“What are you carrying?” Ellie’s face wrinkled with concern as she looked at Kat. “I see you holding back. A warm, caring, gentle human is interested in spending time with you. He’s funny, intelligent, and he listens to what you say. Why are you acting like this is a bad thing?”
Kat glanced at her friend, blowing softly on the mug of hot tea the waitress had just delivered. “I’m carrying old love. I’m carrying loss.” Kat shrugged, and looked away. “When I see Sean, I’m just reminded of all the things that can go wrong. I don’t know if I can go down that road again.”
Ellie reached across and grasped Kat’s hand, squeezing slightly as she pulled Kat’s attention back to their table. “What if things go well instead of wrong?”
Silence settled between the two friends and Kat leaned back into her chair. She’d had the love of her life, hadn’t she? A person who made her feel complete, whose imperfections fit perfectly with her own shortcomings. Together they had faced the world, each supported by the other. And they had failed.
“Even if he doesn’t turn out to be a new love, what’s the harm in making a friend?” Ellie’s words pulled Kat from her thoughts. “And he is very easy on the eyes, isn’t he?”
“Ellie!” Kat blushed and laughed at her friend’s saucy expression. She was right though: Sean was tall, with broad shoulders, and muscles that rippled under his jacket when he threw the ball for Ryder. Add the dark hair, deep brown eyes, and the hint of a smile that was always on his face, and you had a very attractive man indeed.
“What’s the harm Kat? Why not chat him up a little and see what happens? No one says you have to propose to him on the first date. Just open up a little and see what friendship can bring.” Excited to finally have Kat’s attention, Ellie took a gulp of her hot mocha coffee, and spluttered over the table as the beverage burned her mouth. “Aaahh! Hot! Hot!” While fanning her mouth, Ellie dropped the cup and coffee spilled across the table. Kat burst into laughter as she handed her friend a glass of water and helped her mop up the mess. A waitress saw their predicament and came bustling over with a wet rag. “Well, and are you ok then miss?” Ellie, nodded, tears still streaming down her face. “Shall I get you a replacement? Hot mocha coffee if I’m not mistaken?” “Thanks, yes, that would be terrific” mumbled Ellie as Kat sat back regarding her friend. “There see, that’s what meddling in my love life will get you!” she laughed.
“Ah, so now it’s a love life we’re talking about?” replied Ellie, smirking for having caught Kat so neatly. “A minute ago I think I was simply mentioning friendship, and here we are now talking about love. Hmmm, me thinks there is perhaps a bit more going on than you’ve shared?”
Kat was saved from replying by the swift re-appearance of the waitress, bearing a fresh cup for Ellie, and a new steamer of hot water for Kat’s tea. She also dropped two freshly baked scones on the table. “I thought I heard a word about a man, something to do with friendship, and definitely the word love” she stated. “I figured you’d both be needing a bit of sustenance for your girl talk.”. Kat stared up at her in amazement, deeply touched by the waitress’ care. “Thank you…” she paused and the girl jumped in “Megs”. “Well, Megs, thank you! You’ve made my friend’s inquisition into my life much easier to bear”. Megs chuckled and walked off, turning back once to add “I’d go for it if I was you, you only live once!”.
Kat’s heart constricted and she looked at Ellie. “The thing is, you don’t only live once. You live every day. Over and over again. It’s death that you only do once. You only die once.”
Ellie reached over and took Kat’s hand again “And what do you want for those days Kat? Right now you’re keeping yourself alone. Is that how you want to live each day?”
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