The red thread of fate, the red thread of destiny, the red string of fate.
So many different names for one same purpose.
A legend that started in East Asian. legend originated in China and used in Japan.
A legend that is impossible to say when it started.
According to myths, the gods tie an invisible red cord around the ankles, or also in Japan is known for the cord to be tied around the pinky finger of those that are destined to meet one another in friendship, love or help each other in a certain way.
A red invisible thread connects those who are destine to meet, no matter time, place or circumstances. The thread may stretch, shortened or get tangled but it will never break.
1993
"Mom, look!. Can we go please?". A six year old Emily asked enthusiastically, pulling her mom sleeve as she tugged the woman forward to play at the park.
"Stay close so I can see you. Okay?". Pam asked at her daughter, smiling chirpy at the girl's enthusiasm. Receiving a nod in signal that she was heard, she watched her daughter ran away from her side to go over the games.
Emily has been in a great mood since they came all the way from Massachusetts to Texas. Her dad has been transferred to a base there and Emily hasn't seen his dad in too many months, her mom had to bring her for a full week. It was summer; it meant that Pam had a few vacation days out of her office desk of her job to do it.
Emily has always been a daddy's girl. Wayne spoiled her like no other and Emily it's a smart little girl to not knowing her dad gave her everything she asked for, but other than that; she loves him, she's all about hugs and being in her father's arms and even if he can't actually see her that much, given that he still works on the military base, she has really been spending the time she needed with him, and Pam... She won the lottery with this travel, she missed her husband and watching Emily being so happy made her feel a huge warmth inside her body, tingling with joy to see her two favorite people smiling of pure happiness.
Emily was going up on the stairs of the slide, when she was met with sneakers as she kept climbing step by step. Raising her gaze, she was met with a girl about her age, who smiled at her before offering her hand to help the girl climb up.
"Hello". Emily said, looking at the girl's attire she smiled. The girl had a pink cardigan, a little sport pants. "I like your sweater". She pointed out.
"My mom calls it cardi...cardiwan!". The girl grinned, as if she was proud to remember the clothes name.
"My name is Emily". She pointed to herself, as she rubbed her own sneakers again the metal floor. She did that when she was feeling nervous about something. She felt suddenly nervous and shy around the girl, maybe because she was slightly taller than her, but the girl seemed like a good one, so she talked to her.
"I'm Paige". The girl says in a chirpy tone and bright smile that it passed to Emily, who smiled back just as happy as the girl in front of her. "You live here?". Paige asked.
"No!... We just came to play. My mom is over there". Emily couldn't really understand the girl question. How could she live in a park?. That would be bad, right?. To live in a park, not a roof to protect them from the rain, or a bonfire to keep them warm. She still was wondering how Paige could think they lived at the park.
"Me too, my mom and I live rally far away". Paige said.
"Oooh.. You took a plane too?".
"A plane?". Paige frowned, wondering what could possibly be a plane.
"That thing with wings. It's really huge. My mom says that we have to fly when we live far away". Emily was trying her best to explain the girl, but after a minute the frown disappeared and the expression was changed to one of knowledge.
"Oh, oh.. It has seats, right? Tree of them. I sat by the window". She says jumping on her spot at her discover.
"Yes, that's the one".
"Paige!".
The girls jerked their heads to the voice, a woman with red hair was waving at the taller girl to go over and Emily heard the girl sigh in front of her, turning her head to look at her, she saw the girl sad face looking right back at her.
"I have to go". Paige shoulder slumped as she started to walk to the slide.
"It was nice to meet you". Emily waved.
"You're rally pretty". Paige pointed out at the girl's margaritas that formed when she smiled. But she only receives a nod and a flushed face followed by a wave. "Bye".
The feeling on the girls stomach was indescribable, they felt incredible empty when they left, a feeling of frustration growing in their tempers, a knot in their stomach grow with every step they took away from each other.
2014
"Dave, everything is fine. I'm on my way, don't worry". Paige said over the phone.
