Let's have a conversation
Before getting into bed, she looked at herself in the bureau mirror. "I definitely won't get my waist back," she thought. She was about to cover herself with the sheets when the vibrations became continuous; it wasn't a message anymore, it was a call.
She was annoyed. Could they be calling to offer a service at this hour? But she answered anyway.
"Hello?"
"Deanna?"
"Who is this?"
"Deanna! I wasn't sure you'd still have the same number. It's me, Frank."
"Huh? Frank?"
"Yeah, how have you been? Sorry to bother you at this hour... I came back to the city for a few days and thought... I wanted to know if you'd be interested in having a coffee... It's been a long time since we last saw each other."
Didn't he know she was married? Surely he did, many of her colleagues had helped her prepare surprises for Harry and Laura on their wedding day, for Emma's baptism, and for her last birthday. What did he want? She was as confused as she was surprised.
"A coffee?"
"Sure, if you want... I know we didn't end things well and... I just wanted to talk to you before I leave, if that's okay."
"I was about to go to bed..."
"I'm sorry! I know it's late... Well, should I call you tomorrow morning?"
"Okay..."
"Great! Talk to you tomorrow, Deanna."
"Talk to you tomorrow."
She stared at the black screen of the phone. That was weird. It was true, she hadn't heard from him in a long time, in fact, she had almost forgotten about him. She leaned back against the headboard, thinking.
Frank had appeared in her life one afternoon; he was studying fine arts and for a long time, he just watched her from afar. He'd spot her on campus or at the café and just watch, until that afternoon he decided to approach her. She was always with a man and a girl, Harry and Laura, but not that day.
His charming smile attracted him like a magnet, his fun ways, the way he talked about music. And Deanna was drawn to his short, neat hair, nothing like the rest of the art students, his deep voice, and the sparkle in his eyes. They connected and started seeing each other more often.
They would go out at night to dance or chat at some café. Frank was approachable and kind, with sweet gestures that attracted her even more. Harry hated him; he would crash their outings whenever he could and wouldn't leave Deanna's side. Sometimes Laura would drag him away to give the couple some privacy.
Everything seemed to be going well until one night Harry went to her apartment; it was late and Deanna was already asleep. He had found something that filled him with joy and hope, but also something that hurt his friend. Deanna cried for a week, without holding back, without hiding, as she usually did; letting out open, anguished sobs. And for the first time, he knew what it felt like to hurt the person he loved.
Though later, he would hurt her in other ways.
Several friends confirmed what Harry had told her: that Frank was seeing her and another girl at the same time. And he didn’t deny it when she called him. That's how it ended: from a distance, without seeing each other’s faces. Harry and Laura were there during that call and then had to console her too. Both had their reasons, which had nothing to do with Deanna's well-being.
For Harry, it was getting rid of a threat, and for Laura, the worry that once again, she was free. But then came all the events that led her to where she was now: married, expecting her daughters, and in bed, trying to shake off the surprise Frank had given her.
Daniel didn't keep his word: "Just a little while," he would say, but he'd get so engrossed in his work that hours would pass without him noticing. When he finally went up to the bedroom, his wife had already fallen asleep. He quietly settled next to her and also fell asleep, with one hand resting on her belly.
Deanna woke up to find herself alone in bed. She had overslept, and Daniel hadn't wanted to wake her, so she missed the morning routine with the kids. Lately, she had been sleeping a bit more or would sit down and her eyes would close in the middle of the afternoon; apparently, the little ones were consuming quite a bit of her energy.
And then, while she was making herself some tea, her phone rang again.
"Hello, Deanna!"
"Frank, how are you?"
"Good, and you? I'm sorry for calling so late last night, I didn't realize the time."
"Don't worry about it."
"So, are you free for a coffee?"
Even though Deanna had a different life now, curiosity got the better of her. After all, that chapter had ended somewhat messily.
"Yes, that's fine."
"Great! How about 3 o'clock at that café we used to go to? The one on the corner, 'La Poesía.'"
"Okay, I'll be there."
"Thanks, Deanna! See you then."
She didn't know why she had agreed; she actually had doubts, but also an unresolved feeling.
When she entered the café, Frank was already there. The shock of seeing her so pregnant left him speechless. He knew she was married; he had found out through some social media pages. He would occasionally follow her career.
"Deanna..."
"Hello, Frank."
"Wow!" he said, looking at her belly.
"Yes, I know."
"Come, sit down," he said, pulling out a chair for her.
"I didn't know," he said as she sat down across from him. Deanna just smiled. "Congratulations!"
"Thank you... It's getting heavier with time."
"I'm sorry for making you come out, maybe you wanted to rest."
"Don't worry, I needed to get out a bit... So, why did you call me?"
Frank adjusted himself a bit more; he was still surprised.
"I came back to the city for a few days; I'm getting married in a month. I stopped by the university to pick up some papers and couldn't help but remember... And I just wanted to apologize for everything that happened."
"I see..." There were many things he didn't know about Harry, about herself, but that didn't erase what he had done.
"Yes, Deanna, I really am sorry. I couldn't see you again after that; when I came back, I couldn't find you... Then I met Lucy and fell in love, and well... we're getting married. I think I didn't want to take that step without closing things. I was very immature back then, a jerk... I really did love you a lot..."
Deanna looked at him and understood; old wounds and stories need to be closed to start anew. What she never would have suspected was that she had meant so much to him that he would ask for her forgiveness; that he would come back to find her so long after and want to give a proper ending to those months together.
Their conversation continued for a while, reminiscing about anecdotes, professors and classmates; outings, arguments, and mutual friends. It was pleasant to have an afternoon like that; she spent a lot of time at home and, although she was never alone, she sometimes missed that mundane life.
Maybe we don't need it ourselves, sometimes we don't even remember, like Deanna; but the people who pass through our lives always leave something. A beautiful memory, a lesson, or a wound; even those who hurt us the most and change the course of our path can give us a tool that helps us grow as humans. Frank had given her the taste of lies and betrayal; but also the first reason to learn to forgive.