Maria recognized the retro-style Volkswagen immediately, as she gathered up her suitcases and headed straight for it. Caterina had been her best friend since childhood and even though they didn’t see each other often over the past few years, the time in between was irrelevant. They were always able to pick up right where they left off; although this reunion would be different. Maria wasn’t just there to visit, she was there to stay. Her life with Joe and the girls was over and a new start awaited her. A new start in an old suburb.
Caterina’s long blonde locks bounced behind her as she ran toward Maria and embraced her as only Caterina can–extra tight with a little squeeze and backward foot lift at the end of it. With light tears trickling down her rosy cheeks, Caterina scooped up the two suitcases, threw them in the back seat and swung in behind the wheel nodding softly to Maria.
Maria felt sick, nervous, scared and excited all at the same time. In some ways, it still seemed surreal, but she no longer wanted to dwell on every single detail that was now her past.
“What do you think Joe is going to do now? Did he try to get a hold of you?” Caterina’s questions broke the long, but comfortable silence.
“No,” Maria’s voice answered with a slight crackle. “I am not really sure, but I think that he understands, or soon will, that my leaving was best for us both.”
“Well, I am glad that you chose to come back here.” And then she came right out with Maria’s silent wonder, which was no surprise. “Have you thought about seeing… David again?”.
Caterina didn’t even finish her question before Maria’s stomach fluttered. He was still there. At the top of the hill. The very one that the grey Volkswagen sputtered toward.
The above instalment is number 7 of my Short Story Series. Although each story part is a continuation of the last, I have designed each storyline so that they can also be read separately. I’ve purposely kept them short for quick, easy reading in response to a writing initiative that I was presented with awhile back.
Parts 1-6 can be found here:
Part 1: https://wordpresscom34070.wordpress.com/2019/04/13/marias-story/
Part 2: https://wordpresscom34070.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/joes-story/
Part 3: https://wordpresscom34070.wordpress.com/2019/04/20/rosie-and-lillys-story/
Part 4: https://wordpresscom34070.wordpress.com/2020/04/18/my-dearest-husband-joe/
Part 5: https://wordpresscom34070.wordpress.com/2020/05/06/the-airport
Part 6: https://wordpresscom34070.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/the-little-white-house/
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