Ivan was sitting on the chair behind his desk. He was looking through the window, thinking.
Something orange started flashing on his monitor, so he looked at it. It was a skype message from Svraka:
- Hey, what’s up? I got your text.
- Nothing much – Ivan answered– I’m just going out of my mind…
- ?? That’s new! Tell me.
- I will, but you have to promise that after that you will delete everything – skype history and brain memory!
- O.K.
- Promise!
- Okay, okay, I promise. Just tell already, I am dying from curiosity over here!
- Fine…Do you remember that girl I used to date in High School?
- The one that broke your heart?
- Same one. I saw her last week. I was waiting in my car in front of the Mall and saw her walking across the street. She was wearing a light blue shirt and jeans, and white sneakers. Her hair is red now. Suits her. And I thought to myself “She is still perfect”… It just slipped in my mind… As if sometimes you say something you don’t really want to say…
- That’s it? You saw your ex on the street?
- No, it’s not just it. I keep thinking about it. About her. I imagine her as I saw her – walking on the street. I even thought I saw her once, and was about to call her out, or run in the other direction and hide, I am not sure, but then I realized it wasn’t her. I even freaking dream about her at night. It’s a soundless dream. I just see her walking across the street in that light blue shirt, jeans and white sneakers. It’s driving me crazy!
- How long has that been going on?
- Over a week.
Svraka made a pause. Even the little pencil that indicates the other side is writing, wasn’t showing. Svraka was probably still assimilating what Ivan had just written. Or maybe was in the other room chatting carelessly with someone and hadn’t even read it. One side of Ivan’s mind was feverishly wishing that Svraka would answer right away and couldn’t wait to see the advice, some guidance what he should do. The other side of his brain opposedly was looking for the solution itself, hoping that nobody’s eye has yet seen this crazy confession and he will be able to delete it before it gets out.
- That really doesn’t sound like you… - Svraka finally said.
- I know…
- Maybe you should call her?
- No! – he panicked, but then decided to mask it – I don’t have her number…
- I am sure you’ll find a way to contact her, if, you know, you wanted to.
- What if she doesn’t want to talk to me?
- Then you’ll know it’s finally over. And move on, stop obsessing.
- O.K. I’ll think about it. Delete everything, ok?
- If I must…
- You promised you would!
- Okay, okay, I will. Sheesh!
- I have to go. See you later.
- See you!
Ivan logged off. Svraka smiled in the dark and dialed a number:
- He’s ready. He’ll come looking for you!
- Finally! – she said enthusiastic – It took him 7 years!
- Well, it’s not an easy thing to do, you know. To forgive.