She and Dave (friend that she met when both were students in gastronomy) had been doing great for themselves when they graduated; two restaurants in different states, Florida and California, plus the one that they both take care of in New York. They were in their old twenties, but good at what they were doing for a living, the welcoming that people had with their first opening at New York was so good that some people waited months to just book a table to eat there, so they took the risk to open another one, and things were the same, and just like that they opened the one at California only to have the same successful result, and now they were trying to open another one, but the place was still a mystery. Now they take turns to fly all the way to see how everything it's going in their other restaurants, wanting to be present in all of the places they can, has been what their employees loved about them. They were awesome to work with, always worried about their wellbeing, their opinion and new ideas for the menu, but also really exigent at the time to see a job well done.
"I'll call you later okay?. I'm at the reception now". Hanging up, she waited for the girl to look at her. She hates this, the way that some girls would just ignore the passengers and do whatever they wanted in the computers. "Hey". She tried, but the girl just raised a finger in signal for Paige to wait. Closing her mouth at the rudeness, she started to look for her phone in her leather jacket to chat with Dave over message to complain about the staff, she needed a distraction to not shout the shit out of a bad attention in the airport, she was patient and she needed to be patient, having to work in a kitchen all day it could be really stressful if they couldn't work under pressure or stress and sometimes it was really chaotic, especially when the place was full.
Smiling in success when she found the device she pulls it out and start to type.
"Hi". She heard at her side, jerking her head to look at such angelical voice, she saw a brunette talking to the other receptionist. She was the most beautiful girl Paige has seen and she knew she looked like a crazy weirdo to be standing there looking like a stalker, but no one can blame her, if she was being honest. Some creepy dudes were catching a sight at such beautiful creature too.
"Um, I think someone made a mistake with my ticket? I was supposed to go from New York back to Chicago and…".
"You have to wait for a minute. We're having difficulties with the system. Be patient".
"Kind of rude, uh?". Paige asked, scolding herself mentally at her mind to just let herself talk to a complete stranger without thinking it before, now she looked like a nosy woman that heard other people's conversations.
"They really are". The girl surprisingly answered back with a timid nod followed by a frustrated sigh as she passed a hand through her hair to stay calm. She looked tired, and now Paige was asking herself what was the purpose of the girl to travel to New York, but she was not going to ask that, she was too busy burning her gaze into the woman's eyes to care.
It wasn't like she was the only one, in fact, the woman was looking right back, as if both of them were in some kind of trance, it was like a scary pull, like a magnet and it made Emily's body tingle in a weird and unknown way, she was embarrassed in the way she was looking at the stranger, but yet it felt so familiar at the same time. There was something there that felt so…..
"Miss". The secretary called for Paige, making her jerk her head at the sudden sound of voice, which was so high pitched that it made Paige ears bleed.
"Yes?". Paige turned around to look at the girl.
"What can I do for you?".
"I came for my ticket. I bought it online; New York to Florida". She explained, she stole brief glances from the corner of her eye at the girl who now was talking with the other receptionist.
"I'm going to need your ID miss".
She took it out of her shoulder back, not really looking too much into it, she pulled her wallet off and opened it, pulling out her ID and handling it to the older woman at the desk, gaze going from the computer to the woman, like she couldn't control herself.
But surprisingly the woman looked back, and she was actually caught looking at Paige. She tried to look unfazed by it, like it wasn't that much of a deal, but Emily's cheeks were telling other story and it made Paige smile at the sight. She got caught and she got embarrassed and now she was showing two red cheeks in front of the auburn girl and suddenly her mind remembered and flashed important people as to why she shouldn't be looking and playing intense leering games with this incredibly beautiful and charming stranger.
Shaking her head she turned her gaze to the desk, right when the woman started to talk once again, handling her new ticket with the right destination.
"Thank you". Emily nodded, turning around to walk to her gate; she stole one last glance at the woman, who was waiting impatiently for her ticket, mouthing a 'bye' when the unnamed girl looked back with those intense eyes and she smiled back when the girl waved and grinned.
It was the last time she saw her
"I'm telling you Dave. She was…. breathtakingly beautiful, out of this world beautiful". Paige said over the phone.
She arrived seven hours ago, spend the day at the restaurant in Florida, helping and observing how everything was working so far before she checked herself in her usual hotel.
"She can't be THAT beautiful. You're exaggerating".
