Blue Bird

Chapter Three

Eric fell in love with the Backbend's coffee. Every single day, he had to buy a cup. An unfortunate Sunday introduced him to a daily delight.

He decided to order a cup every week day before heading to work.

Every day with no doubt, the red haired girl is there, on table ten, alone with her head down. Intrigued, he started thinking what she might look like. Her vibrating long red hair attracted so many eyes.

But on a sudden Saturday, she came to greet him. It was hard to believe. He could finally see her face, the mystery has been solved.

Sadly, no expression could be found on her face. Which made him even more interested.

-Joe...must be short for Joanna? He mumbled to himself

-Eric lost in thoughts...wow, I've seen it all now, declared Khalid.

Matthew rushed with four beers in his hands. A typical Saturday at their usual bar.

-Did I miss anything guys?

-Yes, Eric is in the clouds, mumbling to himself, said jack in hopes of provoking the man.

-Guys, it's nothing.

-No, it's not. You're actually interested in some girl. Proclaimed Khalid and continued, we've never heard you ever mention a single female name at your free will.

-So, where did you meet her? Said the boys.

-I said it's nothing. There's this girl who sits at the neighboring coffee shop every day. I just was wondering how she looked like and she talked to me today. Anyway, I'll be leaving early, I've got somewhere to be tomorrow, sorry.

Eric wanted to leave. Somehow, there was a strange feeling lingering in him. He could not figure out what it was.

All he knew was that he wished to talk to her again.

11:00pm

"I wonder what that person must be doing right now..."said Eric and Joe.

The blue bird kept flapping his wings happily, admiring the bright green sight upon him. The sun shined on the surface of a lake, he went round and round staring at his own beauty.

The sky was his. Blending perfectly, it felt like home.

On that day, after Louise left, Joe wrote her first words. She had not typed a single word for a whole year. The words naturally poured out of her. In a span of four hours she had finished a few pages.

Confidence. That was the major thing that made her move again. Instigating something that she feared so much and coming out of it safely, made her realize nothing was as scary and terrifying as we make it seem to be.

It is not like something traumatic happened in her past, she just got tired of people suddenly leaving and so isolation was her last resort to the point of losing any communication skill.

Joe had a normal childhood like any other girl from a well off family. Being sheltered all her life, she was not accustomed to life's bitter moments. She barely remember her school friends. Always opening up and yet again getting hurt, stepped on, she grew tired day by day till she cut off anyone she ever knew.

She was too weak. She ran away.

Years passed by.

Now her social life was suffering, being a writer she had to make many presentations, sit through interviews, signature sessions, shaking hands...she did none of it.

But greeting a stranger was the first hard step she so badly needed.

It was time to change.