Storm in a Cup of Coffee

by Keren Or

  Sadly for Eli... Sebastián was the straw that broke the camel’s back. That night on entering her home, she went straight to bed, sobbing hopelessly... until at last she fell asleep.

  It took her a few days to recover from her low energy. Thanks to the interesting job she was now handling with ease, and to her firm decision to overcome her separation from Tomás, Eli managed, for the first in a long time, to feel at peace... and even to be happy. That same day... confirming her decision, Eli and her co-workers were sharing a delicious pizza in the meeting room at lunchtime. Like good women, they complained about men, relationships and life in general. Eli’s cell phone rang just as she was laughing uncontrollably because of a comment she had just heard. Eli answered the call despite the screen showing an unidentified number. Between the laughter, the pizza and the voice calling her name... Eli almost choked.

  “Tomás?” she answered, trembling.

  “Hello, Eli, how are you?” asked Tomás, breathing heavily.

  “I’m fine... I think... it’s just that... I wasn’t expecting your call...,” she said, closing her office door to have privacy.

  “I see you’re contented... you sound happy,” he said in a breaking voice.

  “Ah... I just heard a funny comment... But tell me, how are you?”

  “It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken, hasn’t it? “

  “Exactly three months,” specified Eli… and we’ve been separated for seven.

  “Are you going out with anyone?”

  “No, with no one. And you?”

  “Me neither...,” replied Tomás, returning Eli’s soul to its place. “Can we get together tonight to talk? I’ll come pick you up at seven... Is that okay?”

  “Yes, of course. I’m not studying today. I’ll be waiting for you...”

  Eli hung up, feeling her heartbeats almost breaking through her chest. She was confused but excited, or rather terrified of experiencing... a new disappointment.

  Nevertheless, she felt willing to take the risk.

  Radiant and beautiful, she went down that afternoon to meet Tomás. He was waiting for her, smiling. Embracing in the street, they tried to compensate for the thousands of embraces lost along the way, picking them up one by one in a single, unique and thrilling embrace.

  Without saying a single word, Tomás took her to the beach, to the same place where he had given her a “ring” and with it... his promise of love.

  They sat on the sand, Tomás looking at Eli and Eli looking at the sea, praying... “for the love of God...” that a miracle would happen.

  And miraculously... Tomás was there, at her side.

  Taking her by the hand, Tomás finally said, “I love you, Eli. I never stopped loving you... and I want to try again...”

  Eli tried to respond, but her tears were choking her.

  Tomás, knowing her, took her in his arms and began to kiss her.

  The sweet taste, the tender feeling and the perfect harmony that still flowed between them both... gave Tomás the answer...

  And as they say somewhere... all roads lead to the same place...

  So always for Eli... towards Tomás would lead...

  All roads…

  12

  A bubble of illusions

  Excited and happy, Eli watched as her belongings exited her parents’ house and went into the truck Tomás had secured. This was how she was beginning the rest of her life with him, taking a step loaded with the biggest illusion of all: that there could be a life for them together... The future seemed close and promising.

  Eli was accompanied by her parents, behind the truck, and Sofi also came with her future husband to lend a hand. The whole family was ready to help. With big fantasies and hopes for this new life, Eli was leaving, for the first time, her comfortable, safe home to embark on a long adventure and fulfill the long-desired dream of cohabitation. The previous six months since she had resumed her relationship with Tomás had been wonderful, and the passionate couple could not wait to have their own love nest.

  The apartment, with one bedroom plus a balcony and a living room, was of small dimensions but had lots of light and was very cozy. It was located in a quiet neighborhood close to her workplace. During the day, one could hear the songs of little birds.

  While Tomás unloaded the furniture with his two closest friends, Eli mopped the floor and her mother unpacked the boxes, arranging everything in its place. Her sister and her boyfriend had already painted the walls in a cream color, and her dad, who had brought his own tools, was finishing up fixing everything he thought important to fix.

  At the end of that long day, when everyone had gone to rest, Eli and Tomás sat down to have coffee on the balcony. The apartment, which previously used to look old and empty, was suddenly looking new and warm, but still missing was... the last thing to hang... A colored sign saying in capital letters

  HAPPILY EVER AFTER

  ELI AND TOMÁS

  Quickly, the walls of their small apartment were turned into an events center, always open to welcome friends and family who visited them to share some time... and sometimes they would stay... and never leave.

  Tomás was happy, Eli was relaxed, and practically everything was flowing without major drama, soap-opera style... Even the first family lunch, organized and prepared almost entirely by Eli, was a complete success.

  The experiment, where the parties on both sides finally met each other, produced good results and, luckily… a perfect union and phenomenal harmony were created spontaneously and very naturally.

  Sofi was talking to Tomás’s older sister, the men were discussing business and work matters and the mothers were exchanging recipes and talking about issues with “the children”. Jenny, being a good friend as always, was helping Eli in the kitchen, keeping away from being a part of the tremendous, noisy chicken coop.

