Gracefully, as friends forever…
This story is a response to the prompt about two characters who like each other but don’t get a happily-ever-after.
Once upon a time lived a young woman who had everything her heart desired. Born into a rich family, Ophelia Jardine seemingly had everything her heart desired. She had the finest friends, clothes, food, and hobbies. Ophelia was an interesting young lady who was also blessed with great wit and intelligence. Someone who chose her words well, she was the family’s pride and joy.
On the other side of town lived Tom Girard, a spritely ambitious young man, who had a rather normal childhood in the Big City. Now that he was grown he had his own little apartment in the city.
He was working a regular 9–5 as a front office executive for a leading company, and he was not making tons of money but enough to pay the bills. And save. He too opened his mouth wisely and spoke only when necessary. If there was anything worth mentioning about Tom Girard, it was just that he was an even-tempered, calm person who seemed to be capable of achieving his dreams.
Ophelia was happy being who she was. She had everything her heart desired. She was interesting as a person and had the most interesting, and trendy friends, hobbies, clothes, and food. Also, it was as though the words, thoughts, and even the air that she breathed were so expensive. Yes, Ophelia had a seemingly perfect life. But Ophelia J wanted one thing: That she dared not dream of ever.
She wanted her own life. She wanted to make her own choices. She wanted to find her own truth.
On the other side of town, Tom was busy at work, concentrating on his tasks as a front office executive for Meridian Star Co. His company dealt with Recruitment, and as the one at the front desk, all hopeful recruits came to him first. Tom was not only perfect at his work, but he needed to appear to be the right fit too.
Not that Tom did not enjoy his work, he did, but he preferred to be about his business when hopeful candidates came to him with their resumes. He needed to appear as if he was the answer to their problems. He needed to appear graceful so that hopeful employees did not have a doubt about their future placement when they looked at him.
If there was anything missing in Tom’s life, it was just that
He had a rough childhood. The memory of not being good enough still haunted him; He had never known love…
Ophelia knew that soon her mum would find a rich suitor for her to marry and continue the family legacy. Ophelia fondly remembered the days when as a child she made friends using her own common sense.
She remembered how she clamored to get her homework and assignments done on time when she attended Princeton High, a school for rich folks. Ophelia enjoyed her sheltered protected life. But she also felt that she did not see and experience enough of the world.
Suddenly her thoughts went back to the days when as a young student at Princeton High, she did not have a pen and it was test day. The teacher had strictly instructed all the kids in her class to carry their own stationery, and that borrowing would lead to disqualification.
The test credits counted, as they were considered during promotion to the next class. The boy she was sitting next to, called Tom G offered her a pen. He did just in time, and Ophelia qualified for the class test.
Ophelia and Tom became fast friends. They were almost in love. It seemed more appropriate at the time to call it ‘Puppy Love’ because they were too deeply infatuated with each other, too young, and silly.
And so Ophelia thought about the boy called Tom who did her a favour when she most needed it.
She and Tom became fast friends from then on. They sat together during lunch. They shared the deepest secrets.
They started to walk together holding hands. It was evident to everyone that the two were in love. Puppy Love perhaps, but Love all the same.
On the other side of town, Tom Girard was a little lost in thought himself. He realized that his ‘calm and collected’ approach had got him ahead in life.
He felt like taking risks was not a necessity. Doing things while having planned them out, and calling out to the Lord seemed to be helping. Tom looked handsome, at first one would think of him as an extrovert with his blue eyes, beaming smile, and dimpled cheeks.
Many thought he was a very social individual. But Tom was the type that lived for church meetings and fellowships on the weekends. As things would have it, he had a couple of friends who shared his views and were a ready support group if he needed it.
Tom seemed pretty set in his ways. It didn’t seem like things were going to change all that soon. Ophelia Jardine in her opulent part of town was like a bird living in an expensive gilded cage. She found out that by breaking the rules, she was discovering a new side of herself she never knew before.
The more she tried to make her own choices, the more she was met with opposition. She normally didn’t do things this way. The discovery saddened her, and she sought to move towards the path that this curious trail was taking her.