"I don't think so.. She was, I don't even know how to describe it". She said, raising her arms as she stirred on the bed, tiredness evident in her body, she felt weak, she just wanted to go to sleep but that face appeared every damn time her eyes closed.
"Maybe you just miss Diana and you are projecting your feelings for her in another person".
Dave always had a deep thought about things, and sometimes he's right but now. He has no idea what Paige felt in those tiny minutes with the woman at her side.
"She's my ex, Dave. I don't have feelings for her anymore". She defends herself.
"Well, I don't think you're one hundred percent over her".
"I am… it happened six months ago. Besides, Diana is blonde with hazel eyes. This woman, she was brunette, brown eyes, dark hair. Nothing to compare, or see, or project this unsolved 'feelings' on her". She quoted with her fingers and a roll of eyes at her friend previous explanations.
"Then maybe you just got turned on by the woman's perfect face, as you called". He joked.
"No, no… it wasn't that". She rubbed her temples in wondering. "I have to find her, Dave".
"Whaaaat? Woman, have you gone crazy? ".
"No!. I don't know". She sighed. That woman really did an impression is in her. There has to be something there for her to be so anxious, so ecstatic, she meets beautiful women every single day and she's not one of those girls who only want to date the beautiful ones. She actually cares about the woman's personality. She always thought and thinks that; a girl could be gorgeous, but so superficial on the inside and that's not something she could be attracted to.
"Well, if you're going to find her. You need to star with the name".
Shit.
I'm so stupid.
"Damn".
"See?. Another reason as to why you shouldn't start a search party".
"I'm going to bed. I think the lack of sleep is making me say stupid things".
"Finally!... Paige, I'm sure she was gorgeous and maybe she looked like a nice girl, but you know you're getting too ahead of yourself. Maybe she already has a family on her own and maybe she's not into women and if you find her, are you really moving across country to try something with her? ".
He was slowly and softly calling her down in her ideas, and she knows, she knows it's crazy, too fucking crazy to start a search party for a girl she barely knew for a few minutes. She didn't even asked her name, the only thing she heard was that she was taking a fly out to Chicago and that meant she was possibly going back home or maybe on a trip to see someone and that someone could be her husband or boyfriend… or maybe wife or girlfriend.
"You, my friend. You're right. I guess I just have to let it go, I guess she just really made an impression on me. So, I'm having troubles with the new waiter, so maybe I'll be staying a couple more days than usual". Changing the subject to something that both of them could talk was an incredible idea for her mind to shut up. She was already having a melt down over nothing and she needed to stay focus on the problem ahead at her restaurant.
"Told you. I didn't like that guy. Okay, P. Have a good night, call me if anything happens, you know I can fly over there and have Bill to take over the kitchen for me".
"No, it's okay. I can manage. Have a good night, Dave. Love ya".
"Love you too. Bye".
Florida was a nice place, and even if she had never have the time to walk around the place, she still can see from her hotel room window, that the view was amazing, same as the hotel, the place was great and comfy to stay, but she was more of city and cold weather kind of girl and Florida did look like a nice place to have a short vacation. Making a mental note to take a vacation in the incoming days, she hasn't taken a break for two entire years ever since she opened the restaurants.
"Look, baby. Look who's here".
"Mommy!". The two years old girl screamed as she tried to launch herself from her father's arm to the brunette woman.
"Hi little bee". She said happily as she took her in her arms, kissing her temple as she felt the little girl snuggle against her neck.
"Not a welcome kiss for this man?". The handsome guy asked, pointing to himself, smirk in place as he went for a simple yet long peck. "Thought you were coming back tomorrow?". He asked as he pointed for the woman to follow him to the kitchen.
"Ugh, I swear. First medical conference and I already hate them. Now I know why Sasha complains that much when the dean of medicine starts to pick the doctors who have to go". She explained as she put her daughter in the high chair next to her.
"Bad experience?". He asked as he put Chinese takeout on the table.
"Not bad, it's boring and tiring… Oh god, I love you". Emily breathes out once she saw the guy handling a plate by the counter with a hot Chinese meal.
It earned a chuckle from him as they watched their daughter yawning in the chair.
