I woke up with a heavy feeling this morning. I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, couldn't quite figure out where it came from.
I took a shower, ate my favorite kind of cereal and left my house, with the thought-blurring desire to get coffee. Which is odd because I do not drink coffee.
I had the urgency of a pregnant woman inside of my head though, so despite of my protest, my legs still made it to the closest coffee shop I could find.
As I was walking down the street towards the huge coffee sign, my attention was caught by a yellow VW-Bus. I had a tradition of taking pictures of these rare cars, whenever I saw one. So almost instinctively I pulled out my camera and got closer.
As I was taking pictures, I heard foot steps approaching, figured it would be the owner of the car and made sure to get a perfect shot before they drove away.
„Excuse me-" said a strict voice, that sounded oddly familiar. „What do you think you are doing there, ma'am?"
Shit I thought. Put on my politest smile and turned around. The confident words I had gathered in my head just seconds ago bursted into one million pieces, just like a balloon.
I stared into her brown eyes that were wide open in shock, ready to pop out any second.
It was almost comical how we stood here on the semi busy street, at 9am, staring at each other in shock with our mouths opening and closing, failing to say anything comprehensive, and making us look like two fish in the progress.
„Anna-" I was finally able to force out.
I immediately jumped forward to hug her, and was greeted by a hot embrace. Hot, because Anna somehow managed to spill her coffee on me while attempting to hug me.
„Oh, Shit!" she exclaimed. „I'm so sorry! Let me pay for it."
„No, it's fine." I reassured her, somewhat hissing my words due to the burning coffee on my chest. It was just a basic black shirt, so it wouldn't be impossible to get the stains out. I was more worried about the temperature and texture of my now soaking wet T-shirt. I couldn't go to my meeting like this, I had to go back home and change. I looked at my clock to see that I had plenty of time, that was, if I left now.
Anna followed my gaze and maybe it was the strong telepathic connection of ours or the absolute obviousness of my face that anybody was able to ready like a book, but something made her understand what I was thinking.
„Do you need a ride home to change?" she asked. „It's my fault you are soaking wet in the end!"
„Oh-" I started but she was already taking her car keys out.
„Get in" she said as she walked past me into the very same yellow VW-Bus that I had been photographing moments ago.
For the second time this morning, my eyes were wide open and my lips parted in shock. „T-This is y-your car?" I gasped.
Anna turned around. „Um, yeah." she replied. „That reminds me, what were you doing to it earlier?"
„I was taking a picture" I confessed shyly.
„Right" she said, with an expression as if she hit her forehead with her hand in her mind.
Her eyes sparkling with the joy and magic only reliving past memories can bring. I knew she was remembering all the past times I had stopped in the middle of the street to take a picture of this specific car, the many times I had send her those pictures, decorated with longing and promises „I swear one day...."
„Well.." she said after snapping back to the here and now, a small smile still lingering on her lips „Let's get going."
I didn't want to waste any more time so I walked around and got into the passenger seat. A sense of no way you're actually getting into one of these! immediately running through my whole body.
„So..." I attempted to break the awkward silence which was probably only awkward for me because she was concentrating on following the vague directions I had given her. „What have you been up to?"
She shrugged and ran a hand through her hair, uncertain about what she should say next.
„I've been here and there. Played in some stage plays, you probably haven't even heard of and-"
„Wow, that sounds so exiting." I bursted out for whatever reason.
Anna smiled, it was a sad smile.
„So you lived a perfect life." I said.
„Not everything that shines is gold." Anna replied.
Before I had the chance to ask her what she meant with that, she drove into my street.
„Oh, the green house on the left." I pointed out.
As the car came to an halt, I desperately tried to come up with something to say. I didn't want to let her go like this, after all those years, us meeting like this felt like destiny.
„Anna."
„Luna." she said at the same time. „Oh, you first."
„No, you can go first." I replied.
„Okay. Well I just wanted to ask if you have any plans tonight? I would love to catch up."
„I would love that." I smiled. „How about we meet up at 8pm in Noodles&More? It's on Raystreet-"
„I know." she interrupted me. „I remember."
„Oh, okay. Well then, I will see you tonight?"
„Yes."
I got out of the car, turned around and saw how Anna shot me one last shaky smile before she drove off. I waited till I couldn't see her car anymore, turned around and made my way upstairs, feeling excitement bubble up inside of me already.
The coffee long forgotten.
