CHAPTER 19 | FICTION-Love Interrupted;Love Ignited-CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
My Best Friend Forever, Delicious Flaky Pastry, And Tea
She confides in her friend Celie, seeking guidance, about vivid dreams involving a man named Norm.
Oorun was still staring at the time on the screen of her iPhone.
A familiar notification chimed, and her heart skipped a beat. It was a text message from her friend, Celie.
The message read, “Oorun, my mind and heart are with you. How are you doing?”
Oorun blinked at the message that floated in as soon as she awoke. It was 9:21 PM. The timing was uncanny, almost as if Celie had a psychic connection to her thoughts.
She paused for a few beats, contemplating her response, her thumbs hovering over the screen.
Her friend was typing again, and the second message appeared, “Woman, I know you read my message — speak to me!”
Oorun couldn’t help but smile, appreciating the genuine concern in Celie’s words. She quickly composed her reply, typing, “Sorry, hon, I was just surprised at the timing of your message. Thanks for thinking of me.”
Almost instantly, a new message from Celie appeared, showing her friend’s enthusiasm, “I think we’re overdue for another brunch date.”
Oorun’s heart warmed at the prospect of spending time with her dear friend. She responded eagerly, “Yes, girl! Let’s do it. Brunch sounds perfect. I’ll text you tomorrow, and we can plan it out.”
As Oorun set her phone aside, she couldn’t help but feel grateful for the timely connection with her friend, a reminder of the enduring bond they shared.
She was wide awake now. Thinking.
It has been two months since Oorun decided to leave her husband, Adrian, in South Carolina. She’d thrown herself into work and self-improvement, desperately wanting to become the woman Norm demanded: whole, free and available. But dreams like the one she just had after seven minutes of sleep persisted, recurred and became more graphic, reflecting her deepest desires.
‘Sigh. Connecting with Celie is just what I need,’ she thought.
She settled back into the folds of her sheets and prayed to her Gods to send dreamless sleep to her now and until she connected with her friend.
Sitting in the corner of a bustling coffee shop during a rainy afternoon in the city, Oorun took a sip of her latte and glanced across the table at Celie.
Her friend had been a constant source of support and guidance since their last meeting at the soul food brunch spot. This cozy cafe offered a haven from the dreary weather outside, and the subdued lighting made it the perfect setting for an intimate conversation.
Celie leaned forward, her expressive eyes locking onto Oorun’s.
“So, Oorun, it’s been two months since you left Adrian. How are you holding up? How’s everything going with Norm?”
Oorun took a deep breath, her voice laced with a hint of weariness. “Well, Celie, it’s been a rollercoaster, to say the least. Leaving Adrian was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I had to be true to myself. As for Norm, things are not really going in real life. I have not contacted him and he has not called. But in my dreams, Celie… they’re becoming more vivid and graphic, and they’re all about him.”
Celie’s well-threaded eyebrows rose with interest and concern. “Dreams? What kind of dreams are we talking about?”
Oorun hesitated, unsure of how to articulate the graphic and sometimes overwhelming fantasies that had been plaguing her.
“They’re… intimate dreams, Celie. And they’re so vivid that sometimes I wake up feeling disoriented and almost guilty, even though I’m not with Adrian anymore.”
Her gaze remained locked on Oorun, her voice gentle but concerned. “Oorun, these dreams, they’re only about Norm?”
Oorun nodded, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Yes, Celie. I can’t control them. It’s like my subconscious is trying to tell me something, or maybe it’s just my own desires taking over. I don’t know what to make of it.”
“He’s literally the man of your dreams,” Celie quipped.
They both burst out laughing riotously, in sharp contrast to the fancy clothes they wore for the high tea occasion. Then Celie grew quiet.
Celie leaned back, processing the information. “Wow, girl.”
Celie savored a generous bite of her pastry. It seemed to be a divine creation of buttery, flaky layers that yielded to her gentle touch, unveiling a flawless, golden-brown crust. As she relished the flavors, Oorun followed suit, their silent appreciation creating a brief, synchronous moment where words were unnecessary, and this shared experience spoke volumes.
Gulping some of her tea, Celie asked, “If you think these dreams are a sign of what you truly want, why are you hesitating to contact Norm? Gone are those days when the man needs to make the first move, you know.”
“I know,” Oorun replied. “In fact, Norm was hotly pursuing me at the start but I never responded.” Looking out of the cafe’s window, Oorun sighed before continuing. “And then, when I was ready he called my bluff and basically asked me to contact him when I was free.”
“Free of Adrian, you mean?” Celie asked.
“Yes — free and single.”
“That’s not a bad thing, Oorun.”
“I know. I know.”
They were quiet again, at peace in each other’s company.
Changing the topic, Celie asked, “And how’s therapy going? Are you still going?”
Oorun let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah, yes. My therapist is awesome, Celie. I have you to thank for her. I’m getting so much from those weekly sessions. It’s probably why I have not reached out to Norm yet. I’m feeling like I need to work on myself for a bit longer, you know.”
“You are quite a lot,” Celie teased, her eyes dancing with mischief as she looked at Oorun.
Oorun waved her hand at her friend, appearing to dismiss her, and sucked her teeth, Steups!
“But seriously, Celie, do you think I should contact him? My divorce is not final, but Adrian and I are separated. And these dreams …”
Celie considered the question, took another sip of her tea, and then looked at Oorun with compassion.
“Oorun, what I think is not important,” Celie began, “It’s your heart that should guide you. Listen to it, trust it, and make the choices that feel right for you. What is your heart telling you?”
Oorun was thinking about that question when the coffee shop’s door chimed softly, announcing the entrance of a new customer. She looked towards the doorway to see who it was, and her heart skipped several beats.
Looming in the entryway, as if she had conjured him herself, was Norm.
© Scarlet Ibis James, 2023: All Rights Reserved.
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Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, or events is coincidental. All characters and incidents in this narrative are products of the author’s imagination.
You, dear reader, always have options of what to do next:
- Go to: 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷,
- Binge read 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔: Love Interrupted; Love Ignited,
- Or, consume in tiny bites: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, 🎯 ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ: Part V.
Thank you for reading and being a part of my journey through this world. 🦩