From: Tris
To: Tobias
Subject: Life
Isn't it weird that one fine day both of us suddenly grew up into adults? I mean, I never imagined myself being a teen mom or even picking up pieces of my failing marriage. Weirdly enough, I always imagined you to become a successful and renowned surgeon. You always have been smart at making right decisions and choices about life. I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of you on that part.
But if I think about certain phases of my life which others like to label as 'mistakes', are they really just mistakes?
Leah undoubtedly wasn't a mistake. Sure, I would have preferred being her mother when I was well settled into life. But that isn't how life works. It likes to mess with us. It wants to see if we are resilient enough to face any obstacles in our path. I'm not implying Leah is an obstacle FYI. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am braver and stronger than I realised.
And you, too, are braver and stronger than you give yourself credit for, Tobias. You work 24/7 without any break. You have to plunge your hands into people's body. Operating on their crucial organs. I mean, no offense, but I could never handle that level of grossness. You're literally a god. You are an amazing father to a beautiful little baby boy. And you are handling your divorce much better than others.
I don't know why I am telling you all this but I thought you'd appreciate it. After all, everyone needs a little dose of happiness and inspiration every now and then.
Anyway, I thought of all this when I was sunbathing in my tiny little apartment. It feels nice to see everyone around me a tad happier than usual. I'm feeling it, too. The cat who usually screams at me when I enter the apartment building just gives me an occasional purr nowadays. I have a new neighbour, who, thanks to God, makes less noise as compared to the previous one. Leah is doing well. My job is great. Robert keeps surprising me with little knick-knacks such as my favourite tube of lipstick, a pair of shoes and what not. He's trying to make up for lost time but I like it anyway.
I'm finding it easier to wake up in the morning and tackle the day with a lot of motivation. Everything comes easily to me nowadays. It's easier to put on a genuine smile than a wrinkly frown on my forehead. I wore my favourite red dress to a cocktail night day before yesterday at the bar downtown. I'm laughing the my-stomach-is-hurting-laugh more. I even baked pumpkin chocolate chip cookies! The kind that my mom used to bake. Also, I feel like wearing flowy sundresses all the time. Marlene says I look prettier. I sure feel prettier.
All this happiness surrounds me and I don't know what to do with it. I want to make the best of it before I lose it all. Happiness is so fragile, huh. It can made as easily as it can be broken. I hope it lasts a bit longer than it intends to for me and you. This sounds so selfish but a bit selfishness never hurt nobody.
I am writing this vague e-mail to you because while I was sunbathing and having this profound moment of actualisation and realisation, I thought of you. And saw you in the sun. Bright and cheerful.
Let me know how you're doing and how little Axl is, too.
From: Tobias
To: Tris
Subject: Happy!
You sound so freaking happy. And I love it. I really do. Good to hear you all happy and ecstatic after such a long time. I hope you stay this way forever. It suits you.
The only advice I can give you is to live in the moment. Sounds cliché but it is these small, small moments you are going to cherish when you're older. Surely you don't want to remember your youth as depressing or sad or unenjoyable. Make the most of this surge of happiness in you. I promise it'll be worth it.
Axl is growing. What I mean to say is that he's growing a bit too quickly for my taste. He's already walking and running. His favourite pastime is to pick up things kept on the table and throw them on the ground. So far, I have orange juice, coffee, ketchup and spaghetti noodles stains on my white, expensive carpet. Also, there is a ten-year-old girl named Farah, who comes over every other day exactly at five to play with him. She absolutely adores him. She draws pictures of him and brings toys for him. She's very sweet. Her parents help me out when I'm running late or have to go in case of emergencies.
I'm certainly doing well. There is a famous heart surgeon who is going to speak in a seminar and everyone is going crazy. Basically, in the world of cardiologists, he is considered to be our superior male figure whose work resembles that of God himself. I squealed when I got to know about it. He's coming in town for a couple of days and I am going to see him!
Wish me luck, Tris. If somehow, I become one of his acquaintances even, I'll shit myself from excitement and nervousness.
Talk to you soon.
From: Tris
To: Tobias
Subject: Mysterious meeting
I'm scared sick. My dearest manager, Denny, told me to meet up with him today when my shift gets over. Apparently, we need to "discuss about my future in this hotel". His words, not my twisted or exaggerated version of his actual words. I'm for sure getting fired.
