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THE SIGHT AROUND IMELDA STROUSE'S SURROUNDINGS WAS UNEXPECTEDLY FRIGHTENING, it was like this tiny coffee shop holding a sullen history that nobody wanted to remember. For some people, they might think she was starting to go crazy, but with dozens of memories engraved in this place which she had not completely forgotten all about, she was once again afflicted by profound distress.
Imelda foolishly thought she had gotten better, but she was wrong. Dean Arthur was still reconnoitering at the back of her head, waiting for the right time to show up. And the one thing Imelda secretly hated the most, the thought of him invaded her mind when she was attempting to be happy.
Rami was currently having a good time, talking about whatever he considered decent of being the topic of the conversation, Imelda certainly did not want to impair it just because of a matter of past sentiment. It literally required each false reaction in response to his story, she even had to clench her fists tightly to get rid of any unwanted tears swamping her eyes.
Rami could not stop stealing glances at Imelda which go unnoticed by her. She was overwhelmingly beautiful as usual, but her eyes exuded the opposite. After knowing her for a few weeks now, the way she smiled and said something back at him looked different at this exact moment. It seemed Imelda was struggling to rub out something within her mind. Rami had realized that since they arrived, there was a huge hesitance that danced in her eyes and the moment they entered the shop, a couple of waiters looked immensely surprised to see her.
It made Rami draw conclusions something had happened in Imelda's life and some of that might also happen in this place.
"If you want to go, we can go," Rami offered, an understanding smile gracing his lips. "Not everyone has the same appetite for coffee here."
This took Imelda by surprise. It was silly of her to think that he would not be aware of her uncertain mood. "No. Oh God, I'm sorry. This place, uh, this place just reminds me of someone important."
Rami nodded in response. "If it makes you feel better, this coffee shop also reminds me of someone."
"Really?" Imelda stared at him, trying to read what was on his mind. "Girlfriend?"
Rami chuckled and shook his head lightly. "Best friend, to be exact."
"What happened?"
"He died," Rami answered casually, taking a sip of his coffee. "Eight years ago."
Imelda was immediately left frozen in her seat to hear his words as she gazed at him with wide eyes. Even though Rami seemed to have overcome his situation, she could still notice a surge of sadness in his eyes for a moment. And suddenly, a wild thought began to trump up within her brain and a question corralled inside. Was it possible they were talking about the same person?
No.
It wasn't only Dean who died eight years ago, there must have been heaps of deaths that occurred eight years ago throughout the world.
"What about you?" A question from Rami broke her out of her thoughts. "What makes this place seem to be your worst fear?"
Imelda swallowed hard, a twitchy chuckle fled out of her lips. "My fiancé. He told me to wait for him here, but, um, he lied."
There was a tear hanging at the peak of Imelda's eye, it was terribly ready to fall, but she tried hard not to let that happen. Whatever happened eight years ago, Rami eminently convinced it hurt her so much that it took eight years later for her to return to this shop. Without warning, Rami placed his hand on top of hers and the second he did that, the lone tear caved in.
Imelda swiftly wiped the tear away, biting her bottom lip. "I'm — I'm so sorry, Rami, I ruined our encounter, didn't I?"
Rami clammed up for a mere second before shaking his head again and squeezing her hand lightly. "No, Imelda, who knows that it's the opposite? Maybe our connection has just been strengthened by the fact that we are left behind by someone we care about."
