+ 1.10: Remembering

Azaria stood in the lobby of Crescent Bay Plaza. She buzzed the line to the apartment she and Cam had once shared. “Hello. Newman residence” It was a man’s voice. She didn’t say anything. “Hello...?” The Newman person called again from the other end. She heard a click as the intercom receiver was replaced in its cradle. Some part of her was hoping it would be unoccupied even though she had guessed very well that it was in fact occupied. It had been over a year. But time was not enough to heal wounds. Azaria had never gotten a chance to say goodbye and somehow it felt as if Cam’s presence was still there to fill the space. She fought back the tears. No way was she about to cry in the lobby. She pulled herself together and left. 

Stepping out into the crisp evening air she felt a gentle breeze play across her face. Stray strands of hair whipped around and she made no effort to brush them away. It was refreshing. She felt lighter and happier to be out of the confines of the stone walls by choice: even if this moment would be short-lived. She felt an unease building up inside her. About an hour had passed and still Davrin hadn’t come after her. She wished she had an inkling of what he was playing at. He was right. She was petrified to the core about the unknown. 

She walked around the city carelessly. She had landed herself in trouble once before. Whatever fate threw at her now couldn’t be any worse. She paid no attention to the thick blanket of darkness descending upon the city. It was getting late.

Azaria soon found herself in a bar jumping with joviality and festivity – the complete opposite of what she felt at that moment. She glanced around and gathered that a group of people had come in to celebrate something. She didn’t mind the crowd as long as she could keep to herself. She sat down at the bar counter and waited to be served.

It had been about half an hour and still the bartender hadn’t served her.

“Oi! Can I get some frigging service here?” She called out.

“Can I get you a drink?” She heard a man’s voice enquire from behind her.

“Are you a waiter?” She quipped without turning around. She heard him laugh to himself. It was a familiar laugh but she brushed it off.

“Ok let me try again. Can I buy you a drink?” He tried.

“I’m not interested.”

She had learnt her lesson from the last time. Leaning over the bar counter she tried once more to wave the bartender down.  

From the corner of her eye Azaria noticed the man sit down beside her. Impulse made her turn her head to the right. She narrowed her eyes to get a better look at the person. There was no mistaking his shaggy brown hair, his chiselled jaw line and full kissable lips. “You!” She exclaimed louder than she intended.