His Estranged Mate

Chapter 1: Reunion

CATRINA

I stare at the message on my screen for the 10th time, trying to understand the motive behind it. Here, I am sitting in my kitchen, mulling over the message from my long-lost friend.

Oh, no, she didn't disappear. I did.

Hey Catrina. Hope you are well. Our high school group of girl friends have decided to meet up for a reunion on the coming Saturday at 365 bar (18:00 hrs). I would be delighted if you join us too.

Yes, short and simple yet a very vague message if we consider how an invitation should be. But that's how Annika has always been. Less talk, more action. By action, I mean she was the social butterfly of our group, always attracted to guys and the one who had different boyfriends, every week so it's natural that she received the most action.

What to do? Should I go? It's been 6 and a half years since I last met them or even saw them. I didn't even graduate with my high school diploma with them because of.... Don't go there, Catrina!

If they have invited me, it means they want to know about what's going on in my life, right? It's to rebuild our bond, yes? It wouldn't harm anyone if I go and I no longer have my parents to hover above me so it's not like I have to stay home. The bar she mentioned in the message is surely far from my new home. I purposely chose a house close to this hospital where I'll be working which means that it's far from the city.

Am I overthinking? Fuck yes, I am. I am insecure about how people will react to my present life. I have so many broken dreams and those are the people who had warned me off with this possibility but I had stubbornly waved them off and continued to follow my fairy tale.

Result? I failed and with that all my other dreams, collapsed too.

Urgh! Stop with this pity party, Catrina. You will go to the party on Saturday, have fun, get drunk then hail a cab home and for once sleep without any dreams.

Yes. That's what I am going to do. Decision made, I toss my phone in my purse and drain the glass of milk before getting up from the table.

Today I start with my new job as a nurse in the local hospital of Blue Moon town. Strange name, I know but it's a small town and I had to move all my stuff from my family home to this apartment, not that I had a lot of stuff, just my personal belongings, some photo albums and my favourite coffee mug along with some furniture. The rest was all taken by Fiona, my parent's only biological and favoured daughter, who is now happily settled in living with her boyfriend in the city.

My parents said that they adopted me when they had lost all hopes of ever having their own child and then miraculously, my mother got pregnant when I was two years old. From that moment, I was looked upon as a mistake. My parents loved me but they loved their own daughter more and when little Fiona realised that she was more favoured, she didn't leave any chance to rub that in my face.

Not allowing myself to dwell on those depressing thoughts, I quickly pack my bag and walk out of my home. I hope I made the right decision by taking up this job. They needed a maternity nurse but didn't find anyone qualified enough with the experience and that's where I come into picture. They hired me, a freshly graduated registered nurse but I am supposed to start as a trainee so that I get a hang of it.

Sending a quick prayer to heaven, I start walking in the direction of my work place.

~~~~~~~

"Thank you," I mutter to the taxi driver while taking back my change and get out of the cab. Last week of May and it's still a little cold. Pulling my coat tighter around my body, I look around myself and feel relieved that the bar is surrounded by restaurants. Straightening the non-existent crease from my silver black sequin mini dress, the only dress fit for this reunion that I owned, I make my way to the 365 bar hoping that the evening goes as smoothly as my day went today. Sleeping in, cleaning my home and having a peaceful afternoon.