Pieces

15. Normalcy

He wasn't there when I turned around. It was like it had all been in my head, as always. 

But everytime, he seemed so real. Like he'd really been there. I turned to face the mirror again, hoping I'd catch his reflection again. I sighed at the emptiness of the washroom reflected in the mirror. I don't know why I'd thought I'd catch him there. I bet it had something to do with Mirrors. Ever since I'd watched that movie, I'd always wonder whether there really was another world across from the mirror, which was naive, I know.

Marcus hadn't hesitated to point it out. And then we'd had a long argument about how I had a right to believe in non-existent things, if he had a right to believe in non-existent people, like God. 

I returned my attention to the plain Indian girl in front of me. I still looked the same. More tanned, with pink cheeks, but you couldn't tell from my face, what had been going on in my life. It surprised me how I could still look the same, when inside I felt a change. I felt like I'd changed so much, if I were to meet the person I was before, I probably wouldn't recognize her. It was breathtaking and scary how loss and pain and heartbreak could completely change your outlook on your whole life. 

Would Marc recognize me now? 

I shook my head. It doesn't matter. Marc's not here. He's gone. 

As I made my way back to our table, I could see Antonio talking to someone in a hushed voice. The person's back was facing me, but he looked the same age about us. He had surprisingly fair skin and blond hair. He was wearing a blue shirt, which hung loosely over his low waist jeans. 

Everyone in this town seemed to know each other. 

"...Not now. Please, not now. Just give it to me, I'll-" Antonio was saying, but then his eyes found mine and he smiled. "There you are!" He shouted as I made my way towards them, wearing a sheepish smile. "Where were you? I've been looking for you!" 

"I was just getting refreshed." I replied in a low voice, as I noticed a pair of deep blue eyes on me. 

"Why, Ant, you never told me you had such a beautiful lady in your life?" The guy who'd been talking to him, winked at me, before taking my hand and kissing the back of it, lightly.

Now that I could see his face, I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. He had a baby face, but his build was muscular and his blonde hair fell over his forehead and his cheeks were tinted red, a contrast to the rest of his unusually pale skin. It was pretty clear that he wasn't a local.

"I'm Samuel. I work here." He introduced himself, and I could notice a bit of an accent to his voice. It was hard to tell which. 

"Garima." I beamed at him. 

"Well, have a seat, Garima." He gestured towards our empty table. I sat down and watched as he grabbed a chair from some other table and sat on it, never leaving my gaze. 

"So, Garima. From India, right?" He asked, grinning and I couldn't help but notice how his smile went up all the way to his eletcric blue eyes, which twinkled everytime he smiled.

I nodded in response, unable to keep from smiling. "And you?"

"Ireland. I'm here for a couple months under a programme." He said.

"He's an exchange student." Antonio said, sternly. I looked over at him to find him frowning at Samuel, never looking away. He looked annoyed and I couldn't tell why. He'd been talking to Samuel just moments ago. Why did his presence bother him now that I was here. Unless...

"Yeah, well. I've been here two months now. Eight more to go." He continued.

Unless he was hiding something from me. I frowned at him before returning my attention to what Samuel was saying.