It was certain that if she did what her rich family wanted everything would fall into place. However, wasn’t there more to Ophelia than ‘what seemed to be’? Ophelia suddenly felt very restricted. Ophelia wanted to do anything to shake things up and find her own way.
She thought deeply about the one time she found love. She did this by mistake, but the boy Tom was different from her regular clique and had different news to share altogether. However, it was during this time that she grew and became the woman she happened to be today.
Ophelia decided that she had enough of the protected Life. She was going to move out and inform her parents later. Ophelia knew she had to act fast. On the other side of town, Tom was busy with his Life. His days were mostly all about being the best he could be at work, and then seeking God on Sundays.
He happened to be at a cafe near his home, on a bright and beautiful Sunday. A bus suddenly stopped outside and a beautiful woman got out. She seemed to be carrying large Louis Vuitton bags. It appeared as if she was new to the place.
Tom Girard seemed a little taken aback looking at the attractive lonely stranger. He saw her walk towards the main door of the cafe, through the glass windows.
She took a lonely seat next to the wall clock and summoned the waiter for something to eat. Tom took it as a cue to sit down close to her table so he could initiate some sort of conversation.
‘Are you new here?’ he asked the young woman.
‘Yes, I live a little far away from here. But I came to this part of town seeking a different life.’ She replied with startling honesty.
Tom Girard was surprised. He was a little excited too, which was rather unlike him. The usually calm and collected Tom’s pulse was beating at a different rhythm. Even he didn’t know why.
‘Hi. I’m Ophelia. Ophelia Jardine. Nice to meet you. And your name is…?’ She said again, with a melody in her voice.
‘I’m Tom Girard. Nice to meet you, Ophelia. Do you have anywhere to live? I think I can recommend something.’ He said smiling.
Ophelia looked at him in the eye. He seemed honest. She did not usually talk to strangers. But she was a good judge of character. She felt as though it was okay to go along with Tom’s suggestion.
Ophelia Jardine smiled again. She asked him again ‘Where do you think would be a good place for me to put up for a while?’
Tom Girard recommended a ladies’ hostel which was a few blocks from the cafe. Ophelia was thrilled. She had some experience living in a boarding school as a kid. She thanked Tom profusely while admitting that she was insanely tired, and needed to take a nap and sort things out.
Soon Tom was alone in his favorite cafe again, where he was a regular. He was thankful that he remembered to ask her for her number in case she needed anything.
Tom went home and got back to his designated work space. He did a part-time job on Sundays and on evenings on the weekdays.
Tom was sensible like that, but at the cafe, his fluttering heart had made him a little awkward. Ophelia seemed to have that effect on him.
Back at the hostel near Tom’s favorite cafe, Ophelia managed to find a decent room. It was small, decent, and cute. Nothing like Ophelia’s opulent home, but it was good in its own way. Ophelia kept her bags in the corner and prayed for the first time in her life.
‘ Dear Jesus,’ she said. ‘Help me make a decent life here. This is what I always wanted. Also, Tom looks just like the kid I knew back in school. Jesus, please let him be the same guy, so this town won’t be as lonely’ With that she crossed herself. And fell into a deep sleep.
That evening Tom messaged her on WhatsApp inviting her to the local Church meeting. Ophelia wasn’t the praying sort, but she decided to go because she had heard as a child that the charismatic movement was crazy fun anyway.
Tom Girard waited for her to arrive at Church. She arrived wearing blue skinny jeans, drop earrings, a blue knit cardigan, and a pretty smile. Ophelia Jardine was a pretty picture.
When she finally found Tom she asked him if he ever remembered Princeton High School. ‘Ophy is that you?’ He asked unbelievingly.
Since Ophelia and Tom were an inseparable legend, their reunion was nothing short of a dream. They held hands again for old time’s sake. They spoke like old friends and fellowshipped together. Ophelia discovered new altogether different folks at the Church that Tom frequented. Ophelia felt good about the spiritual scene.
Ophelia and Tom continued being brother and sister in Christ. Ophelia got a job at a supermarket nearby as a retail manager. Both friends continue to meet at the local Church. They did not rekindle the flame of their old love story. They did not get a happily ever after. They did however hang out with the other churchgoers and praise God together as long as they lived. Gracefully, friends forever.