You reached and your neighbour who was a forty-year-old woman had been waiting for you, at home.

           Her husband had passed away early and had remained childless for her entire life.

          She has been like a mother to you for these two years and you loved her for everything she has done for you. She has been by your side all these times especially when you had weird moods swinging by. She has treated you like her own offspring made of her own blood and her dead husband's flesh which had become a mere fantasy for her but still she took you in as her own. She even doted upon you, giving you all her love and care and left no desperate need of yours unattended as she fulfilled each and every one of them.

            You knew she hated seeing you sad and loved to dwell in your happiness.

     She was the only thing that is normal in your weird life and is everything you have. And you always told her everything. She at least deserved to know after all she has done for you. All your trust had been graciously given only to her.

           Since those two years, she knew everything about you and it would make you feel really guilty if you didn't tell her as you knew she only cared about your welfare unlike others.

           You reach the doorstep of your beloved house, placed your hand on the knob and let a sigh escape your lips and then proceeded to open the door and enter the heavenly abode where you thought you belonged. You didn't know whether the sigh was a tired one or an excited one or somewhere in between.

            You directly put on a mini red apron and got along to make the stew. It had to be ready before you went for the date.

            As you start with the stew, your well-wisher notices the huge smile plastered on your face. She drags a chair and sits on the counter in your mini U-shaped kitchen polished in soft marble and observes you working on your dish. She smiles looking at the innocent smile on your face.

            "So what's the big occasion?" She asks curiously. "Huh?" You reply as you snap out on to reality. "As usual, people are not treating you well and knowing you didn't get the job, there must be another reason of why you have a 16-inch smile plastered on your face." She simply pointed out.

         Guess she knows you pretty well, better than you know yourself... At least in the current state.

          "Well, I got asked out..." You tell her, smiling dreamily as you stir the creamy concoction you were preparing.

          Her body comes into the excited state and she was nearly jumping out of the chair. "What? Wow, that's great news!... How did you he ask you out? Is he local? Is he handsome? Does he have those big dreamy eyes? Does-"

          "Hey hey hey! Chill down, mum!" You try to tone down the excitement but from the inside you felt really happy that she felt the same as you did. "How can I? My baby is growing up and she is going on her first date..." She started to get all teary with a flair of dramatics that every mother seemed to have.

          "Mum! It's ok! You know I'll be fine..." You try comforting her. "Oh, you think I didn't know that? Of course I know that. You will be absolutely fine... Anyways now you have to get ready for that date. Today is it?" You nod to answer her question.

          "Oh my God! We have no time. How am I going to get you ready in time for the date? We haven't even picked out your dress. Or make up. Or hairstyle. Or anything for that matter of fact. What are we going to do? I mean...." She continued to drone on about the preparation of your date while you started laughing silently at her childishness.

           Even though you called her 'Mum' because she insisted, right now she behaved like a child younger to you.

         The reason you didn't want to tell her was because of her overacting. But then on the good side, she had experienced quite a good number of dates which is any day more than you. So she knew what to do and what to wear and what to talk about. And that was something you desperately needed training for.

           You scoop the last of the stew and pour it in those metal tiffin as your 'Mum' went on blabbering and complaining about everything relating to the date that was to take place today.

          Just as you were done and you set the tiffin on the glass table, you grab her hand as she seemed to be talking to no one but herself.

           "Mum! Mum!!!" She stops and looks at you innocently. "I think we better start getting me dressed then." You mutter softly with a soft smile and she nods in excitement and pulls you into your room.

            She sets the bath and puts slices of lemons, to give the pre-date heavenly glow. And then she forces you into the tub and scrubs your naked body gently, in fear of hurting you. But you didn't seem to feel uncomfortable with it.

             She has seen you naked so many times before that she knew every scar and tattoo on your body. The only thing she didn't know was the stories behind them. She was as clueless as you. And with that, you didn't owe her any explanation as she knew your true conditions. Nor did she ever press you to try remember your forgotten past. Cause every time you did, you would fall into this mental pain which scares her as she got the very thought of losing you. And yet still with that, you would come up blank.

          She washes your beautiful burgundy hair and massages your head as you rest in the tub. Soon she leaves you to choose what you shall grace your presence in for the 'one-in-a-lifetime' opportunity in the form of a date.

       You clean up after she is done and when you adorn your naked body with a fluffy white bathrobe and pink fluffy bunny slippers, you leave the bathroom as you were drying your hair.

        Mum had already left the room and you see your outfit placed on your bed which makes a gasp of awe leave your lips. Wow!

           The outfit your well-wisher had left was beautiful beyond compare and you loved it instantly. It was perfect. Perfect for your first date. He definitely would fall for you, flat on his face. And he would have to think twice before talking to you so the chances of embarrassing himself are less.

          In excitement, you slipped into the dress and waited for your well-wisher to come and attend to the rest left. She came in another few minutes which you managed to patiently wait for.

           "I knew it! I knew it would perfectly suit you!" She squealed like a young teenager fan girling over her favourite celebrity. "Mum, where did you get it?" You ask as you twirl in your outfit. "Well, let's just say that I had kept a few outfits for quick emergencies like this." She explained, proud of herself.

            "Now sit down! Let's get your hair and makeup done..." She orders and you complying with her wishes and sat down in front of the mirror.

          She puts a dash of eyeliner and leaves your eyes to nude yet sparkly. She colours your lips to deep red and touches your cheeks till they looked like slightly red pruned roses. After she is done and quite happy with her masterpiece, she lets you admire yourself in front of the mirror. The girl staring back, leaves you shocked.

