting dressed in her work uniform, bag in hand ready to leave, she couldn't help but stand a few minutes at the door, "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry I'm not going out today. I'm going to the council then the deeds office and surveyor general".

"Hmm Mondays to Wednesdays are the best, they are more helpful then"

Jackie nodded and watched Jossie leave, closing the door softly behind her. Now that she was alone, she needed to move and plan on what to do next, but first she needed to take a nap. She needed to sleep off the hangover and get a clearer mind. Right now, it felt like she was walking in a mist, and she couldn't see ahead. Her head hit the pillow again, sleep immediately enclosing her, welcoming her into its dark, peaceful arms.

She was woken up by the car horn, she looked out the window and saw Jossie's landlord closing the car door behind her before going into her house. She felt better after catching up on sleep and a second later she was seated at the table going over her plans again. First, she needed to find an apartment. She already had an idea of the price range she was going for. As long as it had a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom she was good. She would be starting her business and needed to save on rent as much as possible. Tomorrow was a Friday and by Sunday she needed to have found an apartment and settled herself in. Then Monday she had to go to the council. She was nervous and excited all at the same time.

A notification came through from her banking app. Angie had made a deposit into her business account. The printing business was really taking off. It gave her a sense of stability, and she knew that even if her apartment business takes a while to come into fruition, she'd be financially safe for at least two years. She wanted to make the land purchase as soon as possible, start the building process as soon as the land was purchased.

According to her research, the purchasing process could take as long as three months and the construction about two years or more depending on the company she takes on and of course her finances. Which weren't a problem. For the last two years all she'd done was save money to start this business. And now she was so close to having that dream come into her reality.