"Someone's tired". Emily tickled the girl's stomach, earning a giggle from the girl. "Want to go to bed?". She asks.
"I'll take her".
"No, Ryan. Really, I can do it. You already took care of her, I miss expending time with this little pumpkin".
"But your dinner..".
"It would only be a minute, babe". She said sweetly, taking her daughter in her arms and walking to the girl's bedroom and putting her down softly on the bed as she went for the pajamas.
Feeling guilty all of the sudden, she slowed down her movements as she tried to put herself together. She can't forget about what happened this morning at the airport back in New York. That girl, the intense staring in the middle of a crowed place. She couldn't look away, she was drawn into those big brown and beautiful eyes and if it wouldn't be for the receptionist interrupting them, she might have done something stupid, like asking for the woman's number or something. It was not okay.
Shaking her head she realized that she was so deep in thought that when she turned around from the closet to look at her daughter, she found her already asleep.
She let out a breathy chuckle at the girl, she looked so tired yet, so chirpy when she saw her arriving. The little girl wanted to receive her mom and she couldn't be happier for it and now she couldn't keep her eyes open and the tiredness won over the girl's body. So she took her girl on her arms carefully, changed her clothes, and forgetting about her previous thoughts she kissed her goodnight before going back to the kitchen to find her husband sitting in the counter waiting for her with his own plate of Chinese.
"Come here". He says, opening his arms for her to fit between them, she was involved in a tight and loving hug. "I missed you". He breathes out over her shoulder and into the kitchen.
"Me too". Emily smiled as she sinks into her husband's arm. "I love you".
"Love you too…Now..". He let go of the hug, spanking playfully her wife's ass for her to sit on the other side of the counter. "You need to eat, I know you're starving".
"God, yes. I swear I could eat an entire elephant".
"Maybe you could eat me instead". He flirted.
Emily just laughed at his husband flirting ways.
"Well, hello there".
"You win. Here's your coffee". Emily said handling her collage a cup of coffee with a fake charming smile.
"That boring?". Sasha laughed as they walked to the elevator.
"It's definitely not something I want to experience again".
"Told you girl, conferences are boring as fuck". Sasha said. "So, what did you do over there?".
"Listened to guys talking about team work, played some stupid games to know my co-workers better and escaped myself from some sessions to go and see Sydney, a friend who lives in New York". Emily explained.
The elevator doors opened and both girls made their ways through the halls and into the locker rooms while they kept talking about Emily's stay at New York.
It all started the same way, same routine. Waking up at six a.m. to get into the shower, get her clothes ready, get dressed, say goodbye and go for her morning coffee at her favorite coffee shop across the hospital. Get together with Sasha, her closest friend at her job to talk about random things right before she started her shift. She was an intern, with a course in E.R that she made back at Massachusetts right before she moved all the way to Chicago with her college boyfriend. He was a plastic surgeon, and it got him to get his own private clinic at Chicago, which resulted in them moving all across from their natal city to start a new and exciting life. Everything was going great, she was happy with her life, her husband, her daughter and even if their parents thought that she married too young, she has proved them wrong, they made it out and are fine on their own with an awesome house that was the guys sweat and hard work done through the years.
"Come on. Nothing interesting to tell?". Sasha asked from her locker as she put her white coat.
"I mean..". Emily stopped mid-sentence. Wondering if it was a good idea to tell her friend or not. Maybe she was just thinking and reading too much over such a tiny moment.
"Oh come on. You can't do that". Sasha complained.
"I met someone..".
"No way!". Sasha exclaimed
"Shh..". Emily looked at her friend to try and get her to calm down; it wasn't that big of a deal anyway, she was just curious about what it could mean. "Not like that, it actually was kind of weird".
"What happened?".
"I was complaining because I got a wrong ticket and then this person at my side talked to me..". She didn't even know how to explain such exchange.
"What did he said?". Sasha was looking at her with attentive and shiny eyes.
He… it was not a 'he'.. It was a 'her' and it was what really terrified Emily. She never felt that kind of attraction or pull towards a woman, to anyone actually and she was really trying not to think about it too much, but the doubt was killing her, but she knew for sure that she was not going to correct her friend anyway.
