Fragments Of Us

Chapter 4

The next morning, Milda woke up with a dull headache, the result of a restless night spent tossing and turning. Her thoughts had been a whirlwind, constantly circling back to Josh's message about the painting. The woman with the eyes. Why did it feel so personal? She had never seen herself that way-someone captivating enough to inspire art, much less the kind of art that left a lasting impression.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was shifting. The quiet routine she had fallen into with Lucas now felt like a distant memory, while Josh's presence was new and unsettling, yet oddly comforting. She wasn't sure what it all meant, but she knew one thing-ignoring it wasn't an option anymore.

As Milda sat at her small dining table, sipping her morning coffee, her phone buzzed. A quick glance showed a message from Josh.

Josh
Want to meet for coffee today?

Her heart skipped a beat. This was happening sooner than she expected. For a moment, she hesitated. She still had work to do, and meeting with Josh felt like crossing a line, even if it was just coffee. But the curiosity was too strong. She couldn't deny the pull any longer.

Milda
Sure. When and where?

Within seconds, his response came.

Josh
There's a little café on Beach Street. How about noon?

Milda quickly agreed, her mind already spinning with what the day would bring. She had no idea what to expect, but she knew it wasn't just coffee-it was the start of something that would change her life, whether she was ready for it or not.

As she arrived at the café just before noon, she spotted Josh almost immediately. He was sitting by the window, his sketchbook open in front of him, a pencil in his hand as he absently drew something. He didn't notice her at first, and for a brief moment, Milda allowed herself to observe him from afar. There was an intensity in the way he worked, his brow slightly furrowed in concentration. He looked so at ease, as if this moment-this quiet, solitary moment-was where he truly thrived.

When he finally glanced up and saw her, a slow smile spread across his face. He closed his sketchbook and stood, gesturing for her to join him.

"Milda," he said softly as she approached, his voice warm and familiar despite the fact that they barely knew each other. "I'm glad you came."

"Me too," she replied, though the truth was, she still wasn't sure if she was glad. She was nervous, anxious even, but there was no turning back now.

They sat down, the space between them filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee and the soft chatter of other patrons. For a moment, there was a comfortable silence as they both ordered their drinks.

"So," Josh began after the waiter left, "what did you think of the book?"

Milda hesitated. "I thought it was beautiful. Your work... it's incredible, Josh. I'm not even sure I have the right words to describe it."

He smiled, but there was something deeper behind his eyes, something guarded. "Thank you. I was hoping it would speak to you. That's the thing about art-it doesn't need words."

Milda nodded, unsure of how to respond. She could feel the weight of his gaze, and it made her self-conscious in a way she wasn't used to. She felt exposed, as though he could see beyond her surface, beyond the carefully constructed life she presented to the world.

"What about the painting?" he asked, his voice lowering slightly. "The one with the woman."

Her breath caught in her throat. He wasn't being subtle. He knew she had seen it, and he was pushing her to acknowledge the unspoken connection between them.

"I... I wasn't sure what to think," she admitted. "It felt familiar, but I didn't want to assume..."

Josh leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. "It was you."

Milda felt a jolt of shock, even though deep down she had already known. She swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of his words.

"How?" she whispered. "We hadn't even met when you painted that."

"I didn't need to meet you to know you," Josh replied, his voice soft but firm. "I saw you in my dreams, in my mind. And when I painted, it just... happened."

Milda stared at him, her mind racing. This was too much. She had expected coffee and conversation, not a confession that shook her to her core. Yet, despite the shock, there was something about Josh's words that resonated with her. She had always felt like a part of her life was missing, like there was something she hadn't yet found. Could it be that Josh was that missing piece?

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again. It was Lucas.

Lucas
I'm in town. Where are you?

Caught off guard by the message, she typed a hurried response.
Milda
At Beach Café, with a friend. Why?

She didn't expect a reply, but just as Josh started to lean in again, the door to the café opened, and there he was-Lucas, standing in the doorway.

Lucas spotted Milda immediately, sitting across from a man he didn't recognize. There was no confusion about her location-she had told him-but the sight of her with someone else stirred a strange unease within him. He had come to surprise her, to reconnect after a few weeks of distance, but now he was the one surprised.

As he walked over, Milda stood up, her pulse racing. "Lucas, you're here..."

"I flew in last night," he said, his eyes flicking briefly to Josh before returning to Milda. "Wanted to see you. Is everything okay?"

His tone wasn't accusatory, but there was an edge to it, a subtle note of concern, maybe even suspicion. Milda hesitated, glancing at Josh, then back to Lucas.

"This is Josh," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "He's... a friend."

Josh remained seated, his expression calm but unreadable. "Nice to meet you," he said, extending a hand toward Lucas.

Lucas hesitated for a second before shaking his hand, though his grip was firm. "Likewise."

The silence that followed felt thick, like a storm brewing just beneath the surface. Milda could feel the weight of both men's presence, one representing the life she knew and the other, the life she had yet to understand.

"I should go," Josh said suddenly, sensing the tension. He stood up, his eyes meeting Milda's. "Let's talk later, Milda."

She nodded, her mind racing, as Josh left the café, leaving her standing there with Lucas, the weight of his presence pressing down on her.

Lucas's gaze softened, but there was still a hint of something deeper behind his eyes. "Milda, what's going on?"