Stranger At The Other Corner Read online

  My words, my dreams… my soul

  If my life give me one chance

  I just want to hold her hand

  If she can hear my heart

  I want to say… you are my love…”

  On last stanza, she breaks down in tears; fall on her knees on the ground. She kissed his diary and holds it so close to her and folds her arms around it then cry loudly, she believes it’s him she wanted all her life. His love for her express in words explains everything to her. She doesn’t need to judge him anymore on his rude behavior.

  She realizes he’s very nice person. When she read the last page of the diary, she understands why he ignored her so much.

  She was crying so much, but it was mix expression. She was happy that she finally found her love and excited to meet him and relaxed because she was free of the guilt that she might be cheating on Simon. She was relaxed that after a long journey she reaches to her destination.

  “I am leaving the city now Andy…” Mr. Bradley said. He was sitting in central park in the morning with his bag, planning to leave the city for a while.

  “Are you crazy Brad… everything is over now. Every hurdle between you and Claire was destroyed. She’s your now. And now why are you doing this to her… Annie told me Simon divorce her and it is all over the news. For God sake Brad what’s your problem? Andy yells at him on phone. Mr. Bradley was wearing his black high-neck sweater under black long coat and jeans with trainers.

  “I don’t want to do this Andy… you don’t know Judy hurt so much… I can see in her eyes, I don’t know how she did all of this. She could never see any girl with me and now she leaves me for her. I can’t bear this Andy”

  “She leave you Brad and she’s happy… she’s happy with her decision. She did this for you to be happy… now please stop resisting Brad” Andy yells again. Mr. Bradley take a moment pause, he was confused. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone. He was feeling a guilt that this all happen because of him.

  “It’s good that this relationship is over, because you were living a pretending life and it is over now. You are hurting Claire, it’s her right that you love her too”

  “Claire must be so upset. She was living a good life and everything destroys because of me, she must be blaming her for all of this… Andy I need so time alone, please tell the boss I need leave for some time” then he hang up.

  It was a cold morning of December, same time he supposed to be at stop. He was sitting on a bench in a corner. He shut his eyes forcelly, he was in so much stressed then suddenly he has an asthma attack, he feel like he’s choking. He was searching his pump in his bag, when he feel someone presence. He raise his head to see and he forget about his pain, his heart get stable, his breathing get normal and he don’t need his pump. He stands up slowly.

  It was Claire, wearing yellow knee length dress under white long coat and white ballet shoes, her hands in the coat pocket and her hairs fall freely on her shoulder, her asymmetrical bangs fall on her forehead. She was standing at the other corner.

  She moves towards him with an uncontrolling smile, he was surprised and happy to see her but fails to show his feeling.

  “Hi… I’m Claire Davis” Claire said, Mr. Bradley look at her with wide open eyes. “I’m Bradley…” before he completes his sentence she kisses him. Her arms around his neck, he moves his hands to her waist.

  When she kisses him, she let go all her love for him she’s keeping for two years. “I wanna do that when we first met” she said softly so close to him, her eyes closed.

  “You step on my shoes” Mr. Bradley said, she quickly moves away, look down and asked “really?”

  “No… but that’s what I want to say when we first encounter” Mr. Bradley said smiling. They look at each other and laugh, then slowly move toward each other to kiss. The first snow fall start of winter.

  …

  She wake up, when she some voice and stands from her rocking chair slowly to see whose coming in her house. She put on glasses when she heard someone calls “mom… mom, where are you?”

  “I’m here Megan” Claire said, going out of the room. A young blonde enters in the house holding a toddler in her one arms and bag on the other shoulder “hi mom” it was Claire’s elder daughter Megan and her young son Michael.

  “Oh… darling it’s so good to see you… how’s my little grandson” Claire said as they hug and Claire kiss her grandson.

  “So annoying mom… I can’t tell you” Megan said, with a giggle.

  “Just like his mother… I say” Claire said.

  “Where’s Adam” she asked, about Megan’s husband.

  “He got a meeting mom… but he promised he will make it to the party” Megan said, putting her bag on the couch in the TV lounge.

  “Where’s dad?” she asked.

  “Same… gone for the walk and” while Claire was saying, Mr. Bradley enters in the lounge with a young guy. It was their son Jack “did someone call me?” Mr. Bradley said and Megan runs to her dad for a hug. “I miss you so much dad”

  “I miss you too darling”

  “Hey mom” Jack said as he hug Claire.

  “Oh… Jack, it’s been a year I see you. I hate your journalism job” Claire said hugging her son.

  “Mom… I’m sorry, I’m an investigating reporter and I been on a case, I have to go places to find news”

  “Leave him mom… he just try to show his importance but he knows I’m mom and dad’s favorite kid”

  “Good to see you too… big sister, I’m glad you didn’t change… annoying as always… isn’t she Mike” Jack said, holding Michael in his arms and everyone laughs

  “Ok mom… what’s in breakfast…? I’m so hungry” Jack said.

  “My favorite… my darling made me special today” Mr. Bradley said holding Claire’s hand and then they all start talking about their lives. They are going to celebrate their 30th anniversary tomorrow.

  Their cackles can be heard in the hallway, where Claire set a series of pictures on the hallway wall. From her wedding to Mr. Bradley to her honeymoon in Paris, from her first child Megan birth to her 3 birthday party. Then her son Jack birth to his all birthdays and Megan’s graduation then her college graduation to her marriage and Jack’s graduation to his trip to Taiwan and the last photo on the wall was Michael photo.

  These are the memories of Claire, a life she always dream come true and she capture them in photo, every precious moment of her life start from the day when she saw the stranger on the other side.

  Dear reader,

  Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won’t you please take a moment to leave me a review letter addressing me at your favorite retailer. I will respect your opinion.

  Thank you.

  AnonYMous