The Other Half

by James Fink

Doug came back with a mix of fruit juices.

  “Why do you still have your jacket on? It’s bloody hot in here already.”

  Benjamin hesitated to share his evening with Doug yet he was concerned about the author of the note.

  “Someone slipped this note into my jacket,” he said, tossing the note on the table.

  Doug read it and smiled. “Looks like last night went a little better than you’re saying.”

  “You think it’s Jane, but I’m not so sure.”

  “What do you mean?” Doug asked. “Who else could it be?”

  “I met another woman last night.”

  “Another one? Jesus, Ben. I’ve created a monster.”

  “She was sitting at the table. I don’t know where Jane was, but this other woman and I hit it off really well. And then she was gone and Jane was there.”

  “So Jane saw you with this other woman and decided to take you home with her? That doesn’t make any sense. You must be remembering it wrong. You shouldn’t drink so much.”

  “I guess it doesn’t really make any sense.”

  “Well, whoever wrote it didn’t leave their name, and they didn’t leave a time to meet, either.”

  “Oh. Hey, I didn’t think of that. I wonder when I’m supposed to meet her?”

  Benjamin took a cab to the Essence restaurant, and it seemed like a longer ride than the night before. The building looked a lot less impressive in the daytime than it did in the dark. The bar was downstairs, below ground, though he hadn’t remembered that. He took the steps up to the door and peered inside. It was utterly quiet. No noise, no lights. Only the morning crowd walked past at the foot of the steps.

  He tried the front door but it was locked. He glanced at the menu sign, which said the restaurant was on the second floor. More steps. The menu featured only dinner items. He took a few steps back for a glimpse of the second floor. For a brief moment, he thought he might have seen a silhouette lurking in the middle of the second floor window. He took off his sunglasses, but couldn’t see anything inside. He headed toward a payphone and dialed up Doug.

  “The place is closed and I don’t think they serve breakfast,” Benjamin said.

  “They probably just finished closing the bar a few hours ago.”

  “Can you call your friend from last night and ask her if Jane wrote out that message?” Benjamin asked.

  “Sure. I think I have her number somewhere.” Benjamin heard Doug searching. “Hold on. Here it is. I’ll put you on hold while I call her.”

  Benjamin felt strange standing outside with nothing but dead air on the phone. He hoped Doug would hurry up before he froze outside. He thought he saw a shadow again from the second floor when Doug finally came back on the line.

  “Your friend says she never wrote you a note. And I think you’re in some hot water with her, because she’s kind of pissed that you didn’t leave her a note. You really have to work on your dismount.”

  “I guess I left kind of quick.”

  “Jane was there when I called. They might just be playing with us. I don’t know. I’ll never figure out girls. ”

  “Thanks anyway.”

  Benjamin looked up at the restaurant one more time before he set off for home. He didn’t have any cash to speak of with him, so he took the bus back. He had to run to catch it on the far corner from the restaurant, so he was out of breath when he stepped on.

  During the week, tit was completely full of suits and ties, but since it was the weekend, the bus was almost empty. An old woman sat in front next to the bus driver. But other than that, he had it all to himself. He sat down on a bench near the back exit.

  There was that pounding again in his frontal lobe just above his right eye. It kept him from listening to the conversation between the driver and the old woman. He lowered his head hoping that the rush of blood would make the pain go away. He heard the bus door open as the old woman was already at her destination. She made her way down the steps slowly clinging to the side bars and disappeared onto the street. Benjamin did not see anyone else come on. And he was busy with his eyes closed in pain when he felt her presence next to him. He couldn’t believe someone would just sit next to him with the bus so empty. He lifted his eyes just high enough to look at her legs. He saw the end of a white dress sitting on top of a pair of pale legs. He recognized the dress instantly.

  “It’s you,” he said softly with the words clinging to his lips. “Who are you?”

  “I’m Helen,” the women said, smiling.

  Benjamin felt his heart pound and his body warmed up.

  “I was waiting for you at the restaurant,” Helen said with a shadow of worry. “Why didn’t you come?”

  “I wanted to, but the place was closed.”