"He just looked at me with a smile and told me, and I quote; 'kind of rude, uh?'. I said that they were and then it was all, but Sasha. The look He gave me, it was so intense I felt like I was falling into a hole and for a moment I didn't want to go back. It felt… it felt good, too good if you ask me". She ended with a sigh, looking around the empty lockers as she waited for her friend to tell her how wrong it was to feel that way about someone else that was not her husband. She knows, she knows that and it wasn't like she was waiting for her body to react that way with such a simple thing as a look.
"That's some deep shit you just said. I don't really know Ryan that much, but woow girl. He can't find out, it would stink for him to know you felt something like that with a complete stranger".
"I know.. I'm not telling anyone else, I wanted to get it out of my chest. It was so weird, Sash, like if I already knew him".
"Maybe it was one of those…". Chat interrupted by the sound of a beeper echoing in the locker room, calling them for duty at E.R. "Multiple crashes". Sasha said to look at friend with a sympathetic smile. "Long day, baby girl". She padded the girl's shoulder. "Whatever it was, don't think over it too much, maybe he was one of those people that are kind of mysterious and it made you feel those weird things, it didn't mean anything, just a weird look with a weird reaction".
"I know, thank you, Sash".
"Anytime".
"Fresh products, your majesty".
"Thanks, Zac. I might invite you tonight to have dinner with the crew before we closed. You free?". Paige asked to the guy who was in charge of deliver the most fresh sea products to start the day.
"Free as every Friday to come here. I just love your food". The young guy said. He was barely legal and with a huge crush on Paige.
"You know, that waiter spot is still free if you want it".
"Naaa. I wouldn't be able to concentrate with such a beautiful woman working meters away from me".
"Oookay,Zac. Time to go". Paige chuckle at the boy forwardness as she hushed him back inside the truck.
"Paige, can you just turn straight?".
"Not a change. It's not an option, Zac, and if it were you will be my last choice..".
"Ouch".
"You're too young and to man for me" Paige joked back.
"See you tonight, say hi to Dave for me". Zac smiled as he stepped inside the truck in the passenger door.
He wanted to work at the restaurant with Paige, but the guy's dad was the reason he couldn't, he gave the guy a job and Zac was not going to leave him alone in it.
She shakes her head as she watched the truck going away. She took some boxes in her arms to put them inside the kitchen of the restaurant.
She was back at New York after expending two weeks in Florida and now even after months later, she still had that face running through her mind at some random moments, but she decided that the best for her it was not to think about it.
"Alright!". She clapped once she put the box down on the metallic table. "Boxes are in the back, I need some help guys!".
It was amazing to see how enthusiastic were her employees, they moved at the first command and she loved that kind of ambient, everyone was respectful of each other, they fulfilled her expectative and she couldn't ask for a better team.
"Paige!". She hears behind her, she jerked her head and body to look at Dave.
"Have some good news". He rubbed his hands.
"How did it go?".
"We are expanding".
"Fuck, that's….. That's amazing". She walked with quick steps to hug her partner. God, her decision to start a business with this guy was the best decision of her entire life. She was only twenty- five and she had a bright future ahead of her. "So, when?".
"You know it takes time, we're actually looking for a place and a city. We have to think hard about this Paige and maybe if we chose great, we can have ourselves another restaurant in the United States. We have been the favorites in every city and we can't make that to go to waste".
"Okay, okay. We need to find a nice place to redecorate or a construction site for us to plan everything up".
"You, my friend. Were the best decision in my entire life to work along with".
"Ditto".
2016
"Not again". Emily rested her head in her hands.
Sasha and Emily were at the cafeteria having lunch in a much needed break after a long morning shift at the hospital.
"Hey, I'm not happy either. I have to go with you".
"At least you're going to entertain me. We'll be in Cali. We can see it as a mini vacation". Emily shrugged. She was not in the mood to go, if the conference at California was just as her previous one in New York she was going to flip. Leaving her baby girl alone for five days was not something she wanted to do, but her work asked for it, she needed to comply in their request, giving that they were in her contract.
"Maybe". Sasha shrugged before Emily's phone started to ring. "That smile, I can already tell is Ryan".
