Stranger At The Other Corner Read online

  She moved toward her bedroom, quietly sits on bed. Put the blanket on her, she backed to pillow; her side-lamp was on. Can she sleep now? Her tears can’t stop, she wants to yell but she can’t… then she looks at Mr. Bradley, who was sleeping very peacefully.

  She stare him for few second, she raise her hand to move her fingers in his hairs but stop and move back her hand.

  She folded her arms and thinks “I always thought I will make you fall in love with me, always thought I was the one your eyes searching but I was wrong. Why do you keep so many secrets from me Brad? For two years you been killing your feelings and wishes for me… oh Brad” she closed her eyes.

  “When you understand, love makes you selfish… but you, it can’t change you Brad… you still think about everyone before yourself. You still care about my heart, my feelings. You have done so many things for me; you never make me feel you don’t love me”

  She lay down and turns toward him and thinks “It will kill me to let you go… how I am going to gather that much strength to leave you? How can I live with seeing you?”

  Her tears drops on her pillow “you give me so much love in these 8 years, I am addicted of your love” she closed her eyes.

  “But it was not your love, it was just your care… just care Brad and I thought I was so beautiful that I can make anybody fall in love with me but you proof me wrong. I think it’s time for me to return your love, I know you won’t say a word and maybe she won’t either. But it will not end like this… you will get your love too… I will do everything to get it to you… I promise” she thinks and close her eyes.

  “Mr. Wilson can see you Ms. Ramos” Simon’s secretary said to Judy, she was sitting in waiting area in Simon’s office. She was wearing white and grey stripe dress with white heels; she let her mane freely on her shoulder.

  “Ok… thank you” Judy said and walk toward his office, she enter in his room. It was huge room and his large table was placed in front.

  Simon stop working as she enter in his room and stand to greet her “hello Judy, so nice to meet you” Simon said, as they shake hands “it’s good to see you too Simon” Judy said.

  “Please sit… now tell me what do you like to drink… coffee, soft drink… we could arrange wine too” Simon said and they both cackles.

  “No, I don’t want anything… just your time” Judy said smiling.

  “Wow… times really change, now you need my time. I’m mister popular now… so tell me how can I help you” Simon said smiling.

  Judy down her eyes then said “well… it’s not about me Simon, it’s about Claire” Simon sits still and confuse.

  “Something about her you should need to know and like me, you need to decide what is best for Claire” Judy said putting Mr. Bradley’s diary on his table.

  Simon looks at it then at Judy when she tells him about everything between Mr. Bradley and Claire.

  “How dare he? He looks so decent… so honest and behind my back this is all happening… my wife, he thinks all of this about my wife. I can’t believe you… you came to me with this… you should ask him about this…scold him” Simon yells and stands after looking at the diary; he put the diary on the table forcibly.

  “Scold him… ask him, about what?”

  “For deceiving you”

  “Falling in love is not a crime Simon”

  “But falling in love with someone’s wife is… she’s my wife and I love her so much”

  “And she… she love you too?”

  “Of course… and now you are telling me to let her go for some other man”

  “I telling you to let go your wife for my husband, whom I love so much” Judy said, Simon calms when he heard Judy heavy voice.

  “They are not having an affair…they don’t even talk to each other… don’t meet with each other”

  “Just because he didn’t write this on his diary… It doesn’t mean they are not having an affair” Simon said and move toward the window, putting his hand in his pocket.

  “If he does anything, he will write in it. Simon, they are not deceiving us… they are not cheating us. Can you believe that, Claire having an affair… don’t you trust her… if she don’t care about you; she will never marry with you. And you told me that Claire is leaving this city soon, don’t you understand they are trying to get away from each other because of us… the people they don’t love, just care about and leaving the person they love more than anything in life”

  “I don’t want to hear anything Judy, I don’t care. I only know one thing and that is I love Claire so much and I can’t live without her. it took me so long time to make her mind to marry me, do you know how hard is to convinced someone who think there is someone waiting for them” Judy wide open her eyes looking at Simon.

  “She used to say that she’s waiting for someone. I never like her going out with some guy and I pray that she break up with him but it was like she don’t want them either… it took me 5 years to convinced her and she realizes it too that whatever in her mind was just some illusion”

  “You mean she’s waiting for someone before you married her” Judy asks in surprise.

  “Yes…” Simon said. Judy smiles then said “and I thought Brad was the only one that stupid who was waiting for someone” Judy said and take her bag to leave. But then think something and stop.

