One More Day of Life

Part II

"Yoko...are you here?" John called out after opening the door to the apartment.

There was no answer.

"I guess you're going to have to settle for my cooking." He smiled. "The bathroom is right through there, if you want to clean up. I'll be in the kitchen....it's right over here."

"Thank you...for being so nice." She said.

A few minutes later, John saw the girl come into the kitchen. He noticed she had washed her face and put her hair into a ponytail.

"Have a seat. As you can see, I'm not much of a cook..." he laughed as he put a coke and a plate of two sandwiches in front of her.

"They look...incredible." She smiled.

It was the first time she had smiled. He watched her eat and couldn't imagine what a girl her age had gone through to end up in her situation.

"Thank you again." She said as she took another bite of the sandwich.

"No problem."

"You know...I've crossed paths with you before. You and your wife."

"Have you?" John inquired looking at her, trying to place her.

"Yes...I looked a lot different than I do now though."

Just then, John heard the door open.

"John! Are you home?"

"In the kitchen!" he called back to Yoko.

"Can you help me bring these bags in?"

"I'll be back...make yourself at home." He smiled.

***

Gali began on the second sandwich as she watched John walk out of the kitchen. She never thought something so simple as a sandwich could taste this good. She took a sip of the coke and it felt like such a treat. As her hunger began to subside, Gali began to analyze what had happened in the last hour and how incredibly lucky she had been despite her circumstances.

A minute or so later, she saw John walk in with Yoko into the kitchen.

She smiled at her.

"Yoko this is--"

"Gali." Yoko interrupted. John immediately turned to Yoko with a look of surprise.

Gali was just as surprised. How did she know her name? Yes, they had crossed paths, but had never even exchanged one single word.

"I thought you said your name was Marie?" Gali heard John ask.

"Gali Marie...the name Gali hasn't exactly been good to me recently...I figured Marie might bring a little more order to my life."

Yoko and John had now sat down in front of her.

"Gali is a beautiful name. You should not try to change who you are because of your life experiences...that it what makes you, you." Yoko said.

"How did you know my name?" Gali asked.

Yoko looked at John and he nodded before standing up.

"We have been looking for you." Yoko continued.

"For me? Why?"

"To give this back to you." John answered from the doorway.

Gali looked at him and could not believe her eyes. It was her guitar case.

"How did you get that?" she asked as she walked over to it.

"I saw you leave it...at the restaurant."