Our Reflection

9• Jar Of Hearts

Toni Topaz POV

"What happened, Bear?  You barely touched your food, you are usually the first to finish it all and leave for dessert."

"I'm not hungry."

"This phrase is new in your vocabulary. What happened?"

"Nothing."

"You can lie to your parents, students, even Yoshi, but with me it doesn't stick. Will you tell me what happened or will I have to find out somehow?"

Veronica intertwined her fingers on the table and set the plate aside, looking at me as if I had committed a crime. 

I pushed my almost untouched food a little and made the same gesture as hers, taking a deep breath. 

I had no idea how to resolve the entire situation that developed over the past two months. 

Cheryl.  Marjorie.  Theo.  Melissa. 

Four people who came into my life and turned my world upside down. 

"I swear, Vee, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm fine, just my appetite ..."

"Enough, Toni. I will no longer hide the irritation I have been feeling for the past few weeks.  Where is that woman who was always smiling?"

"Which woman?"

"This is not right. I thought you wouldn't let yourself be shaken."

"Veronica, I'm fine."

"No, you're far from it. I thought after Peaches ..."

"She went to my house before she left."

"What?"

"She .. came to talk to me."

I started playing with my own fingers and stared at the glass of water on the table. 

"I don't know what's going on. Why didn't you tell me that Peaches came to you?!"

"Because I knew you were going to burst and, at the very least, break her face. Don't worry, I already said that everything is fine."

"Good?"

Her tone gradually increased and some customers of the restaurant looked at us in fright.

"Everything is fine. What did she want with you?! What was it to say? This is not right."

"If you don't stop screaming now, I get up from this table and leave."

I made the most serious face I could and Veronica seemed to understand the message.

"I was returning from the château and when I got home, Peaches was waiting for me on the porch with a box.  I didn't want to extend the conversation too much, I just needed to sleep.  She was very nice and ..."

"I don't want to know if she was nice."

"Well ..."

The woman was sitting on the steps of the wand while searching for something on her cell phone. 

I cleared my throat and Peaches's eyes looked at me with some joy. 

She jumped up and ran over to hug me, but all I did was take a few steps back and prevent the slightest contact. 

"My God, calm down. I have no disease."

"You are a disease.  What are you doing here?"

"Wow, you're sour."