Finding Love

 The conversation with Ralph turned sour and we just ended with a heated argument. He wasn't ready to commit. It seemed I was begging him to be in an exclusive relationship with me. He had just dropped me off with his car on the sidewalk leading to my apartment. My "sense nuts" were too disconnected to find my way home. I just found myself walking on that side of the road, head down, knees jerking and body shivering, not from cold, but hurt.

"I'm not ready for a serious relationship right now." His voice kept resounding in my head...

While I was still trying to compose myself, a black SUV drove past aggressively and splashed rain water that had gathered on the street on me. I opened my mouth to curse but the words were too scared to come out. I just looked down at my already messed up lemon coloured skirt and heaved a sigh. 

"Anna!" I heard a voice call out to me. It was Mrs. Briggs, dressed in her apron and her regular red ribbon which complemented her naturally curled hair. In oblivion, I was standing right in front of Taya's Place, where Mrs. Briggs worked as a chef. 

"Good day ma'am." 

"Come on in Anna, you look terrible." 

I followed her into the restaurant like a lost puppy. She found us a secluded spot in the large space and went straight to the bar section. Soon, she came back, handing me a drink. I adjusted my seat and stared blankly at her.

"Sorry about your dress. I went outside to see off a friend who came visiting and I saw what happened." She said, with so much concern on her face.

"I'm alright Mrs. Briggs. Thanks."

"I'm not really sure about that. You don't look okay. Do you care to tell me what's bugging you?"

Mrs. Briggs had been a close friend of my mom. I and my siblings were very free to share anything with her, and this wasn't an exception.

"There's this guy..." I started, but paused to articulate my words. She caught me midway.

"Aha! I see. Boyfriend issues?" She asked, smiling broadly and flaunting her bean-sized dimples. I sipped my drink and continued. Perhaps, it was the energy boaster I needed.

"We've been on few dates, but there's nothing serious about the relationship. I love him and I want us to take things to the next level, but he's just too stupid to understand!" I blurted. 

Starting out calmly, Mrs. Briggs held my hands which were outstretched on the table. The grey pigments of her eyes flashed at me. "Maya Angelou, the famous writer, once said: 'One thing love is not is unsure.' If he's for you, he'd come around. If he's not, let it slide."

I stared at her soft face, curly hair; an icon in her prime. I just held unto her hands. That was all the assurance I needed...