"Shush...". Emily smiled at her friend playfully before answering. "Hi, babe".
"Hi. I wanted to see if you have eaten yet?".
"I'm just having lunch with Sasha. Why?". She frowned.
"I just wanted to know".
"Um.. Okay". She said confused, which earned her a questioning look from her friend. "Rita said she will be staying until six. Will you be home by then?".
"I don't know, Em. I kind of got caught up with some papers here".
"You okay?. You sound agitated". She scrunches her nose as she tried to know what was happening with him.
"Yes I am. I'm okay. Listen I have a client waiting I just wanted to know if you would be coming over for lunch".
"Sorry babe, I got caught up and I didn't have the time… Also I got called to the dean office this morning".
"Why?".
"I was cordially invited to another conference at California". She said with no emotion at all.
"But… What about Amy, Emily?. I thought you were asking for short turns, I have a full agenda".
"It's not like I choose to go, Ryan. You've been having full agendas this last couple of months; I asked short turns two months ago to help you out". She said slightly pissed at her husband.
"You have to call Rita, we need her to babysit this entire week, we can double her salary".
"Fine. I'll talk to her". She said, rubbing her temples as to how things have changed so much in two years. The fights with Ryan have increase so much, that sometimes it felt like everything was falling apart, and she felt so old already, all because of the fights, the stress her work gives and she's turning twenty- nine in a couple of months.
"When do you leave?".
"This coming Monday".
"Great, just perfect.. Our anniversary".
"Ryan…".
"Don't worry. It's not like I was going to be there either".
"Why fight about it then?". She said high pitched and it brought some attention from a few people. "Can we talk about this at home, please?". She whispered.
"Sure, whatever you want, Emily".
"Ry..". It was too late, her husband hang up in the blink of an eye, making her feel guilty about everything, both were having long and shitty shift this last couple of months, that they were left too tired at night to even try to spend some quality family time. It wasn't just her. Ryan has taken too many patients in his private clinic that the only time he sees him is at home for a few minutes at night before he's out sleeping on the couch, or bed. At least she has a free day once a week and she spend it with her daughter, playing and painting and drawing. Sometimes they go out to the park to go to the playground. She's four already and so smart and she looked just like her, except for the eyes, she got her dad's dark green eyes.
"Problems in paradise?".
"He's been so distant this couple of months, he barely spends time at home and Amy started to notice".
"You guys will be fine". Sasha waved.
"We are…. And then we're not. I don't know".
"Paige, are you sure you want to do this?". Dave asked her once they were at the airport.
"No...I don't know if I can take care of a baby, Dave". She looked so lost, still trying to digest everything up. Her older sister died a month ago and after filling some papers her niece had a guardian to look over her little self. She was five and her sister was a single parent, the guy disappeared since her sister told him she was pregnant, and her parents disowned Paige when she came out, her sister supported her through everything, earning the cold shoulder from her parents too. The only real and close person her sister had; was Paige and viceversa.
"Are you sure that moving to Chicago it's going to be okay?". He asked, worried evident in her face.
"Sophie grew up in there, moving her to another city will be too much for her, she just lost her mom and I lost a sister, being in the city she used to live could bring me closer to her in a way, maybe it would help to accept it. I'm taking my sister's house until I find a new place, with two bedrooms and a play yard for the girl. Besides, we have a restaurant there; it would be good for me to have a job". She nodded, trying to convince herself that everything will be alright.
"Okay". He nods. "Are you sure you don't want me to go to Cali?".
"I'm considering this time away for me to think, to relax and to mourn. I need to stay strong, Dave. Sophie needs me, that little girl needs me to be the strong one and I can't stop myself to feel down, so don't worry. I'll go".
"You're so brave, Paige. That girl won the lottery with you".
"This is a final boarding announcement to fly San Francisco, California…..".
"Guess, I'll see you next week to say goodbye and to get everything ready for me to move out". Paige hugged him with all that she had.
"New York won't be the same without, Paige".
"Love you".
"Love you too".
I'm actually really happy with this chapter. Hope you guys liked it.
I got the idea from a movie... It's called "Hilo rojo". A Chilean actor is in it and it appears to be a good movie. So, you can say is based on the triler I saw :)