"It was fate. You were meant to be together," my friend looked at me with envy in her eyes. Carol was beautiful. More beautiful than I was, without a doubt. She had long blond hair, big blue eyes and a sexy slim figure that she could maintain without even trying. And still, there was something she would envy me for and that was my husband.

"Yes, I guess it was," I replied with a smile. "There is no saying where, but I am sure, there is someone for you too out there." I tried to comfort her as I usually did. That was not the first time she had broken up with her boyfriend.

She was my friend since childhood and I loved her as she was. However, I couldn't say I was surprised none of her relationships ever lasted. She could be quite superficial, and she expected to be worshiped in a relationship. Furthermore, she also got bored easily and acted on it. She wasn't the type to cheat, but she had no trouble ending the relationship in a blink of an eye.

"Oh, I know," she replied with a kind of indifferent look on her face. Carol never had trouble finding a new partner. So I was wondering why it was so hard for her to stay in a relationship.

We finished our drinks and quietly stood up, ready to leave the café. Carol hugged me as we were saying our goodbyes. "I'll call you," she said with a light smile on her lips. Then she turned away and left.

I was lost in my thoughts on the way home. I couldn't stop thinking about things like fate. Do I really believe two people are destined to be together for their whole life? Or is there an expiration date when you no longer suit each other? Is it really possible to have 'happily ever after' and stay in love? As I asked myself those questions I wasn't able to think of any other couple who would still be in love after many years... "Oh, that was rather cynical of me to have such thoughts since I was married for a long time myself," I realised.

"Carol is right. I am very lucky to have Thomas in my life," I thought to myself. A smile naturally appeared on my lips as I was remembering the times we started dating. We had both been in high school when we first met. It wasn't love at first sight for me. But it was definitely love!

When I arrived home, Thomas was already there. "Hi," I greeted him happily. I was delighted to see him home so early. We didn't get to spend much time with each other these days. Although I work from home, he's busy at work, always attending meetings or going on business trips.

"Hi Maria," he smiled brightly as he looked up at me. "How was your day? Did you manage to write something? And how is Carol?" he asked me all those questions, but he didn't really wait for me to reply to him, and he continued: "I am sorry, but I have to leave for a few days. You remember the project I was working on for the customer from Italy? Well, it seems there's been some kind of error in the drawing. The samples we sent before were OK somehow but now, they realized it doesn't fit with other parts. So I have to go there and resolve it myself," he sighed.

"Oh," I couldn't suppress the disappointment in my voice. "I see." It's no surprise he was home this early in the afternoon. He just came to pack his things for the trip.

"Carol is doing fine," I replied. I didn't know how Carol would feel if I told Thomas about her break up. It was true they knew each other, but I still didn't want to share the details about her private life.

Thomas just nodded. I leaned against the door frame and watched him. I missed him. I missed talking to him, hugging him and smelling the back of his neck, brushing his silk brown hair with my hands, I missed kissing him... I couldn't help but feel lonely.

He finished packing his suitcase. Then he came closer to me, caressed my cheek with his thumb and promised: "I'll let you know when my plane lands, but it will probably be pretty late at night so don't wait up. Once I am back, I will take you to dinner." And just like that Thomas left.

I sat down at my computer. "I need to start writing," I said to myself. But my mind was blank. For some reason, I couldn't find the beginning of the story. Any other day, I would plan my work schedule beforehand and carefully follow it. Nevertheless, it wasn't the case now. Maybe it was because I had a hard time understanding the heroine of my story. The editor urged me to come up with more laid-back characters. I was too laced up and so were the characters in my stories, he said to me last time.

"Hmmm, maybe he's right, " I was desperately trying to keep my mind open. "I might be focused on doing things in the way I know."

As I stared through the window, I started to wonder if Thomas missed me too. I understood he was busy and tired from work. And of course I knew, it was natural that the affection between two people fades away after so many years. However, I couldn't remember the last time we shared an intimate moment together. In that way, we could be just best friends living together.

My chest suddenly felt tight. It was hard to breathe. I wished Thomas would have waited for me to answer his questions. I wished he would genuinely care to know how I spent my day too. Furthermore, I wanted him to make me his priority from time to time and show me he still wants to get to know other sides of me.

"Stop being a drama queen Maria," I slapped my cheeks gently. "Let's just go out, take a walk and get some fresh air." I tried to comfort myself. I put my jacket on and left the house and my work behind.

It was easier to breathe outside as my thoughts brightened instantly. At first, I just wandered around the neighborhood and watched the people I met. Somehow, I wanted to peek into their lives and find out what issues they find troublesome. I tried to feel their mood through the facial expression they made. But when I found myself in front of a shopping mall in the center of the city, I decided to take a break and empty my mind for a moment.

I wasn't really the type for shopping, so I decided to go to the cinema. I bought a ticket for the next movie and without any embarrassing feelings I went to my seat by myself.

The room darkened and the movie started. It was a little cheesy romance movie, but I didn't mind it at all. I didn't have to think hard, and could have just relaxed... If it weren't for the annoying man who was sitting right next to me!

"Oh my," I was trying to keep my cool. Does he really have so little space for his long legs that he has to sit like that? His legs were spread wide enough to touch my calf. I looked at him only to realize he was watching me the whole time. That surprised me so I kept staring at him for a second. He might have taken it as an encouragement and he rubbed his leg against mine. My eyes widened in shock. He came with a girl, so what was he doing?!