  Needless to say, love reigned over the new lands, and after Sofi’s marriage, by a rather cultural logic, everyone was waiting anxiously and impatiently for Eli and Tomás’s imminent announcement...

  The euphoria of living together and thinking about forming a family maintained for almost a year, but unfortunately... it did not persist. The differences were too many, and all those things that had led them to the first breakup arose once more... irremediably. The arguments and fights over anything came up again frequently. They would stop talking to each other for a few hours and sometimes for a few days, and then they would forgive each other and try to go on; but finally... they always went back to the same place and everything... would start again.

  Eli became embroiled again and again with Tomás over his immature ways, while he could not stand her endless demands and her stubborn character, which not even a bulldozer could move. Consumed by unfounded jealousy, they even began to mutually distrust one another, until the moment came when love... was no longer a sufficient reason.

  On the other hand, habit was a safe place and therefore difficult to abandon, but the accumulated wear-and-tear finally caught up with them, destroying and breaking... what for years they had dreamed of building and putting together.

  Saddened but sensible, Eli and Tomás opted for a new separation... thinking that out there, somewhere and at any time, something better would be waiting for them...

  And on the day of the move, submerged in an ocean of tears, they both watched how their once-happy home was being emptied, knowing that despite the sadness and the pain, it was not fair for them to keep attempting what naturally was not working…

  Telling themselves that the intense shared feeling somehow always would unite them and continue to exist, despite everything... the door was finally closed, leaving the last evidence of love... behind...

  A colored sign that said in capital letters:

  “Happily ever after

  Eli

  and Tomás...”

  ◆
r />   It’s nine o’clock in the morning.

  I wake up after having a dream or a nightmare... I still cannot decide... but it was about you...

  We were together again, embracing and kissing each other, but I woke up and you were not here... and everything remains as it is...

  Will you understand if I tell you that I would prefer… to not wake up?

  I’m writing this letter to you to keep my fingers occupied. Preventing them in this way, from dialing your number... in desperation.

  But I know I shouldn’t do that, Tomás... That I should not go back.

  Even when I tell myself that it would only be to hear your sweet voice... even when I lie to myself that it would only be for a few moments... I know I should not do it, because if I did... I would die from sadness... one more time.

  That is why... I will try instead to remember what were the reasons that led us to a new separation.

  The problem is... that now... sadly... I’m suffering from amnesia.

  Tell me, my love, what do I do with the desire and the need to be with you?

  Why is it so hard to leave our feelings aside and make believe that nothing has happened?...

  ◆

  Dear Tomás

  The days are passing by... What else can I do apart from write in my notebook all day?

  Nothing, I can do... absolutely... nothing.

  I memorize what you said to me on the last day: “When it’s difficult for you... think that you will not see me only for today... and that in a few more days, we’ll meet again.”

  What you never told me was what to do in case every blessed day becomes difficult for me... What might you be thinking about at this precise moment?

  What are you feeling? Are you okay? Are you feeling bad?

  Are you still??

  Maybe it’s better... not to know...

  I’ll make an effort, as I promised you, and I’ll move on. At least... for today.

  Don’t forget... I carry you in every thought, in every moment and in every breath...

  And that I will always...

  Love you…

  Yours,

  Eli.

  Back at her parents’ house, Eli suffered terribly because of Tomás’s absence. Although the decision had been mutual, loneliness was never her best friend. Instead, her best friend was Tomás... and he was no longer there...

  Eli tried to overcome the sadness by getting together with friends; she would accept any invitation to go out and even signed up on a website to find a partner.

  She would take all the suitors to the same place: a simple, pleasant restaurant that was close to her home and well hidden—an ideal place to be quiet and where no acquaintance could surprise her.

  Not wasting her time... there were nights when she sat with one and then another, leaving the waiters confused but also amused.

  At least someone was being amused...

  And there were times, of course, when Eli went out to places where there was the possibility of running into Tomás. On those occasions, she would stay in the car for a few more minutes, breathing deeply and praying, “God, give me strength today... to keep myself together in front of him” and “God, give me strength today... to not fall on my knees at his feet... The strength... to not cry to him or beg him to come back...”

  Eli did not know if God would listen to her, but she had nothing to lose...

  Ema and Julián’s wedding was approaching. Eli, fulfilling the role of best friend, accompanied the excited bride to the different trials: dress, makeup and hairstyle.

  Finding out through Ema that Sebastián—Julián’s narcissist friend—had been going out with another of her friends for a month honestly affected her... although she would never admit it. In reality, Eli had no interest in a character like him, but nevertheless, the fact that she was not his choice pricked her ego like a thorn. “What could the other girl have that I don’t have?” wondered Eli, upset about it, though not for long...

