Learning How to Bend

December 30

My fingers flew over the keyboard as I sat behind my desk. I heard Chelise whine, quickly followed by a sigh, as she moved around underneath me. She needed to go out. I had slept the full night, but I had still arisen far too early to be considered human. So, I did the only logical thing I could think of: I went for a run. It had been too long since I had done it, so my lungs screamed at me in burning agony, but I ignored it until I had completed my five-mile circuit and returned home. After a shower, I had almost hailed a taxi to go to the office, but with one click, I knew exactly who stood before me, leaning against a familiar vehicle: Mike.

This was not the first time he had been at the doorstep of my apartment building to drive me to work, rather the fourth time since Thaddeus had returned. At first, I thought it might have been because I had not been quite as conscientious about getting to Andino Incorporated promptly on time, but I realized this was not the case the last time I drove with Mike to the office. The sedan's GPS system took him an alternate route to the office than we usually took, although neither of us had any idea why until we were both standing in front of one of the big, flat-screen TVs in the building's lobby.

A fatal accident at a major intersection had stopped traffic. One of the vehicles involved had ran a red light and smashed into another. As New York traffic was notoriously stop and go, this normally would not have caused serious injury, just a lot of yelling and swearing. A pedestrian had been attempting to cross, however, while looking down at his phone. The individual had gotten caught between the two vehicles and had passed away at the hospital.

The identities of the individuals involved were not revealed out of respect for the surviving family members. If not for Mike's GPS, we otherwise would have been in that intersection. It could have been us who was smashed to smithereens—okay, maybe that was an exaggeration, but still—rather than the two vehicles involved.

Thaddeus did not want me taking taxis anymore because he wanted to protect me. Although I knew he would never admit it, it touched me more than any vocal words ever could. He did not declare his love with flowery dialogue, but Thaddeus did not need to. He was showing his love rather than saying it, and quite frankly, I liked it far better that way.

When Chelise whined again, I pushed away from my desk and grabbed her leash and harness from the hook on the side of my desk. It was a Tuesday, which meant I had my afternoon meeting with Thaddeus to look forward to in a couple hours.

It still shocked me that no one at the office had any suspicions of our relationship; at least, no one said anything of which I heard. Gossip, though, rarely traveled to the ears of the one about whom people were whispering. Mike knew, of course, but he kept his mouth closed. When I arrived at the office with him, I always went straight to my office from the back elevator so I was rarely seen out in the lobby anymore. I made an effort, though, to stop by the receptionist's desk and greet her on occasion, as I did not want to become too much of a stranger. The one who worked in the mornings, I quite liked and enjoyed her company when we were able to share a few words, which was rare. Her phone seemed to be always ringing, and I obviously had work of my own to do, as well.

Chelise barked, breaking me from my thoughts. I slipped on her harness and leash and walked down the hallway to the elevator, which I rode down to the first floor. Upon arrival, I exited and took the golden retriever out the front to a small park which was close to the office building. It had a walking trail which I would occasionally stroll when I needed to clear my head or get some fresh air, but I only wandered to the nearest bench and sat down this time as Chelise sniffed around and did her business. After a few moments, she returned to my side and sat, putting her head in my lap as she always did.

Footsteps grew louder from behind until they stopped to my left, then someone sat down beside me. I could tell from the scent of the cologne it was not Thaddeus but Joe. This particular scent, I knew for a fact Joe did not like. Kat, on the other hand, absolutely loved it, so my childhood best friend wore it for her. I, like Joe, was not a big fan of it either, thus immediately wrinkled my nose when the smell of it reached my nostrils.