What Life Stole From Me

Chapter Five; The second phase of my life: Meeting Naveed

It had been three months since I started working with 'Jerry's latte' shop and the nature of the environment and my co-workers made it easier for me to blend in as if I'd been there for years.

Miss Jerry was a very soft-spoken woman,very nice and substantially considerate.

Despite the bridge-less chasm between my lifestyle and hers,Brandy and I have gotten more close,we went out most of our free time and even though She was twenty-four and I was Nineteen then,soon to be Twenty,we became best friends.
She introduced me to her male friends,for She had no other female friend apart from Me.

Severally,She'd tried to get me hooked up but  each time,I'd only just shake it off and dismiss the idea.

Most of Brandy's 'guys' were the rockstar wanna-be's,unserious men that are out there to 'have fun',pure noncommittal fun.

She loved to party and drink sometimes,She was the 'living-the-life' kind of a lady,very vibrant and lively.

"My God! From what planet are you?"  She'd say irritatedly. "Who survives three months,a month even,without a masculine touch?"

I'd smile and ignore her,and She'd scoff mockingly and frown.

"Whatever." I'd say,sticking out my tongue teasingly.

I had never been to a night club,or even drank. I was focused on my future,and there'd be plenty of time for that,I thought.

I had learned to make perfect coffee,and often,customers would ask especially for me to make their coffee. It encouraged me greatly.
******

I had never celebrated my birthday without my family,and I thought it would feel very less like it,but when I told Jake and Maya that it was my birthday,they arranged and impromptu,yet very fun celebration for me.

"Okay,here's what we'll do. The fourth of June will be on a Friday,fortunately.." Said Maya. "So we'll have a night out,cinema,after that then we'll go eat at Chimney's,after that-"

"Then we'll walk all night until we get hungry and then eat bagels from street vendors." Jake completed.

"Exactly." Maya agreed,smiling. "And then we could go to the art gallery,they are open all night."

"Okay guys,that sounds like one hell of an all nighter." I exclaimed excitedly.

"That's the idea." Jake laughed.

And so we did,on Friday night after all three of us got back from work,we dressed up as we would on any other normal day. Jake wore a pale blue linen shirt with beige three quarter trouser.
Maya wore a black jeans and a white camisole,and I wore a pink sleeveless dress just a little below my knee. And we headed out.

   The amazing couple made sure that I had an amazing night,that was when I realized that one could have family that they don't share blood with.

                            *******

The weekend passed by in a blur and it was time to get back to work.

I continued working with Jerry's and everything was going as I'd hoped.

  It was on a Wednesday and I was rushing to get to work,normally,I'd leave home forty minutes before my shift,it took twenty-five minutes to walk to Mandarin street hill.
I was late because l'd stayed up late watching my favorite show,'America's next top model'.