Farewell by Olga Bolozhuk

- Let’s grab a drink,
- Christina decided to drink less but today there was an occasion to break the rule.
Neither of them bothered with finding a location. Although there was another barman, and they painted the walls in red, still it was the bar where they used to spend all the free time of their studentship.
- You know, I can’t, - Ann clammed up.
- No problem, I am drinking for the three of us.
- Make sure I won’t have to get you out of here, - she was smiling.
It was easier to change the topic than Christina was imagining. At least, she was grateful she didn’t have to listen about the list of the best names for boys or whatever problems a newly-minted mother could have. Ann would like to share her emotions, which was written on her face. Christina took a sip. Alcohol muffled the pang of guilt sooner than any inferences could. Anyway, it was not her who should have felt sorry.
Christina was thinking her farewell words over but it sounded more happily than she was expecting. It didn’t matter. Ann seemed not to notice.
- Mark sent his regards,  - Ann said for some reason. She left a tip and headed to her car.
Christina decided to walk home. Sometimes a usual walk helps better than a psychologist. Especially if you walk in places where other people can’t see your tears.
“Boyfriends leave while friends stay”, - she used to think. “Or friends leave while boyfriends stay”. There was a third variant in films when everybody leaves but Christina always believed that her friendship was strong. Anyway, they were together when Ann’s first boyfriend decided to move to Canada, when she quit university to become a fitness trainer. Ann managed to make a life she was dreaming about. Naturally, men liked to be close to her. Making necklace advices is easier than prompting what to do when somebody’s life is destroying. A woman should be happy half the time to keep the balance or at least being able to show the feeling when needed. That night Christina didn’t want to pretend. She was just recalling.

If there exists a certain moment a person can say that a relationship would break, Christina did lose the moment. It was not because she had much work. Her life always reminded a swing with the periods of emotional rise and the subsequent times she felt devastated. At such times most of all she needed to be with her loved ones and Mark knew that. Actually he was the same and it was one of the reasons why there was such an ease between them. Besides, he continued being careful.

- Christina, I cooked chicken in orange sauce. Hope you will like it.
- You’ve even bought candles. Can we go somewhere on the weekends? We haven’t gone out for a long time.
- I'm sorry, darling. I have to finish some stuff here.
- What stuff?, - she looked surprised. – Aren’t you on holiday?
- Yes, but…, - he stopped for a moment. – One of my colleagues is sick, and we have an important project.
- Then I am going alone.
- Do well and come back soon.
Christina didn’t want to make a big thing of it but Mark didn’t call in all the time. “Let’s take a time-out for a bit. I will be with my parents.”, - she wrote.
Mark scrolled the message quickly and switched on music.
- Ann, I cooked chicken in orange sauce. Hope you will like it.
- You’ve even bought candles. Can we go somewhere on the weekends? We haven’t gone out for a long time.
- Okay. Where are we going?