  A few days later, Eli received an updated report that Narcissus had left the other girl worse than an abandoned dog. And although what Mr. So-and-so Narcissus did or did not do was all the same to her... very, very deep in her soul, she was pleased with the news.

  The day before Ema’s wedding, excited and happy as if it were her own marriage, Eli went to have the “ten thousand kilometer maintenance” done: shave, straighten her hair, dye her eyelashes, manicure, pedicure and who knows how many more things... After a few hours, to maintain her state of relaxation, she went out to have coffee with Dennis, one of her new co-workers.

  “Did I tell you who will be coming to pick me up tomorrow? Because you already know me—not even if I were crazy would I drive alone to that place...”

  “Not that I remember...,” replied Dennis.

  “Sebastián.”

  “Sebastián? Your friend’s narcissist friend? The rude one?”

  “Yes, yes! The same one!” affirmed Eli, without letting him continue. “It just so happens that he lives a few blocks from my house. It seems that all our lives we were neighbors, and at least... he did not refuse when Ema asked him. I swear to you, Dennis, that this time... I’m going to conquer him. I’ll make him surrender at my feet, before the night is over.”

  “Wow... Who are you?” remarked Dennis, not recognizing the woman so powerful sitting in front of him. “Wasn’t it that you didn’t like Sebastián?” he asked, trying to understand women in general and this one in particular. “It’s no wonder that I like men...,” he added, laughing.

  “Yeah, I didn’t like his attitude. And besides, I don’t understand what he found in the other girl that I don’t have...”

  “Oh... Now I’m beginning to get the story clear. It will be like a challenge, trying to win the trophy... is that it?”

  “Partly so. I don’t deny that I would love to regain my pride... but if I succeed, I wouldn’t object to giving it a second chance...”

  “Then... may the best girl win!” said Dennis, smiling and drinking a toast to Eli.

  Sitting on a bench, Eli waited for Sebastián to arrive. She was feeling beautiful, and she was beautiful—and sure of herself like never before.

  On seeing him arrive and park his car on the other side of the pavement, Eli crossed the street with an elegant, cautious walk, taking care not to slip in the high heels and throw it all away with the night barely started.

  Narcissus and another young man, seated in the back, seemed to be glued to their respective windows, examining her in amazement. Her smooth hair, recently dyed dark brown with a reddish tinge, glowed in the dark. Her face, delicately made up, highlighted her green eyes and tender lips... which also glowed in the dark.

  Lastly, her sensual body, wrapped in a black dress clinging to her skin, and high heels adorning her feet, highlighted her figure, which... naturally... glowed in the dark.

  “Is that Miss Nobody?” marvelled the crewman in the back seat, “because she doesn’t look like nobody to me...”

  Sebastián was dumbstruck, and for a few seconds he doubted if the woman who had just passed in front of his eyes was the same one that they had introduced to him at Julián’s place.

  Anyway... his eyes were blinded by Eli’s radiant self-assurance. Her new image and the stories she told about her job as an event planner immediately fascinated Narcissus.

  Eli, at last, was able to attract his attention... and that of the other man, seated in the back...

  Being the best friends of the bride and groom, Eli and Sebastián were allowed to go into the room where Ema and Julián remained hidden.

  Ema looked beautiful in white. Her blond hair pinned up, her dress with frills and the pink ribbon tied delicately at her waist made her look like a doll. Julián, for his part, was also splendid in his dark blue suit and slick hair. Nervous... they could not wait for th
e guests to arrive so that their gala night, organized totally in their particular style... could begin.

  Suddenly, Sebastián left the room and returned minutes later with four glasses and a bottle of champagne. The four made a toast to the beautiful couple, to the new year that was about to begin and to such a special night.

  For the first time, Eli, astonishingly... agreed to drink a toast... Crying with emotion, she watched Ema take her first steps towards her new dream life.

  Sebastian, standing at one side of the altar, turned his head every so often towards Eli, who sat in the second row, breaking her concentration with his penetrating gaze.

  At the end of the ceremony, all the guests went into the events hall, followed by the bride and groom immediately after. The most energetic ones began to dance...

  Fruit cocktails, various drinks and whatever Sebastián was bringing her with a taste of alcohol... Eli drank with each glass he gave her. And he graciously took care to refill her glass when it became empty. In a few minutes, Eli felt relaxed and light. All night, she danced next to Ema, at times with Julián, other times with Julián’s brother, at other times with Julián’s cousin, and also with his best friend... Sebastián. Eli felt like the queen of the universe. She was happy like never before, and her smile gave off light... The men were looking at her, wishing to be with her... and among them Sebastián... the one that really mattered.

  Besides, if that was not enough, Eli was incredibly lucky... to catch the bouquet.

  Well, actually... it was not so much luck as the leap she made, sweeping away everything.

  “What an amusing scene...,” remarked Ema’s sister, sitting down to join Eli, who miraculously... was alone.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” replied Eli, almost lying on the table, trying to keep from throwing up her food.