‘It only took a few years.’ She laughs before pulling me into a hug. ‘I’ve missed you so much, Nelly.’
There’s a flash of white light, and when it clears, I can see a tear-stained Eva and a guy with big hair, in a white vest, skintight jeans and carrying two drumsticks. She’s showing him her phone screen. ‘You have three secret dating app profiles. Let me read what this bio says.’ He shakes his head and screws up his face as if she’s going to show him something gory. She continues. ‘“Must be up for something kinky while I’m on tour.” You forgot to add, must be okay with being cheated on.’
Why does my curse have to show me this? After everything I’ve been through with Eva.
The world has gone quiet. She’s staring at me intently.
I blink several times as the sound of two women talking about their morning at work and a child laughing in a buggy greets my ears.
‘What have you seen, Nelly?’
I try to look away, but she is insistent. ‘Tell me. I’ll be okay with whatever it is. Rex and I will work it out.’
I hang my head and let out a silent groan. I’m not meant to have female friendships. Who wants me as a friend when all I do is tell them how the love of their life will break their heart?
‘Nelly, talk to me.’
I cling to her assurance that she and Rex can work through his desires to cheat while he’s on tour. ‘Secret dating app profiles.’
Eva goes quiet for what feels like an eternity. Just when I think my curse has ruined our friendship a second time, she smiles and says, ‘He’s in a rock band, and they go on tour a lot. I think I was being delusional expecting him to stay single. Friendship is more important to me.’
‘Eva, I’ve just told you?—’
She smiles and pulls out a little gift from her bag. ‘It’s okay, Nelly. Honestly. It’s your birthday tomorrow, so I bought you this.’
My birthday. With everything that’s happened recently, I’d forgotten about my birthday. ‘You remembered?’
‘Nelly, I always think of you on your birthday. I will deal with Rex. Are you doing anything nice?’
I shake my head. ‘I’m going to see Aunt Polly. She’s struggling with the chemo. I was also planning to go swimming again.’
‘What?’ She looks shocked. ‘Are you swimming? You used to say it reminded?—’
‘It did remind me of Mum, but I have done a lot of thinking, and I read a brilliant book about how the water heals. Mum would have wanted me to keep swimming.’
‘That’s amazing,’ gushes Eva. ‘Nelly, I am so proud of you. That can’t have been easy.’
She hands me the gift. ‘Well, maybe you can take this with you and open it.’
‘Thank you, Eva.’ I look at the little blue gift wrapped up with a gold ribbon.
She remembered my birthday.
I watch as she takes out her phone and brings up a photo of Rex, the drummer.
‘Will you dump him?’ I ask.
To my amazement, she shrugs. ‘I might just use him for sex and fun.’
‘But I saw?—’
She turns to me. ‘He’s cute, he makes me laugh and we are going to some cool gigs. At least I know where things are heading. I might hang around for the good parts.’
My eyebrows arch. ‘Good parts?’
‘Nelly, love isn’t all about how it ends.’
‘But that’s all I have ever seen.’
