Natasha

Patty's invitation to her apartment surprised me. I haven't seen her in a while, in fact I haven't seen our group of friends from school in a long time. Since I joined the police I have been to my old neighborhood very little and have had almost no contact with any of them during this period. In fact for all these years I avoided going back as much as possible, I only go to my grandparents' house about twice a year. I think I was afraid to meet Edgar and not know what to do with his presence.
It got dark a little and there are still a lot of people on the streets, after all it's New York. I climb the stairs of the building where she lives and as soon as she opens the door I feel a tightness in my heart, we hug each other so tightly, as in the old days, I missed my friend so much. We have always been very close and lately we have barely exchanged messages eventually. When I broke up with Edgar she gave me a lot of strength, advice and was close to me in case I needed anything. The main advice she gave me was to tell me to follow my heart, and if I thought I was doing the right thing for me to go through with it, and she told me that any decision I made would have consequences. I thought about it a lot and the consequence of me getting away from Edgar was the loneliness that he lived with me since that afternoon and the certainty that he would soon find someone who would fill the place that I left.

- You look so different, and beautiful! - The last time we saw each other I still had those long hair, but some time ago I cut it at the shoulders, I always liked my long hair, but I felt that I needed to change.
- Ah, it must be my hair, thank you! - I run a hand through my hair and we sit on the sofa. I try to look as natural as possible, but finding it brings back so many memories of the past, things that I tried to forget at all costs during these three years. – What about you? It's ok?
- Yes, I'm fine, I'm working a lot with my research and every day is something new. - Patty was still in college and now explored the branches of biotechnology, in the field of research on antidotes and vaccines against new diseases that were emerging every day.
We talk for a while and hear someone knock on the door and Patty gets up to open it. I thought it was just the two of us, because she said she needed to talk to me. - I didn't know we was expecting anyone else.
- I didn't tell you because I feared that if I did, you wouldn't come, but it's okay. - She reassures me. - Wait here, I'll open the door. - The blonde stood up and confused me with what she just said. I got up and went after her.
When she opened the door, I was paralyzed, I swear I didn't expect Edgar and Kurt to be the one arriving. I felt the ground was missing on my feet, I saw Edgar a few times after we finished and the last one more than a year ago and we didn't even talk. My heart raced, I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

The two came in and greeted us, my eyes met Edgar's and we stayed like that for a while. He was a little different, more mature looking, and he looked stronger too, and handsome. I don't think he expected to see me either. I was sorry for what I had done, but at the moment it was the right thing to do. After that day I suffered and cried for long nights until everything seemed numb inside me and I struggled to move on. He called me and sent several messages, I didn't answer the calls and just sent a message saying that it would be better this way and we needed to learn to walk alone. After that, I turned off the phone and left it like that for several days, when I called, I deleted the messages and he didn't call anymore. Now when I saw him there I didn't know what to say to him, I just gave him a weak smile and we all went to the living room.
As soon as I joined the police, time seemed to pass faster due to all the activities I had to do and with that I kept leaving everything we lived farther and farther away, but I never forgot it, there were nights when I lost sleep and stayed wondering what he would be doing, if he would be with someone, if he was still thinking about me. I learned a while ago that he was dating, Meg, the college girl he had talked to me about a few times and I didn't care, it was nice to know that he had someone. I also tried other relationships, but I couldn't make it last, nothing was as it was and none of them was Edgar, nor would it ever be.
Rich walks in without knocking and I'm surprised again. Who else will come through that door?