  “Love is about giving not taking… that’s what they are doing; they gave us so much love. Now it’s our turn to give them, their love. You need to let her before she leave you on her own, she’s not that strong Simon. They can’t live for long without each other…it’s up to you now. I love Brad more than anything in my life but I love him that much that I can let him go for his love” Judy said and leave.

  She leave Simon with the diary, he hit his fist on the wall in rage then turn to look at the diary.

  CHAPTER 25

  Mr. Bradley was sitting in his study, working on his office project on his laptop. It’s been two days since that fire building incident, he was on medical leave because his arm was hurt badly but now he was feeling better.

  Judy enters in study with an envelope in her hand, Mr. Bradley smile at her when he sees her, she smile too. Judy seem very quiet today than usual, her eyes was puffed like she cry too much last night.

  Mr. Bradley notices her condition then asks “are you okay Judy?”

  She sits on chair next to him then softly said “yeah… now I feel fine, I feel so light like a put a stone away from my heart”

  Mr. Bradley get serious and sit straight facing her, he look at her confusingly “what… what happen to you Judy?” he asks looking worried.

  She smile, head down then look at him and give him the envelope

  “What is it?” he asks.

  “Returning favor” she said with smile. He open the envelope and take out the paper, it was divorce papers.

  Looking wide open eyes, Mr. Bradley reads it then shouts when he sees her signature “what have you done Judy? Why? What have I done? You need to ask me, talk to me before taking such a big step. Why did you do this?” he stands, as well Judy and put down the papers on the table.

  “Tell me Judy why… if you got some problem with you, you should tell me that you got a problem, I will change it. Did I ever hurt? Didn’t I care about you? Why Judy… you destroy our home?” Mr. Bradley shouts holding her shoulders.

  “Home…? Home made with love”

  “And I don’t love you… right!!” Mr. Bradley said and turns his back to her.

  “No… you love Claire” Judy said, after a moment pause. Mr. Bradley shocked and turns to her. “I know that you will never tell me about her… you will never say a word about what you feel for her”

  “Judy… Judy … I’m not having an affair with her, I swear… it’s just, nothing trust me. I never cheat you… believe me… I just meet her in office meeting” Mr. Bradley panically said.

  Simon enters in his bedroom, holding Mr. Bra
dley’s diary in his hand with an envelope. Claire was packing her bags, taking her clothes out of walk-in closet. She was quite; he was very down like he lost something big today. He takes a deep breath then looses his tie and take off his coat.

  Claire notice him and smile to him then says “hi”

  “Hey… you are ready to leave” Simon said as he stands infront of her looking at her open suitcase.

  “Yeah… I am flight is in the morning” she said putting her dress in suitcase. Simon looks at her for a moment with love and Claire feels that he was change today.

  “What is it?” she asked normally.

  “Claire you know we are friends’ right… best friend if say and best friend don’t keep secrets from each other… right?” Simon said as he holds her hands and they sits on the bed, Claire was confused.

  “What do you mean Simon” she asked.

  “when I fall in love, I did tell you… of course I fall in love with you” Claire smile and down her head like it hurt her and after a moment pause he said “and then if you fall in love, you should have to tell me… even if not with me”

  Claire shocked; she stands suddenly leaving his hand.

  “Simon… it’s not like that… I didn’t cheat you… I promise” she panically said holding her hands together in stressed.

  “You did cheat me Brad… you broke my heart” Judy said, moving towards Mr. Bradley.

  “We were friends before anything, you should tell me about what you are feeling. If you care about me as a friend, I care about you too… more than you, because I love you” Judy said emotionally.

  “It is cheating Claire; I thought you were happy with me while you have so much pain in your heart. It is cheating, when I see you smile while you want to cry and just to make me happy you never tell me anything. It is cheating when you need a friend, I was not there because you didn’t call me” Simon said holding her shoulders.

  “Claire I love you, but I’m your friend first. If you tell me about this on your own, I feel that you trust me… you think of me as your true friend who loves you more than anything” Simon said.

  “Judy… I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know how it all happens but I try… I try to get over… I try to ignore this feeling but it keeps coming to me. I don’t wanna think about her but I can’t help it. I really don’t want to hurt you” Mr. Bradley said and moves forward and pass Judy.

  Judy cackles and turns to him and said “Brad… its call love, and please stop lying to yourself that you can ignore her… you can’t. You love her and she loves you… you know that right?” Judy said.

