About this fantastic ✨ story originally written in Spanish, I will translate the chapters progressively as I receive feedback from readers, including suggestions on how to improve any phrases or expressions in English. Any help or suggestions to ref...
"Hello, Melanie, how are you?" Susan said, trying to sound more cheerful than she actually felt.
"Susan, I'm so glad to hear from you. I've been thinking about you a lot. How are you holding up? We haven't had a chance to talk since the funeral." Melanie's voice carried a mix of concern and warmth.
"I've been... well, you know, just taking things day by day." Susan gently nudged a small stone on the path with her foot, watching as Neo eagerly tried to pounce on it.
"I can imagine, sweetheart. And... how was it seeing William at the funeral?"
Susan exhaled, the memory of the brief encounter with her ex stirring in her mind.
"It was... kind of strange. He offered his condolences and asked how I was doing. We talked a bit about how I was settling into the new apartment. The next day, he sent me a message, wishing me the best and suggesting we meet some time to talk. You know, William has always been thoughtful, and we didn't part on bad terms. I've told you how confusing the breakup was."
"And what do you think you'll do? If it's okay for me to ask," Melanie added gently. "It's been a while since you two broke up."
"I honestly don't know, Melanie. It's been nine months since we ended things. We were together for five years, which is a long time. Moving into this apartment was my way of starting fresh—especially since it's close to the park. I needed a place to find some peace, you know, a place to walk Neo and clear my mind. I haven't even responded to his message. I'm still processing everything with Helen."
"I understand, Susan. I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. You know I'm here for you, right? Whenever you need me," Melanie said with the kind of sincerity that only close friends can offer.
"I know, and I really appreciate it. Truly. It's just... sometimes it feels so hard, you know? Feeling so... lost. But having Neo and coming here to the park helps. It gives me space to think, to believe that everything might eventually make sense."
"That's really positive, Susan. I'm here if you need me. Why don't you come over this weekend? We can talk, maybe grab something to eat," Melanie suggested, her voice filled with warmth and encouragement.
"Thanks, Melanie. I'll think about it. It might be nice to get together. You're such a good friend—I'll let you know." Susan felt a small weight lift from her shoulders, grateful for Melanie's steady presence in her life.
"Perfect, Susan. Take care, and give Neo a hug from me. Call me anytime, okay?"
"I will. See you soon, Melanie, and thanks for calling."
Susan ended the call and tucked her phone back into her pocket. For the first time in days, a faint smile graced her lips. She resumed her walk with Neo, her mind drifting to the past as she reflected on her relationship with William. The differences that emerged during their final months together lingered like a bitter aftertaste. She particularly remembered a heated argument when William brought up her father's tragic death—a man who had left their family to face his struggles alone, only to die in a car accident months later. Susan was just four years old when he left home and met that unfortunate fate, leaving her mother a widowed single parent with two young daughters.
William had often urged Susan to see a therapist, believing it was the only way to confront the lingering pain of abandonment and the subsequent loss of her mother a year later, along with the emotional scars those events had undoubtedly left behind. But Susan, perhaps too proud, had always dismissed the idea as unnecessary. This difference in perspective became a point of contention in their relationship's final days, highlighting how unresolved pain from the past can cast long shadows over present emotions and relationships.
While watching Neo wag his tail with joy, eyeing that cat with the contrasting colors of a chessboard, which hadn't moved from its defiant position, like a rook guarding the king, Susan felt the need to reconcile with herself. Perhaps, she thought, it was time to stop running from those memories and finally face them.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she glanced back at the man on the bench. That man, holding a small plastic bottle in his hands, occasionally took short sips of what seemed to be water. Catching a brief glimpse of his face, Susan noticed that he appeared much older than he likely was. The lines on his face were deep, seeming to carry the weight of worries that indeed extended far beyond the park where they found themselves. His eyes held the expression of someone burdened by untold sorrows, perhaps grappling with ghosts from a past he could not escape. Susan felt a flicker of empathy for him, as she knew all too well that life could be unjust and cruel. Hers had certainly not been a path lined with rosebushes in the month of April.
The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the park's streetlights flickered on, illuminating the path with a cold, white light that contrasted with the lingering violet and orange hues of the sunset. Realizing the time and Neo's impatience for his dinner, Susan turned back toward her apartment. As she walked away from the park, she cast one last glance at the man on the bench, only to realize he was no longer there. Instead, the yin-and-yang-colored cat lingered nearby. Alone for a moment, it now seemed to welcome the return of its stray companions, who approached cautiously after Neo's departure.
When she arrived home, she served dinner to Neo, who was waiting impatiently, wagging his tail rapidly. Once he eagerly dove into his food, Susan began preparing her own dinner, a task that allowed her to clear her mind for a while. She also took the opportunity to prepare her food for the next day, a routine that made it easier for her to leave the house in the morning without wasting time. In the quiet of her kitchen, Susan found a moment of peace, a much-needed respite after a day filled with emotions and painful memories.
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