For you Mary

5. The hug!

Silence! If couples could have a penny for every awkward moment created by non-presence of words in first dates, I can guarantee it would be enough to pay for the drinks or the dinner and still remain some for an ice-cream or two!

We kept walking away from the subway and looked like that cafe wasn't that close by all means.

Couldn't help but time after time sneakily take a look at her and smile.
She was nervous, quiet and obviously thinking about something to talk.
Maybe she's thinking, "For the love of god, say something. Lie to me or whatever, just save us for from this embarrassing silence."

"Maybe it's time to say something. We are remembered for what we say not for what we silently think.
I guess would be a good time to say something funny" - Angel suggested me.

"Hell no! Don't you dare to bring out a single sound or you'll ruin everything.
He sucks at joking."- Devil responded almost in panic.

Yep. You can imagine the look on my face.Eyes half open like a sleepy dog , mouth in a shape of a lower case "n" and not satisfied at all with bad guy's response!

She turned around and looked at me.
I guess she was surprised I had that weird face. After I realize she was staring at me, that lower case "n" of my lips immediately turned into an uper case "U"and the dog's sleepy eyes, into owl ones.

She chuckled and looked back on the ground.
Great! Now she thinks I'm a weirdo.
I guess I should thank Devil for this one too!

Anyway she decided to look at me again, gave me a smile and broke the silence-"Let's play, let's say 'a game'. You can ask me a question and than I ask you one and so on. Agree?!"

"Sure. Ladies first"- I agree while smiling at her.

"Haha, okay. Hmmm.So, I know a thing or two about you but we never said a thing why are you here? I mean, far away from home and yeah... tell me something about your family. I'd love to know how are they doing"- her first question.

Surprised by the question but also glad she asked I answer- " Well...to be honest, I come from a poor country and my family is not that wealthy. Being in a family relatively big, someone has to provide. So, I took this chance to work here. Even though is far, salary is good and I like doing what I do"

"You must miss them"- she says with a soft voice and looks straight into my eyes.

"Can't say no!
'Away from our eyes, away from our hearts' is a saying from my country but human beings are like animals I guess"- I answer but also wonder if I'm sounding like a Greek philosopher or a total imbecile.

"Like animals?!"- she asks back and her left eyebrow lifted like she wanted to show she was surprised indeed.
"
"Chameleon changes its skin color to be one with the nature so it can survive the environment. So animals adapt.
We miss someone, we suffer but at the end we move on as the surrounding tells us so. Just like animals, we all adapt with the environment.
I missed them a lot in the beginning but I'm trying to get used to it.
Even though there's nothing like mom's hugs!" - I try to sound less melancholic as I can.

She smiles and opens her arms- "No doubt mine can't be as good as your mom's but a hug is a hug. Might help to fill up not a lot but maybe a tiny bit of that emptiness!"

I hugged her without any hesitation.
For a second I could smell her hair and my nose wanted to stay there forever.
All this, gave me a mixture of good feelings and my affection towards her multiplied by thousands.

"Awwww, isn't she lovely?" -Angel's voice.

When I'm almost about to "awww" too, Devil can't help but shout in my head-"You're killing her, weirdo. She's not your dog so careful with your arms there "

"Well, that was....GREAT.
Thank you!"- I thanked and detached myself from her.

"You know how they say; an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
I think a sincerely given hug a day keeps the psychologist away. It heals your soul"- she says.

I couldn't help but be surprised how accurate that saying was and add- "Can't wait for the tomorrow's one."

"With pleasure!"- she agrees.

We both smile! But on my face that smile looks like stupid but on hers...shiny!

A simple hug, gave me the most powerful feeling I had ever feel.
I kept asking myself.
Why I didn't know this before?!

I think we should never underestimate the "power" of small things.
We all try to reach for the stars to be happy but happiness might be right there, hidden in simple things, just a hug away.

"Your turn now."- she suggested.

"What's enjoyable but still uncomfy?
What's sweetest thing ever but still bitterest?
What's life but still death?" - I ask her.

"Well, that's a good but a tough one.
How about you help me?"- she answered me with a question.

"Sure" - I said and continued
"The answer is; Hug, Kiss, Love. The only difference is RIGHT person, WRONG person"

"Are you always this...good?"- she asked without turning to see me.

"Only with good people"- I answered same way and instantly knew that, her face was lighten up again by that smile.