Fear was running through his veins as he watched her cry. Of everything he expected, this was the worst possible one. Never before had he had an experience like this. It was something he didn’t want to have happen again. Now he had to be brave. Now he had to face what ever she was going to say, and he guessed it was going to hurt him very much.
“Why are you crying?” he asked, not particularly wanting to hear the answer. He knew he had to know anyway. It felt strange that he already knew the answer to something, yet he was in a situation where he had to ask the question.
“I…” She started but could not finish. Arrek grew more afraid. A solid block of ice had formed in his gut now, and he was sure he was about to start shaking in apprehension. A tear formed in his eye and he quickly wiped it away. Taka was struggling with trying to find the right words to show how she felt. Arrek could empathise with her; he was in the exact same boat.
“I am so happy,” her voice was raw from crying and Arrek fell hard. Something inside him snapped and the weight that had been burdening him was lifted. Of every last thing he expected her to say, this was the one. Disbelief clouded his vision and his knees threatened to buckle. “They are happy tears, not sad ones,” she added.
He felt his gorge begin to rise after the emotions and complete turn around of what just happened. More tears began to form in his eyes, and he couldn’t understand why. His stomach was fluttering, and he was uncertain, he wasn’t sure what he would see if he looked into her eyes.
Taka must have felt lonely when she moved away, that much he was sure of. They had said goodbye to some of their closest friends together and had comforted each other during the aftermath. Their relationship was strange. They had been acquaintances until they really had a chance to talk alone together. Standing outside at three in the morning, while his birthday party was taking place, most of his friends were talking in a drunken stupor, so they had not noticed his disappearance.
They talked for a while, being honest with each other and really trying to get to know each other. They succeeded in doing this and that night they had slept together as friends, each drawing comfort from the other’s presence next to them. Now they had met by chance in one of the biggest cities in the world. Their relationship was a strange one indeed.
After leaving the café, they walked hand in hand through Manhattan, talking and joking as usual. Something had changed though, something deep and fundamental in Arrek. In that instant he realised Taka would be his friend for life. They may not always be able to see each other easily and would be apart for long periods during their lives, but they would keep living, they would keep contacting each other.
She would become one of the many. Arrek made friends so easily and he was able to give himself over to those around him. It was one reason he had friends in twenty different countries across the world. He turned and moved towards Taka and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I have to leave soon, I have some place to go in the next few days, but when I get back I promise I will call you.”
She nodded at his statement and said, “What are you doing tonight?”
“I’m free, I hope.” He said, wondering what she had in mind.
“Please can you stay with me tonight?” she asked.
“Yes,” was his reply and together they went back to her hotel and fell asleep drawing comfort from each other’s presence.