Syed woke up with a start and looked at the watch lying on the bedside table next to him. Eight o' clock! He'd overslept again for the second time that week!
Leaning over to the sleeping figure beside him, he kissed him gently, pleased to see he was still asleep.
"See you later," he whispered in his upturned ear.
Getting dressed hastily, he made himself a coffee and a slice of toast and left the house, munching, and dropping crumbs, as he went.
Outside the house, two cars stood on the drive – one a sleek metallic grey sports car and the other an older, dark blue estate car. However, today being a work day, he walked past them on his way to catch the Tube. He plugged his ipod into his ears and sang rather tunelessly to himself as he hurried along mulling over his plans for the day – a meeting with his boss at 9.30 to discuss the manuscript of a new book they wanted to publish, a meeting with a couple of authors and then a quick lunch with some colleagues to celebrate a birthday. He was planning to return home to work there for the afternoon, away from the constant ringing of the 'phone.
Syed had been working for the publisher for over ten years since leaving Albert Square after he and Amira had split. He had tried to make things work with his family but, reluctantly, after much heart-searching and many tears had decided to leave the area to make a new life for himself. A meeting with an old college acquaintance had led to an interview for a job and that, in turn, to the house he was now living in, in Hammersmith.
He had started in a lowly position as assistant and general 'gopher' but, as the years had passed, his talents had been recognised and now he was in his third year as Senior Editor in the company.
As he sat on the Tube that morning, he smiled as he thought of the sleeping man he'd left at home. They'd been together for almost the whole time he'd been working at the publisher's, sharing their little home for almost as long. He couldn't imagine his old life in Albert Square – it seemed so long ago now. A time when he had had to hide who he was and pretend to be someone he wasn't. Now, he could be the person that he'd wanted to be and could live his life openly in the security of a fully reciprocated, loving relationship. Yes, life was good.
His day ran almost exactly to plan – a few disagreements over the manuscripts and a minor irritation when a newly printed book failed to be delivered to the warehouse. Then, at last, time to return home.
Perhaps a take-away and a dvd tonight. They really were just like an old married couple now – well he was 36!
While he sat on the Tube he scanned through old text messages on his phone then, bored, picked up a copy of the Evening Standard left on the seat next to him. He flicked through the pages quickly, reading odd snippets of news but became aware of a good-looking man sitting opposite him and staring at him intently.
Returning his stare, Syed managed a half-smile while frantically trying to think where he'd seen this man before. The other man saw his quizzical look and said,
"Syed Masood?"
"Yes – I'm sorry, I know I've seen you somewhere before but I can't seem to place you, I'm afraid."
"I'm not surprised - you haven't seen me for ten years! I'm Alex, Christian Clarke's ex..."
Syed raised his eyes sharply to look more carefully at the man speaking.
"Christian's ex?" he queried.
"Yes, we split about five years ago."
Syed drew a gasp of breath. That was the first time that he'd heard Christian's name spoken aloud for years and hearing it, immediately made him feel light-headed. He bent his head down to the newspaper again but the words blurred and he couldn't concentrate. Alex was the man Christian had met, seemingly on the rebound from Syed all those years ago. Tired of waiting for Syed, he'd started a relationship with him – a carpenter working on the refurbishment of Jack's Club, R and R. Syed shook his head imperceptibly, amazed that the two of them had been together for five years – not Christian's usual style ...until they had met, of course.
The Tube rattled on its way. Neither man spoke but each looked surreptitiously at the other. One more stop and then he would be almost home...It couldn't come quickly enough now. He felt strangely disconcerted...
Opposite him, Alex cleared his throat which made Syed look more purposefully towards him.
"Syed...I have some very bad news I'm afraid...it's Christian. We did split up five years ago but we have still kept in touch...Last week I heard from Jane...Christian is seriously ill in hospital...she's scared that he may not have long to live..."