SEATED ON A BENCH, hands in pockets, she surveyed the park. Just across from her, there was a playground, roughly 900 square ft., with a few kids running about, giggling. Their parents waited nearby to collect them.

Amora smiled. To some, they'd be irritating. They were noisy, after all, with little regard for others. To her, though, they were innocent; pure.

Maybe someday she could have her own.

But for now, Amora was waiting for someone.

After pulling out her phone, she checked for notifications and sighed. It was 6:52 AM, which was too early for the average person, but he had promised.

That was when her mind raced. All those years ago, Bridger had been late, too. In fact, after waiting at that lake, she had almost gone home.

Amora shook off the thought. This wasn't about him, though.

This was about Thomas.

And maybe he wasn't coming, after all.

She looked back to the children. Now, their laughter only sounded mocking.

There was a chance, though, that his alarm hadn't gone-

"Hey."

Amora stiffened.

"Something wrong?"

She blinked and straightened. "Oh, uh, I just didn't hear you."

He chuckled, then plopped down beside her. "Yeah, I get that a lot." He rubbed an eye. "So, what are we doing here? I should still be in bed."

"Well, remember two days ago?" she asked. "You slipped me that paper with your number. I guess I got curious."

Thomas nodded. "Yes, but why this early?"

"It's a Tuesday and I've got to be at work soon."

"Well, what about after work?"

"It'd be dark." She dropped her gaze. "I just- This was a mistake..."

Thomas remained quiet.

Amora huffed, looking ahead. "I knew this was stupid. Just get back in bed and forget I called."

That was when he chuckled, waving her off. "Nah, it's fine. Better than that, actually... I've been obsessing over my phone, waiting for you to come to your senses. When a day passed, though, I pretty much lost hope."

"Yeah."

A beat passed.

His face fell. "But something's different."

"How so?"

Thomas bit his lip. "I don't know, you just... How do I put this?" A pause. "You seem sweeter."

Amora resisted a smirk. "And you seem uglier than a couple of days ago. I guess we both got worse."

He snapped, clicking his tongue. "And that, my fine friend, is why I actually got out of bed today."

"What?"

"Your sass."

"Well," Amora said, slipping a smile, "you just... How do I put this?" She tapped her cheek. "You seem quite desperate."

"Hey now-"

"Your humor makes up for it, though."

He laughed. "Well, I'm glad I've got that going for me. With my... thick build and short height, not many would give me the chance." Then, after a beat, he straightened. "But they're missing out."

"I'll know soon enough."

"Well, you'll certainly know I'm not some serial killer. I'm a respectable person in the community!"

Silence.

"Thomas, what do you do for a living?"

He nodded, slow, as his gaze drifted. "Ah, yes, onto the real questions. I'm a receptionist. Nothing special."

"Yeah, you're right... that's pretty lame." Then, with a small sigh, she stood and peered back. "You wanna go for a walk? Let's go for a walk."

Thomas grunted, following suit, then gestured ahead. "You wanna walk the path? Let's walk the path."

-

Hands in pockets, her mind whirled as she studied the cement.

Low grey. Dirted over. Coarse. 50 inches wide.

Amora shivered. After straightening, she fixed her eyes ahead. This date had to go both ways. If she wasn't going to fill in the silence, why'd she get his hopes up?

Besides, Bridger wasn't an option anymore.

This man, though unattractive, was.

Amora swallowed hard. "Thomas?"

"Yeah?"

She kicked a stray pebble. "This isn't going as planned. Too much quiet." She glanced at him. "Is this how dates are supposed to go?"

Thomas shook his head. "I-"

"Great." She kicked at another pebble. "These were never my forte anyway."

"No, that's not what I meant."

Then, after a few more steps, she stopped and turned.

He matched her.

"Well, what do you mean?"

Thomas looked her over. "It's only been a minute... Why are you so worried already?"

"I guess," she said, "I just don't know what it's like to be on a date."

"What, a girl like you?" he asked, chuckling. "Whoever stood you up, let me know and I'll show up unannounced, yeah? Teach him a little lesson."

Amora forced a smile. "Yeah, you... do that."

"Hey..." - his brows pressed - "I know a fake smile when I see one."

"Well, you're right... I suppose." Then she lifted her head, giving a subtle nod. "I was stood up."

A beat passed.

Then, with a smile, he placed an arm over her. "I can promise you this, though: I'll never stand you up." He winked down at her. "And I don't break my promises."

She giggled.

"I know a gem when I see one."

Moments later, they began forward, elbow interlocked. The sidewalk was bare this early, so the murmur of their steps was all to be heard.

It was satisfying, in a way.

Perfect.

Head held high, she gave him the occasional glance. All the while, she just embraced the silence.

For once, something felt right.

And to think she had her friend to thank. If not for her, she'd likely be in bed, going nowhere in life.

This was her second chance and she was going to take it.

"Thomas?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you came."

Then, just like that, her heart sank. Up ahead, a girl in a wheelchair was stopped, looking over the bridge's edge. Her cheeks were wet, posture slumped.

Amora nudged him and halted.

Thomas, a few steps forward, retreated to her side. "Yeah, I wonder what happened."

"Looks like a teenager."

"Yeah."

Then she cleared her throat, peering up. "Do you think we should go back?"

"Maybe I could talk to her? I'm pretty good at cheering people up."

"Thomas, let's just go."

In unison, they turned, undoing their interlocked elbows. A few steps later, though, each stopped mid-step.

From behind, there was a gasp, followed by laughter.

This can't be right.

Amora looked back, then inched around.

And, just like that, her heart fluttered.

"Thomas, look!"

Now, with a wide smile, that girl was looking up, hands joined together. In front of her, smiling down, a man stood, hands in air, before he bent down for a hug.

