Behind The Scenes

9. Jo

«Oh, you're back!» Anna exclaims when she sees me returning home. «What did you buy?»
«I went to do some shopping...»
«Why, was something missing?» she asks worried.
«No no no no, absolutely not. I just got some bacon, scrambled eggs and pancakes and maple syrup, I saw it was running out. Oh, and some milk too!» yes, maybe I got distracted a little too much and... the situation got out of hand.
«Oh God!  But I had bacon and milk, wait for me to give you the money».
«No, don't worry, I'm already grateful to you to host me, let me help you at least with the shopping, I would feel a huge burden Anna, you know me».
She looks at me reproachfully but I know she's joking, then asks me what I'm going to do tomorrow afternoon.
«If you don't have anything planned, you could take Asher to basketball from 17:00 to 19:00, it's two hours but in the meantime you can go shopping or whatever you want, I'll lend you the car. I have a meeting here at home, that's why I ask you, and my husband works».
Well, it would be a good idea, I have to buy something new, I have nothing here.
I accept the proposal, it will do me good.

Anna went out with Asher and her husband works, I don't know when everyone will be back. Anyway, now I'm making pancakes.
Flour, eggs, yeast, milk... there is everything.
I take the bowls, the scale and the electric mixer and start whipping the egg whites.
After weighing everything and adding flour and milk to the egg yolks, I start adding the whipped egg yolks each time.
I remember how much he liked them... I literally bought the things Hero loves: scrambled eggs, bacon... I miss him a lot. I feel a void in my chest.  Five days, and not even a message, a phone call, who knows if he at least thought of me, after all the harm he did me.
Okay, I'm crying, I can't cry on pancakes, I take a break and lie down on the couch for two minutes. I pick up the phone, looking at our photos a couple of times won't hurt.
                                             ***
«Josephine!  What are you doing?!» Anna is back home with Asher, she finds me lying in tears on the sofa. «My dear...»
«Anna, I miss him so much. I love him, I love him Anna. You... you didn't hear him, did you? You don't even know where he is right now, am I wrong?» of course she doesn't...
She looks at me and holds out her hands with a sigh.  «Get up... I heard from him».
What? «What?»  I do not believe it.
«Yes...»
«And... and what did he tell you? Where is he?»
«He's in London, but...»
«But what? Sorry, I'll let you talk».
«But he told me he'll be here the day after tomorrow.  He wants to see you».
Ah...
«I don't...» I don't know what to say.
Anna hugs me and I burst into tears in her arms.  I have no idea what he will tell me, but I'm afraid.
I'm afraid he wants to end everything forever, leaving behind what has become of us, becoming only a distant memory...