-S-
Sara looked at Jake. Jake was making fun of Shawn like always. Sara checked Bailey. She was talking to Michelle about the shoes that she liked the other day. Sara saw Jennifer this time. She was looking at her cell phone.
“What are you doing?” Joe asked.
“I-I am checking the menu. We need to order.”
“I thought we just did,” Joe told her.
“Yeah, but I wanted to see it more.” Sara made an excuse.
“Congratulations, Michelle. You really wanted to transfer your work to orthopedic,” Jennifer said.
“Yeah, finally it happened.” Michelle said it with smile. They gathered in Crown Burger to celebrate Michelle’s transfer.
“What is so great about that?” Shawn asked.
“First of all, I don’t need to see people crying a lot, or talk to people whose life is in
danger. Do you know how hard it is to talk to them, especially when they are diagnosed with cancer? Second, I get to meet more guys.”
“Meeting more guys…that sounds very professional.” Jake made a joke and Michelle threw one of her French Fries at him.
“I think those are good reasons,” Jennifer said.
“Oh, you like guys with broken bodies? I can hook you up with them.”
“Haha, very funny,” Jennifer said.
Sara automatically looked at Bailey, and Bailey turned her head to Sara. Sara pretended she was not looking at Bailey. Sara wished she could help Bailey, but there was nothing she could do.
“Sara, have you found another job?”
“No, not yet.”
“Well. I may have another one. I will let you know.”
“Thanks.” When Sara answered, her cell phone started vibrating on the table. Sara checked her phone, and she froze. –Keith- That name was very familiar and so strange at the same time on the screen.
“Sara, it’s yours.” Michelle told her and Sara grabbed the phone and went outside.
“You said we would play a different game, like a board game at least.” Shawn complained to Michelle after he did not hit any pins.
“I know, but Jake finally can go bowling, so complain to him,” Michelle said.
“Sorry, Shawn. I promise that we all go to your place and play Mario Party next time,” Jake told him while he was getting ready to hit.
“I am not sure if I want play that game again,” Jennifer said.
“Dah~ we all sacrifice to some level,” Jake said and he rolled the bowling ball and hit every pin.
“Yeah! Strike!” Jake walked by with a superman pose and gave people hi- fives.
“Go, Joe! It’s your turn.” Joe stood up and held his ball. “Yeah, let’s dynamite!”
“What?” Michelle asked him with a curious face.
“That’s what my grandpa used to say,” Shawn said.
“Yeah, it’s, it’s nothing.” Joe said it quickly and rolled his ball, and he missed two pins. Joe saw Sara. She seemed discouraged since the restaurant. Joe was worried about Sara. He wondered if she was coming down with something.
-Are you ok? What’s going on?
Michelle also noticed Sara was different and texted her.
-I am fine. I’ll tell you later.
Sara could not focus on anything that day.
As soon as she and Michelle came back, Sara started to tell Michelle about what happened.
“I talked to Keith today.”
“Really? When?” Michelle was a little surprised.
“Back at the restaurant.”
“He just asked me how I was doing and asked about Joe.”
“And what did you say?”
“I told him that I was dating him and he asked me if I really liked him.”
“What did he mean by ‘really’?”
“I don’t know. I just told him I am seeing him, and he started talking about how he could not forget me. He tried to meet others, but he said he couldn’t go through with it. He said that I’m the only woman he’s ever loved and he wants me to take him back.”
“What did you say?”
“I. I couldn’t say anything at first and then I said, ‘I will think about it.’”
“What?” Michelle was surprised by Sara’s answer.
“I know, I should’ve said no, but I couldn’t. I really like Joe, but, he started talking about what a hard time he was having and he sounded so earnest. After that I felt so guilty.”
“Sara, I think you are too kind.”
“I don’t miss Keith, but I couldn’t say no to him. Is it because I still feel sorry for him?”
“It’s ok. You can just say no next time.”
“And he sounded terrible, like a sick person.”
“Sara he is fine. He is a guy. I know he is kind of sensitive, but he will be fine.”
"You think so?”
“Yes, you have to be strong or he will keep hanging onto you.”
Sara did not want to be mean or ignore Keith. She sighed and said, “And… to be honest, I really don’t want to let Joe go. I really like him; I wish he would stay with me. After I talked to Keith, I kept thinking about that, and worrying about what would happen after that.”
“It’s ok. Joe must be feeling the same as you. He cares so much about you. I can tell you. You guys will meet again, I promise.” Michelle continued talking. “You know, sometimes, you should be selfish to protect yourself. Well, not selfish, but you have to take care of you first, then others. You cannot make everyone happy all the time, so don’t think about Keith. He needs to learn how to let go.”
Sara thought Michelle was right. However, she had a hard time falling asleep, and in her dream, she went back to when she was a child. She was playing with Keith like usual. Sara made a mistake and spilled purple juice on Keith and his shirt was stained. Keith told her, I was good to you for my entire my life. How could you do this to me? Sara kept apologizing to him and tried to wipe out the stain, but it did not clean; it became worse. Keith repeated what he said over and over again. In her dream, she kept wishing it was a dream, and when she finally woke up, she was so relieved that she was in her grandmother’s house.