- Did the party start without me? - The computer technician puts his notebook on the table in the room and doesn't stop talking for a minute. - I think Patty has already updated you on what this meeting is about.
- No... - I'm completely lost with all this. - We just arrived and she hasn't said anything yet...
- Easy people. Rich, let me get you started on what's going on here. I was waiting for you to arrive to get started. - Patty takes charge of the situation and begins to explain to us why that meeting. - We have been trying to locate Remi for some years and for that we put some flags on the internet with keywords, such as, Remi, Roman, Ellen Briggs. - She stops for a minute and looks at Kurt who just nods to continue.
- We haven't been successful for a long time, but this week the flags started showing activity related to the name of Ellen Briggs, so we tracked some tests related to her inside the USA. - Rich continued explaining.
- We tried to find out more, but the lack of resources limited us. - The blonde completed.
- And do you think Ellen has a team or something? - Kurt has been expressionless since Patty started explaining.
- Actually, we think she has a team and... - Patty tries to choose the words, but knows that she will have to tell it right away.
- We think Remi and Roman may be involved. - Rich completes.
- You have no evidence. I don't know if Remi would be able to do anything to harm anyone. - Kurt runs a hand through his hair and looks a little confused by all that.
- What kind of tests are these? - I asked out of nowhere, as I hadn't quite understood the meaning of this meeting. - And what do they need us for?
- So we need resources, it seems to be something linked to terrorism due to the type of encryption used in the messages. Patty looked closely at the faces of each of us. - We need you, Natasha at NYPD, Kurt in the US Army, Edgar at the FBI and Rich and me with the technology. Everyone has the resources we need.

- Look, I just joined the FBI and I don't want to hurt myself inside the agency. I don't know if I want to get involved with all of this. - Edgar always afraid to take chances. I just roll my eyes.
- Edgar, I don't think you're going to harm yourself in your dear job, and that seems to be for a good cause. We don't know these people and we don't know what they are capable of. Someone has to stop them. - I replicate what Edgar said and try to put my point of view on all that.
- Look, Edgar, nobody should be harmed, but if you don't feel safe, that's fine. We try in some other way. - Patty was a little disappointed by Edgar's refusal.
- Okay, okay. But there is a condition.
- What is? - Rich wanted to know.
- Let's get my superiors involved. We won't do anything under the hood.
- Listen, Edgar. If we get them involved, we won't have a chance to hear Remi's side, that is, their side, because if the CIA gets involved, we don't know what can happen. - Kurt showed his concern.
- No, Kurt. He may be right. - Patty argued. - Maybe it's good to have coverage in case something gets out of hand.
- But we will have to show them our plans, or they will do everything their way. Okay, you may think I say that because of my involvement with Remi, it may be, but I know the way the mother treated her and her brother, and they may be being manipulated. - Kurt tries to argue.
- It's all right. I will talk to my superiors and try to arrange a meeting with them.
Patty and Rich kept talking and I could only remember the words 'Edgar in the FBI'. This was new to me, in fact everything that was being said there was new. Since when did he go to the FBI? And how could I not have known this before? It all seemed a little confusing.

Edgar

Meeting Natasha was really surprising. After she left me I hardly saw her, and only from a distance. We never talked again. The way she left was unexpected, yesterday we were fine and today she tells me that she wants to finish. I didn't really understand her arguments, I went through one of the most difficult moments of my life and over time I tried to go on with my life without her, but forgetting about it, I think it's impossible. Seeing her in front of me tonight made me feel all my feelings, she looks beautiful, different, it must be the hair, wow! It is difficult to define what is going through my head at the moment.
Everything that happened that night, the things that Patty and Rich told us, and Natasha in front of me, I don't know what to think about it all. I think she didn't know I was in the FBI, not long ago and I'm still adapting, it's all very new and different. I don't even know why I decided to go to Quantico, I think I realized that I could do something more for my country than being a lawyer, an engineer or any other profession. And every day I learn and enjoy more of what I'm doing, but I can't let all that said here hurt me inside the FBI.
Patty and Rich finish explaining what we're going to do next. We said goodbye and left her apartment. When he arrives at Natasha Street, he calls me.
- Edgar. - I turn around and she's looking at me curiously. - FBI? - I just nod. - And how did I not find out before?
- Let's say we haven't spoken for about three years, after... - I ironize and stop for a moment, I don't want to touch the past, not now. - You know, Natasha, I didn't have a chance to tell you, that's it. It's not like I could just pick up the phone and call you and say 'look, I'm working for the FBI'. No, I couldn't do that, Natasha.
I feel Natasha get serious and I regret being so harsh, but after so long I really don't know how to act with her. Everything is so strange, looking out of place.
- It's all right. - She turns to go.
- Natasha. - I regret it and I call you.
- What is it? - She turns, but now with a closed expression.
- Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I... - I try to apologize.
- No problem, I shouldn't have asked. I am going.
- And, listen. - She looks at me and I try to smile to break the mood. - It was good seeing you.
She just smiles in consent and walks away into the dark night.