Every clap of thunder made us stronger on the inside.

Eric just finished lifting weights and sat on the bench near the wall in the corner of a gym.

“Bye Eric,” said someone.

“See you,” he answered.

Eric was thirty years old, a successful man with big dark eyes and brown darkish skin tone. He came here every Friday to keep himself in good shape. The gym was almost empty, it was after nine o’clock and people hastened to go home where someone was waiting for them.

A few weeks ago Eric would have been the first one to leave seeking to be home as soon as possible, but not now. Today and for the past two months nobody waited for him at home anymore. His girlfriend, Mary, a blond wide-eyed girl, left him two months ago. She was more than a girlfriend. She was a best friend, a desirable woman, a personal psychologist… Simply, she was everything for him. And he deserved Mary, he was almost perfect, perfect inside and outside, he did as much as he could for her. But nevertheless two months ago he found on the table a note that said: ”Eric, you are the man I used to dream about for all my life. I couldn’t believe my dream came true when I met you, but you know when wishes become true we don’t pay attention to bad things but just focus on the good. It took me so long to understand who you truly are. I have met one guy who told me the truth about you. I was shocked, and I don’t want to stay with you any more. Don’t try to find me. I changed my phone and job. I changed everything. I’m starting a new life. I have something else that I should tell you, but I’m not bold enough. Maybe later I will. I still want you to be happy and I want to say thank you for all the great years together.”

How would you feel about this? Yes, Eric was completely unsettled, lost, whatever you want to say to describe all this mess and sorrow in his soul. However, he had no idea about what the “truth” was that she was talking about. Someone made this up but he had no way to tell her that.

But time had passed and that evening he was feeling a little better. He was exhausted after his long work out, after his efforts of trying to escape from all the recent events that destroyed his happy life.

The last person left the gym and slammed the door, which made Eric come back from his thoughts to real life. He packed his backpack, turned off the lights and left the gym. It was raining and he heard a big clap of thunder. He jumped into his car, turned on the lights, turned up the radio loud and lay back on the seat. Suddenly, he saw a leaflet on the front window. It wasn’t wet yet and seemed like someone had just put it there. He got out and took the leaflet. It was something about a newly opened baby store and his eyes fell on photo of the store’s opening day. “Damn it!” She was in the picture. And she wasn’t alone; some guy with wild hair and disheveled appearance was holding her hand. He looked one more time at this guy, at his lean body and dark eyes. All this seemed so familiar to him… oh, it was one of his work associates, Jordan! Eric had fired him just a month ago because he never got his job done on time and was just the worst associate ever.

“Damn, how could it be? Mary and Jordan just met a month ago. She never talked to me about him. He is an awful guy. He is young, he is stupid and he is an absolutely bad kid! Damn, she never will be happy with him.” Many thoughts were in his head as he was sped down the highway. “But what were they doing in the baby store?” At first he attached no importance to this. Then facts shaped in his mind. He remembered how she was sick last month before she left, - “Obviously she was pregnant. Is it my child? She met this guy just a month ago. I’m sure she never cheated before. It’s my child.” Finally, he understood what she wasn’t bold enough too say and also he understood who made up this “truth”. In his wallet he found his service mechanic card, who was Jordan’s brother, he found their home phone for emergencies with his car. “His brother surely should live with him since he moved into town not long time ago,” Eric thought. He kept driving as he phoned that number.

“Hi. It’s Eric. Can you please let me talk to Mary?”

“Oh, hello Eric,” said Jordan sweetly, “How would I know where she is?”

“Please, it’s important.”

“Sorry, I can’t help you. Good night.”

Suddenly he heard her voice; luckily she was near and quickly grabbed the phone:

“Yes, Eric,” she sounded agitated.

“I have so much to say to you. I… I don’t know what to start with. First of all, I swear I never ever lied to you and I truly love you. Secondly it’s your life and your choice but you better check out Jordan. And, finally, I’m so happy you are pregnant. You dreamed about this for a long time. Me too… but whatever, it’s your choice. But please let me see my… your… our baby someday.”

On the other end of the phone he could hear angry statements by Jordan about Eric, lieing again; but Mary didn’t say anything. Then he heard her cry. After a couple of minuets she said:

“Let’s meet in half an hour at the west Starbucks,” her voice was trembling.

“Great! See you.”

She hung up the phone. He tossed his phone on the seat, looked at the highway and turned back since the west Starbucks was completely the opposite way. He heard a loud clap of thunder again and rained harder. Suddenly, he saw a bunch of cars right in front of him. He slammed on the brakes, but they didn’t work. Rain and the dark made everything disastrously worse. Airbags didn’t work either.

He died at the scene. At his funeral were only his parents and the girl who was everything to him.

Today, Mary’s baby is five. Jordan left her right after the accident. She stays brave. But Mary still doesn’t know why one day she believed a random guy more then the dearest ever person.

Alina Makaremko

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 765