All the while, each giggled, their face wet with tears.

"I'd love to know the story."

Amora glanced at her date. "Yeah."

-

They had past the bridge moments before.

As they walked in silence, steps in sync, each kept to themselves.

That was until she nudged him.

"Yeah, Amora?"

She hugged herself, watching the path ahead. "You know, I remember when I met you in that elevator..."

"I'd hope so!" he said. "It's a little soon to get Alzhiemer's."

Amora bit her lip. "Yeah..." Then, with a sigh, she looked over. "I remember you said someone had a broken hip. How are they doing now?"

It was his turn to sigh. After rubbing his ear, he met her face. "That would be my mother."

"And how is she?"

"She's fine now, yeah."

Amora studied him. "You know I'll need more than that, right?" A pause. "You clearly aren't happy about her being brought up, yet you say she's fine."

"I guess you can read me, too."

She held in a laugh, covering her mouth. "Thomas, it's not rocket science."

"You're right; it's common sense."

"So, are you gonna tell me?" Her tone was soft, eyes kind. "I won't tell anyone."

"I-I know you won't." Thomas glanced her way. "It's just complicated, I suppose."

"Yeah, well, everyone's got layers."

"Yeah."

A beat passed.

For a moment, he looked her over, then dropped his gaze. "I guess she's always been disappointed in me, yeah? She, uh, never thought I'd get a girlfriend or anything." He rubbed his ear again. "I, uh, I hope this will make her happy."

Her steps, slow but steady, came to a stop. Then, smiling up, she searched his face. "Thomas, do you actually want to be here right now?"

"I do."

Moments later, with a nod, she bent down, plucking a pair of roses. As she handed one over, she hummed, then looked down at her own. "This will be proof."

"Amora?"

Amora met his eyes. "Yeah?"

"You're awesome, you know that?"

"I know."

Before continuing, each interlocked their elbow, then laughed.

A few minutes would go by.

By this time, her face was hurting. Had she ever smiled this long?

It left, though, when she glanced over. "Thomas, what's the matter?" She failed to keep her voice steady. "Did I do something?"

His face had fallen, brows pressed. "It's just... this seems too easy. What's a pretty woman doing out here with an overweight, short man? I mean, you're almost taller than me!"

"I'm 5'4."

"Exactly. I'm an inch taller."

Amora sighed, kicking at another pebble. "You think I lied, don't you? I honestly never had a boyfriend before."

"Hmm," he said but straightened.

Another beat passed.

"Can I tell you something?"

"Sure, anything."

He nodded, stiff. "I'm already twenty-five and my mother lost all hope." He paused. "On the day she broke her hip, we had a fight... She was at the top of the stairs and I was behind her and-"

"-you pushed her?"

Thomas lost his voice, face pale.

"You did, didn't you?"

"No! That's absurd!" In a bout, he threw his hands, mouth hanging. "I just- Where did you get that idea?"

"Well, you said you were behind her..." she trailed.

Thomas sighed but composed. "No, that's not what happened... We had been arguing about it for an hour, so my mother wanted to go downstairs. I never went down there, anyway." He rubbed an ear. "Mid-way she fell and now she blames me."

"That's not fair."

"I don't think so either," he said. "She thinks she fell from being out of breath. She had been yelling the whole time, after all."

"Wow."

"That might be an understatement."

"So," she went on, "is that why?"

Thomas cocked his head. "I'm sorry, you lost me."

"I thought you were talking a lot in that elevator. Were you... hitting on me then, too?"

"Well," he laughed, "I didn't take your phone on purpose. It just worked out."

She smiled but stumbled for words. "You'd think this was a story, Thomas... This doesn't happen in real life."

"Yeah, it definitely feels like fiction."

-

Half an hour had passed. Now, the bridge coming back into view, they shared a look.

"We're close," Thomas said, giving a soft nudge. "I think it went well, too. Overall."

"Yeah," she said, then cleared her throat, "but I haven't been completely honest."

Thomas peered over. "Huh, I don't like the sound of that. What is it?"

A pause.

"Well, I said I never had a boyfriend..." she trailed. "I guess that's not true."

Moments later, they stepped onto the bridge until they were halfway. After coming to a stop, each remained quiet.

Thomas gestured her on.

"My first and only date, besides you, was a senior." Amora stared ahead, thinking back. "And-and he was the only boy I ever truly loved."

Silence.

"I was a junior at the time, madly in love... watching him from afar."

A bird chirped by.

"The only time he smiled back... was the last time I saw him." Then, blinking back tears, she hugged herself, tight. "And that was it."

"I'm a little confused, Amora, but I'm sorry."

"We had set up a date and..." She took some breaths, gripping the railing. "When I was waiting for him in that restaurant, I suddenly got a call. He had died in a car accident."

"I'm so sorry," he said, joining beside her. As he rubbed her back, ushering kind words, he looked out into the lake.

"I'm sorry, too."

"I guess we've all got some layers, right? We're not one-dimensional."

Amora glanced at him, then stared at the lake. "Yeah, but... you must think I'm crazy. I mean, who says this stuff on a first date?"

"We don't need to compare," he said. "Besides, I'm not going anyway. If this thing" - he motioned between them - "isn't going to work, that'll be because you broke up with me."

"You're awesome, you know that?"

"I know."

Yay, it's over! The first half of this was difficult. I hadn't written in a while, after all. The second half, though, was MUCH easier. Either way, I feel that I did them justice. With this said, the end is in sight! I'm thinking this story might be 21 parts.

If you ever come across mistakes of any kind, please let me know! I don't always catch them.

Anyway, that's about it! I hope you are well and may God bless. <3