CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN: Ever After

Three years ago my journey began

Chasing down this cure, no plan in hand

Just your pulse, my racing guide in the dark

Just knowing with conviction from the start

The moment your eyes made an introduction

I felt my second violent breath of life

Flawless to the point of being godly

Yet I fell hard for your imperfections..

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The Planet. 9:07 PM.

“Oh Tina?” Marina Ferrer called out to the youngest member of her wait staff as the teenager made her way towards the kitchen.

“Yes?” Tina walked back to her boss who was busy working behind the counter. She bit back a groan as she eyed the order slip in the older woman’s hand. It was seven minutes past the end of her shift and she desperately wanted to go home and crash on her bed. This day had been nothing short of exhausting and it took its toll on her body – her eyes were bloodshot, her nose was runny, her mind was fried, her heart was aching, and her spirit was crushed. And she couldn’t wait to go home and rest, even though she knew that in order for her to get some, she would need to cry herself to sleep once again. But it looks like fate was playing another cruel joke on her, she sighed inwardly as she forced a smile at her frazzled boss as Marina waved a paper in front of her.

“I’m sorry,” Marina smiled apologetically as she handed over an order slip to Tina. “Sylvia is running late again. Can you serve this one for me?” She placed a small pat on the girl’s shoulder as she brushed past the worn-out teenager to attend to another customer. It was yet another busy Friday night at the Planet, and the usual night crowd was trickling in one by one.

“Okay.” Tina smiled weakly. She was so tired, but it wasn’t as if she could turn her boss down by claiming fatigue. Summoning the last ounce of patience and strength inside her body, she took out a tray from beneath the counter and began to prepare the order that Marina handed to her. She sighed as she noticed the number encircled at the top of the slip. 20. The order was for table number 20, which was situated inside the newly constructed outdoor area of the Planet. 20. 20. 20. The number burned inside her head and taunted her mercilessly. 20.. Bette’s birthday and their official date as a couple. In a few weeks, they would be celebrating their first ever monthsary. If we’re still together by then, she thought sadly. She shook her head in an effort to clear the depressing thoughts from inside her brain. Just need to get this done so I could go home and fall apart, she told herself as she looked at the order form once again. One by one, she started to fill the tray with the dishes written on the piece of paper. Turkey sandwich? Check. Crème brulee? Check. Cobb salad? Check. Iced tea? Check.