  He wanted to ask her how she got inside the building but deep in his heart he did not want to ruin the fantasy. At the bar, he never actually had a good look at her face. This time he could see her dark black hair contrasting with her pale complexion. She had virtually no color in her face. Except her eyes. Benjamin was mesmerized by those eyes. It was her only feature that was in vivid color, almost a fluorescent green. They rode the bus together side by side in silence. Benjamin wanted the bus ride to last forever.

  He missed his bus stop but he didn’t care. If he could have, he would have made time stop to enjoy that moment forever.

  “Can I take you to dinner at the restaurant this evening?” he finally broke the silence. “It will be open by then.”

  “I’d love that,” She said. “Promise me you’ll be there.”

  “I will, I promise.” He looked deeply into her eyes.

  He turned around looking at his apartment passing by. “This is my stop...” he started to say, but she was gone.

  “I saw her again,” Benjamin said, gasping after coming in the door.

  “Right,” Doug said, his eyes fixed on the television set.

  “That woman in white from the other night.”

  “Ben, you were drunk. In fact, you still look a little blotto. Are you sure this time?”

  “I have no idea what’s happening, but the fact is I just saw her on the bus. I think she saw me and followed me. She was trying to get in touch with me.”

  “That sounds like stalking. You’re in love with a weirdo. You two deserve each other.”

  “We just have such a great connection. She has the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen.”

  “Did Jane have green eyes?”

  “No and she was brunette. Helen has dark hair.”

  “Helen?”

  “The woman’s name is Helen. She must be angel.”

  “Sure, an angel. Well, maybe she did leave the note. She probably had to leave in a hurry and just forgot some details. You know, like her name...”

  “We’re going out tonight. I’m meeting her at that same place.”

  “What about Jane?”

  “Jane’s pretty and nice, but Helen is an angel.

  “Don’t take this personally, Ben, but you’re acting kind of weird. I don’t like what this girl is doing to you.”

  “I’m telling you Doug, I think I’m falling in love with her, and I think she likes me.”

  “For God’s sake. Come back to your senses. You just met this girl.” Doug got up to get a beer from the fridge. “But for your sake, I hope you’re right,” he added.

  Benjamin rarely dined at restaurants. First of all, he was embarrassed to be sitting alone, and even with friends he felt uncomfortable watching the couples around him romantically dining together. Yet there he was, sitting alone at a table. He asked for a table for two, but Helen was late. A pretty white cloth was set over a small round table with a small bouquet of roses placed in the middle of it. He thought this was the beat table in the place, especially since he could see the sun setting through the side window. He was slowly drinking a cold glass of orange juice while he patiently waited to see if she would show up again. It had now been a two-hour wait, long enough for the condensation o
f his ice water to have evaporated to room temperature. The waitress had passed several times to see if he wanted to order without his companion. Each time he would shift in his seat nervously and mumble a “No.” He tried to recall the sensation he felt last evening, being with her; and their ride on the bus that morning.

  Darkness was creeping deep inside the building. A small lamp glowed at the Benjamin’s left side. Suddenly, he felt a sharp coldness on his hand. It was the hand of a woman over him, the pale hand of Helen. She wore the same dress.

  “Hi, again.” Benjamin cringed when he couldn’t come up with something smarter to see.

  She smiled. He sensed she felt the same way he did. He yearned to touch her, feel her dark hair between his fingers down to her shoulders, but he was mesmerized by her stare. She had the greenest eyes he had ever seen and it made his heart tingle.

  “Please sit down.” Benjamin motioned to the chair in front of him as he suddenly realized he had forgotten his manners.

  “You are such a gentleman.” She said as he pulled the chair so she could rest upon it.

  “I’m not sure I ever presented myself. I’m Benjamin.” He held her hand in his own.

  “Nice to meet you Benjamin, I am Helen.” Her green eyes sparkled.

  “That’s such a pretty name.”

  “Thank you. I’m named after my grandmother.”

  He usually stumbled around for things to say, but it was easy with her. “What do you do?”

  “I am a school teacher, Ben.”

  “Would you like to order something?”

  “No, I think just sitting here and being with you would be marvelous.”

  Benjamin gulped. No one had