I mean all signs point towards it. Patrick, his brother, is coming over for this meeting as well. He only ever visits the hotel when the brothers need to hire or fire someone. Denny is the one who is in charge of regulating day-to-day business. Also, Patrick is the worst of the two brothers. He's harsh, rigid, and tough to deal with.
I'm trying to think of reasons why they would fire me. I think they caught me stuffing bathrobes into my workbag last Thursday on the security cameras. Or someone reported me for not stocking few guests' mini fridges on time. By that I mean delaying that task for three full hours.
I'm trying to imagine a life without this job. It would suck. Everything else would be awful. I don't want to go searching for another job. It's hectic, plus, the job market doesn't seem to offer much worthy opportunities anymore. Why does the economy suck so bad? I love my job. I cannot even think of working somewhere which is not here.
I so hope to God they are not firing me today.
From: Tobias
To: Tris
Subject: Re: Mysterious meeting
I'm definite they aren't going to fire you. You are their only consistent worker. You never take a sick leave. You are always very welcoming to the guests and very helpful, indeed. They don't have any solid reason for firing you, or do they?
I don't think companies mind if their employees steal a bit of their supplies. I know several people whose main supply of stationary for their kids are their offices.
Keep your cool. Everything will be A-Okay.
P.S. I'm getting ready to leave for the highly anticipated seminar in about an hour. So, good luck to both of us!
From: Tris
To: Tobias
Subject: Re: Mysterious meeting
You're right. I'm losing my cool. I need to appear calm and collected and definitely not nervous. I don't want them to think I've been panicking about something wrong I've done. They don't need to know about the missing robes or slippers or fruity snacks.
From: Tris
To: Tobias
Subject: Re: Fired!?
They just fired the skinny girl who is a part of the cleaning staff. I mean, she's the worst worker. We literally have to force her to change the bedding and clean the rooms, which technically is something she should automatically do without anyone telling her. She takes a lot of sick days, too.
I'm surely better off than her. But I have this strange feeling deep in my gut about this meeting. I'm getting fired, aren't I?
Oh yeah, good luck to you for your seminar!
From: Tobias
To: Tris
Subject: Relax!
Everything will turn out okay, Beatrice Prior. You're beginning to freak me out, too. I love you with all my heart and soul but you need to chill the fuck out.
You have an instant message from Marlene:
Marlene: I love you with all my heart and soul, huh?
Tris: Stop snooping around in my inbox.
Marlene: Have a less obvious password than 'mycaramelsilk'.
Tris: How am I wrong if you're the one who is snooping around?!
Marlene: My sincere apologies.
Tris: I graciously accept your apology.
Marlene: Now, what's up with the flirting between you two?
Tris: What flirting?
Marlene: 'I love you with all my heart and soul'… isn't this flirting enough?
Tris: That was meant as a message to a friend, who is obviously nervous for her meeting with her bosses.
Marlene: I've been your friend for years and I would never say that to you.
Tris: You don't even say that to Uriah.
Marlene: I don't do cheesy like you.
Tris: There is nothing between us for fuck's sake. We're just getting along with each other. He's seemingly happy these days and I am, too.
Marlene: Because both of you are in love…with each other.
Tris: We're so NOT.
Marlene: Sorry, I misinterpreted his 'I love you with all my heart and soul' as something else.
Tris: Yes, Marlene, we're both having a passionate love affair and are planning to go away to London or Paris or someplace romantic.
Marlene: Doesn't hurt to admit the truth now, does it?
Tris: Whatever. How's Uriah?
Marlene: Good as always. Eating chocolate cake.
Tris: He doesn't go past eating that chocolate cake, does he?
Marlene: No and he probably never will. Although, I find his addiction to chocolate cake cute.
Tris: It's kind of cute, yeah.
Tris: Oh, shoot. I gotta go. Another one of the cleaning staff has been fired. I'm pretty sure it's my turn to get fired now. It's always the receptionist, isn't it?
Marlene: I'll pray for you. Good luck.
A/N: A warm re-welcome to my fellow readers! First of all, I need to apologise for being away for literally several months. I've had a lot to deal with last year and this year. I had to focus on my exams, innumerable projects and I was constantly stressed about my finals.
I'm in senior year of high school now. Thank God. I promise to finish this story by the end of June. That's probably the only free time I'll get this year, too.
Anyway, I'm trying hard on updating more and often. Let me know what do you make of this chapter in the reviews. Feel free to PM me as well.
See you next week!