         You loved the girl in the mirror, the moment you laid your eyes on her. She was perfect. And now you couldn't believe that girl was you. You weren't that beautiful.

        A black floral netted dress clung on to your perfectly thin yet tall hourglass body complimented with a gold buckle belt. The dress was a V-neck and its sleeves had traced its way down to your elbows, partially letting your skin to peep out. With that, your feet had been slipped into a pair of blood red five-inch peep toes and a red passenger purse which was strapped across your shoulder to your hip. And then leaves your hair in perfect state of straightness, covering your open back.

           You notice all your marks were well hidden. And the girl in the mirror had suddenly revealed the bold, confident side of you.

        "Are you done admiring yourself?" Mum asked as her posture took the support of the wall right next to the door. "Oh mum!" And you hugged her in happiness and she laughed daintily at your excitement.

         "Honey, we don't want to ruin the masterpiece I have created, do we?" she joked as she held you in that motherly embrace. You laugh and then playfully apologise as she proceeds to kiss you on the forehead.

         The clock in your room catches your eyes and it was 7:45. Wow! How time flies so swiftly? You had to go to be there on time. Your mum realises your thought and walks you to the doorstep.

         "Right! Be safe and don't stay out late! Remember it's just your first date!" She warns you.

           "Yes mum! I remember!" "Yeah, and please forward my message to him.... Tell him that I'm grateful to him for taking my daughter out but he better make sure that she stays safe. And if he ever thinks of breaking her heart, then there will be no one worse compared to me." Your mum spoke in a serious tone. You smile and nod.

        "Sure, mum. I shall let him know your thoughts." You bid her goodbye and as you go, she demands to know the details which you promise to tell her anyway. She had all rights to. She knew everything till now, so why not this date too?

          You reach the area and through the window, you see him patiently waiting for you on a table meant for two.

        He looked nervous and kept checking his watch to pass his time. You smiled and entered your favourite restaurant. As you walked towards your table, guided by the maître'd, your eyes meet and he stands up, his face screwed up in awe of the beauty walking towards him.

            You smile softly, pleased with his reaction and your blush seems to be hidden by the slight presence of make up.

           "You- you look beautiful." He stammers boldly and your cheeks take on a darker shade of roses, on hearing a compliment leave his lips. "Thanks... You are not bad yourself." You were so wrong with the usage of words.

            What you meant was that he was out-of-the-world handsome. Even when he was dressed semi formally- in a white dress shirt, a black blazer, blue denim jeans- a perfect combination which suited every part of him.

            He pulls your chair, waiting for the lady to sit herself down and then he runs off to the other side and sits right in front of her. The menu books were already placed right in front you and him and both of you open it to fill the void of awkward silence in between. "Can I tell you something frankly?" He asks politely.

          You nod as your eyes peek over the menu book you were holding, meeting with his light blue sapphires. His eyes were really vibrant at that moment. "I thought you weren't coming tonight. That you were going to ditch our date." He admits sheepishly as his hand goes to the back of his head, rubbing it.

          It shocked you a little. Who, in the right mind, would ever try to ditch a date with such a handsome face in a body of a true gentleman? This man must be crazy. Just look at him. No one could resist his charms, you think.

         "Well, truth be told. I had the same thoughts... Guess we were both wrong..." You take it lightly, giggling softly.

         At least now you both are present here, spending time all alone, with each other. He smiles and his eyes go back into the menu book. You shut the book as you already know what you want. You always place your usual order here.

             "You already know my name so I think it's fair enough if I know yours." You let him know politely. He looks up as he shuts the book in his hands.

         "Well, I was going to tell you before you walked away." He pointed out innocently. "Well, I only did it because I thought it would give dramatic effect." You shoot back. A moment of silence.

         And as a bit of guilt had come in, you muttered an apology which he seemed not to hear. "It did actually work... Anyways, it's Luke. Luke Connors." He introduces himself as he brings his hand forth. You gently takes it just as a lady is supposed to. "Nice to know... Mine is Racquelle. Racquelle Slade."

           He nods and we withdrew our hands as the waiter had come to take our order. "Mushroom Lasagne!" We both shouted our incomplete order at the same time and on realisation, we smiled at each other.

       You nod at him, a gesture to let him know he could order first, before you. And he does.

         "Ummm ok! One mushroom lasagne with a lot of cheese, olives and chilli flakes and no oregano. Plus I would like to have a side salad but not with too much mayo. One green apple soda with sugar syrup, but separately please. And... Oh, for desert, one hot chocolate lava brownie fudge with Oreo sprinkles." He summarises and then looks at you and smiles like nothing just happened.

             Your mouth drops open in shock and you stare at him. He just recited the entire order you had in mind which was your usual whenever you came in here.

             "And for the lady?" The waiter asked humbly. "The same." You let the words slip out as you still couldn't take your eyes of him. You were still so shocked.

          "So two of-" and the waiter repeated everything again just to make sure he didn't miss out on any of your demands. "Yes." And Luke lets out his charming smile.

       You still aren't over the fact of what just happened. For all of a sudden he seemed like your stalker.

           The waiter goes and his attention sways back to you. "Hey, why are you staring at me like that? Is something wrong?" He asks as his face scrunches up in confusion.

       "No... No! No! You just recited my usual so perfectly. That's all what it is." You treated like a casual topic and pretended like it didn't shock you and it was no big deal.

        He playfully smirks. "Well, then I guess we do have a lot in common too."