  “Simon… I’m really sorry; I don’t want all of this. It’s not really my fault; I don’t know how it all happens… it just did. I try to adjust in our marriage life and to forget him but I failed everytime. I lose this battle… I don’t know what to do but please give me chance I will be a good wife. I just need some time to remind myself who was I… and need to figure out what happening to me” Claire said crying.

  Simon sweeps her tears and smile then softly said “Claire you are finally fall in love with someone” she stood still “the love you always talks about, the love you write songs about, the love you always want in your life. You are in love with him and I can tell you how lucky that guy is… don’t lie to yourself Claire. This relationship was over that day when you fall in with him”

  She downs her head, he raise her head his hand on her chin “and it’s not your fault, he is your destiny… I was just the way to him, if you never marry to me; you never come here and never meet him. It’s was hard for me to accept that, maybe I think because it was the truth” Simon said softly with smile.

  “Judy leave it please, it’s not possible. I’m married, she’s married and she left the city anyway. It’s no point now… I can get along with my life like this” Mr. Bradley said in low tune.

  “You’re not married now Brad and I think she’s neither” Judy said, Mr. Bradley surprised “what?” he asked.

  Claire cry then said “it’s no use Simon… he’s married and Judy is a nice person. I can’t hurt her for my happiness and… and he doesn’t love me anymore. He ignored me so much like he doesn’t want to see me. It’s all over”

  “Oh I wish you were right… but he do love you so much. And about what Judy think, so I tell you. Judy told me everything about you and him. She said love is not about taking but giving and I love you so much that I can let you go for your love. And here, is the proof how much he love you… funny he just bad with words when it comes to love… not everyone is like me” Simon said smile. Then handed over her envelope and said “here is divorce paper and I’ve signed it”

  “No… Simon, you election campaign, our family will be so worried and the press, they will not leave you like this”

  “It’ll be fine… I talk to my dad already Claire, he will talk to your dad. There is nothing in the world I care more than you, plus we will be friends always right” she nod.

  “And I’m just 34… I got so many years to be a president...” Simon said with a little giggles. “I’m leaving for Washington tonight… but I wish you all the happiness… don’t forget to call me on your wedding” he said and kissed on her forehead and say “goodbye” then leave.

  “I’ve told Simon everything… Claire is very nice girl and I like her too. I’m glad you choose her, now it’s time for you to be selfish Brad… think about yourself a little. You give me so happiness in all these years Brad… I never felt that you don’t love me. Now it’s my time to give you some happiness and I do love so much that I could let you go for your happiness” Judy said and kiss him on his cheeks and move to leave then think something and stop.

  “And maybe she have something that stop her from leaving” Judy said and smile at him then leave. Mr. Bradley was still confused… still undecided what to do?

  CHAPTER 26

  Claire sits on her bed as Simon leave. She sweeps her tears and sobs then open the diary to read. She move her finger over Mr. Bradley “Bradley James Rick” then lift the page another page and read

  “For the one whom I write these all”

  She smile, she realizes the diary was dated when he was in his college years, she lift another page and the poems written on it, she sees the poems and lift pages but stop at one as she reads.

  “What is love?”

  What is love…? I need to know

  When you know everything

  Still everything seem unknown

  When you want to end this

  It begin right that moment

  When you want it in your life

  It never comes for you and makes you cry

  What is love? I need know

  When you feel so strong

  It force you down on your knees

  When you feel complete

  It makes you feel hollow

  What is love…? I need to know

  When you can win the war

  It makes you feel the lose

  When you don’t want it

  It open it arm and you fell for it

  And force you to own it

  Why stranger on the other side

  You take away my soul

  What is love…? I need to know”

 

  She surprised to read the poem, it was written 9 years ago and she says the same words in her song for him. She gets emotional then moves forward to read more.
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  “Why the time has to fly

  When I want every second

  Why my words leave my side

  When I want to say her something

  Why I feel alone in the crowd

  Every day when I see her

  Why I feel so alive

  When I walk towards her

  Why in those few seconds

  I live all my life

  Why her eyes tells me

  She’s mine

  I feel like I’m drowning

  When she walk right past to me

  Then I wait for another day

  So I can live my life again…”

  Her eyes fill with tears, and fall on the diary, the poem was written when they meet. She read the next one.

  “Like a light enters in a dark room

  She came in life when I lost all hope

  She’s like every other stranger in the crowd

  But why I feel I know her for so long

  If there was ever one for me

  It’s her, my heart says to me

  She understands, my unspoken words

  How she knows me that much

  Her presence make my heart beat fast

  Until she leave, that joy last

  If there was ever one for me

  It’s her, my heart say to me

  I lost to her my all