been broken―but I still want to fall in
It was a drizzly Monday with autumn leaves falling. I was on Philosopher's walk on my way to Hart House but my heart was heavy. Normally, a rainy walk through leaves will cure almost anything, but not a migraine heartache. I was missing Cindy.
I told myself it was insane, for all I knew the girl was playing me. Yes, she said she wasn't, but in her profession love was careless. For my part, I said I trusted her, but I live in a house of secrets―I opened a few rooms for her, but truthfully, only out of weakness.
The rain was seeping through my coat, a red maple star clung to my shoe, ironically, the image of her, and I simply didn't know what else to do.
A hand reached out to touch me. It was Cindy. And my heart jumped.
"Hey, Prof―how was your Saturday?"
I smiled, "Brutal, I'm still recovering."
"Don't you know you shouldn't walk in the rain without an umbrella?"
She looped her arm through mine, tilted her umbrella as a shelter, and used it as a pretext to lean in closer.
The faint scent of her perfume was intoxicating.
"You're shivering," she said, "let's get you some coffee."
We ended up in the coffee shop with the same female students staring. I was becoming a thing―a topic of gossip.
Cindy saw it too and made me sit with my back to them, facing her, which was far more interesting.
"I want to update you on our cold cases. We've uncovered a lot of skeletons."
"How many?" Yeah, I had to ask.
"A dozen, and still going. It's depressing."
"Any leads on the perps?"
She shook her head. "We're hoping you might be able to help us. The forensic technicians used an apparatus to scan the notes you gave us. It's a form of electrostatic detection and it uncovered a series of indented numbers. Maybe Nat can use his connections at the university to decode them."
"Sure, I'll ask him. Anything else?"
She hesitated a moment. "I want to talk about Friday."
My blood froze. I hoped this wasn't a laundry hug to let me down easy.
"Sure, go on. I'm listening."
"I had a good time. Maybe I came on too strong, too fast? Erin says so--tells me I was way past tipsy."
"You were okay...really."
"I'm telling you this because I care for you, Laird. I'm a bit fragile right now, so we need to be straight with each other. If you're not that into me, tell me―I can take it, but don't lead me on thinking you'll let me down easy. That would not be good for me."
I relaxed and took a deep breath. I didn't realize I was holding it all the time she was talking.
"I don't know what I can say other than you're all I thought about all weekend―actually, ever since I met you. I'm for real, and I am not going anywhere."
Next moment she was in my arms. We could have used an umbrella then as cover, but what the hell― I wanted the whole world to know I loved her.
And funny thing I discovered... I really did trust her.