One Fine Day

Olga Nesterchuykh

It was one of those ordinary days, when the sun greeted everyone with the last drops of warming, children were excited with the beginning of a school year and everything seemed to go back to its usual way of life.

Nick just bought a bar of chocolate and walked through a park. He enjoyed such days and looked forward to see his best friend ever, Rachel.
Nick didn’t play football or soccer, basketball or baseball, he wasn’t interested in track & field. Nick was totally in science. He was one of the best students in a college by grades but not by coolness. Rachel knew Nick since they were eight. Her mother moved to that city after divorce and it could be hard for the girl to start a new life if not a help of her new neighbor Nick.
Since those days they were best friends. Nick helped Rachel through a school, always helped her with homework. A thing they loved the most was walking in a park. In that park young people of fifteen years old promised to be together for the rest of their lives. It wasn’t a love but a feeling that connected two souls much stronger.
In three years they went to the same local college, though Nick could choose any of them, but he wasn’t ready to say “goodbye” to Rachel even for a moment. Pretty soon Rachel found a new boyfriend, a captain of a football team, and couldn’t spend so much time with Nick anymore.
I want you to know that you’ll always be in my heart, Nick.
Do I mean nothing to you? All those years… I couldn’t say that aloud… But you saw. I know that you saw how much I love you. I gave up Harvard just to be by your side and now I hear those words. I want you to be happy. But I was sure I made you so. I won’t quit on our friendship. But I need time before I see you again.
There were ten long years of silence and occasional cards. Rachel didn’t get married after all. Her football captain was “just another man”, who could barely understand her. But it was so much fun with him at that time. They were cool and famous.
“Life isn’t eternal fun and happiness”, - Rachel learned that lesson. Reliable people are so much more valuable.
It was a great party, where people, who studied together, could meet each other ten years after graduation. Rachel didn’t know if she wanted to be present there, but it was her only chance to meet him. Nick didn’t answer her messages where she asked him to come to the party.
That day Rachel left work two hours earlier, ran back home and put on her best dress.
It was unexpectedly pleasant to see well-known faces, some of which were marked with small wrinkles.
Hello, Nick.
Handsome tall man turned around and smiled.
Hi, Rachel. – He took her hand and gently kissed it. It wasn’t a quiet unnoticed boy, but a confident rich man. Everybody looked at him that night, everybody laughed at his jokes, everyone wanted to be next to him. But Nick tried to be next to Rachel. They danced and had so much fun Rachel had just in college. He really made her happy. It seemed everything should be fine again and their life has to become better.
They had only two minutes to talk face to face and then his phone rang.
Yes, my love. Sure, I’ll be home soon. Kiss Rachel and Jane for me.
Rachel could barely see behind the cloud of tears. “He’s married… He has children… He named his daughter after me!” All those thoughts broke off in her head.
Nick looked at her with a sad smile and understanding. He got his wallet and Rachel saw a small picture of a young and pretty college girl. It was her.
We had our chance ten years ago. I was waiting for you all those years. But now I have a wife and two beautiful daughters. My own Rachel, who loves me more than the world. Goodbye, my blooming youth, my sweet dream.
He kissed her hand and disappeared at night.