Here I am, standing on the corner of Eighth and Grand. This was our corner. This was where we first met, me and Olivia. This was the spot we first held hands, first kissed, first fought, and first cried. Here I am now, making another first: my first time here without her. My hands are shaking, my heart is pounding, and my nerves are running wild as I stand here, wondering if she will ever come back to me. Would she come to this spot like she always said she would? The corner of Eighth and Grand...
I’m sitting here on the corner, thinking about everything we had been through, hoping to remember how one phone conversation could drastically change things.
“
Liv, we’ve been on the phone for two hours. What more could you have to say?”
“Oh my God, Danny, calm down. You’re not the one paying for this international bill. And plus, I haven’t talked to you in three weeks,” she told me, still excited to hear my voice after two hours.
“Okay, fine with me. Just keep talking. But just warning you, you’re just getting up, but it’s midnight here. It could only be minutes before I fall asleep,” I responded, listening to Olivia ramble about everything happening in Australia without me. We had always dreamt of going there together, but when an internship came up for her, I had to let her go alone.
Another hour had passed. She was talking in super-speed, not forgetting to tell me anything. Olivia told me about her boss, Amy, who was young, born in London, an architect, and apparently really down to earth. It sounded to me like they were becoming fast friends, and I was sure I knew more about Amy in those five minutes, than I would, just talking to her for an hour.
She told me about the incredible food and amazing surroundings. She already met some famous person. I don’t even know who the guy was, but all I knew was that I had never heard her so excited to talk to me before.
“I just have one question,” I asked, interrupting her, mid-sentence. “You’re not coming back, are you?”
The phone went silent for the first time in three hours. Part of me wished I wouldn’t have asked the question, but I really had been wondering.
“Dan, I don’t know when I’m coming back. I should be home for Christmas. I’ll be lucky if I make it home during the summer. But, don’t worry, okay? I’ll call or text you every day from now on.
I’ve been going crazy not talking to you,” I could sense Olivia awaiting my reply.
“Okay,” I told her, “you know what, I’m pretty much falling asleep, so just text me tomorrow—my time—and we can talk.”
“Dan, don’t be mad at me. You know how busy I am. If this were any other job, I wouldn’t have taken it, just to be closer to you. I’m sorry Dan, you know I am,” she said. I could sense her starting to get upset.
“Yeah, I know. You’re busy. Just call me when it’s convenient, okay,” I told her.
The phone clicked off. I set my phone on the table next to my bed. I thought about Olivia’s reaction and quickly turned off the light before I had time to think about it anymore.
The thought of that one phone conversation ended quickly when an unknown voice began talking to me.
“Hello? Sir? It’s getting late, you should probably be getting home, or at least relocating yourself,” I heard. I opened my eyes to a blinding flashlight being pointed towards my face.
“Oh, uh, hi, sorry. I guess I must have fallen asleep here,” I told the man with the flashlight.
“All the street lights are going to be turned off soon, so I’m not sure where you want to go. You probably shouldn’t stay here, though. It’s not the safest place in town,” he told me.
“It’s okay. I’m going to stay here for a while. It’s a long story, and I just need to be here,” I said, as I grabbed my pillow and blanket from behind me, lying down on the cold, hard ground.
“I really don’t think it’s safe, but whatever you want to do. Good luck, son,” the man, who I finally realized was a police officer, told me as he turned around to walk back down the street.
Whoa,
I must have fallen asleep when I sat down and was thinking about Olivia. Chills ran through my spine. It’s been a long day. It didn’t take long for me to start thinking of her again.
For days, I waited for her to call me. It had been almost a week since I talked with her. I was eating dinner alone listening to our song, “Happiness” by The Fray, when my phone vibrated in my back pocket. The screen flashed with Olivia’s picture, and I took a deep breath before answering the phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Dan. I’m sorry I haven’t called lately. I’ve been insanely busy,” Olivia explained.
“Yeah I know, it’s fine. How are you,” I asked her.
“I’m good. I haven’t stopped since I last talked to you. I’m exhausted. And I really miss you. I wish I was coming home soon,” she said, sounding completely worn out.
“I wish you were too,” I told her.
“Well can we talk about our conversation the other night? I got off the phone and cried for an hour before I went in to work. It wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to start my day,” she explained, sounding agitated.
“Yeah, we can talk,” I told her, even though I wanted to avoid the subject altogether.
“Okay, well Danny, I don’t know what you want me to do. It’s not my choice when I come home. My contract is for a two year internship with Amy, and if I get a job here, I’d end up having to move. But that’s what we’ve always wanted right? We’ve talked about moving here! Why don’t you come to visit for a while,” she started rambling.
“I can’t. I’m busy,” I lied.
“What are you doing right now?”
“Not one thing,” I told her, honestly.
I was only becoming more frustrated as this conversation continued.
