Short Story / Sunrise

Sunrise

   Angela dabs her eyes but the tears continue.  She sits in the toilet cubical staring at the grey wooden cage.  Angela’s tissue has split into pieces and she thinks – how can this be happening – my best friend betraying me?  How can she like Jacob?  The toilet is silent apart from the occasional whimper from Angela.  Angela feels gutted and she is holding her   midsection, rocking back and forth.  The tears continue and they drop onto the turquoise ceramic tiled floor.  She continues to dab her eyes.
   I will never find anyone.  Who will love me.  I am on the wrong side of thirty – all I want is a family.  It must be the large waist, Angela thinks.  The loss of confidence is evidently due to a lack of close companionship for many years.  She opens up her bag to open a new set of tissues and she wonders what a mess she looks like.  Angela pulls out her pocket mirror and a glum reflection echoes back.  Her red puffy eyes are unmistakable as she takes her new tissue and attempts to repair the make-up.  Angela begins to feel sick and can taste it at the back of her throat.
   She begins to replay the sequence of events in her head.  Angela sat in the Grill restaurant.  She felt at her happiest, when the prospect of food was coming.  Michael poured a glass of Blackstone Shiraz for Angela and it swirled around the glass.  She raised the rim of the glass to her nose.  The wine smelt fruity and delightful in her lungs.  Michael, Jacob, Angela and Katherine looked at each other with the glasses of wine parked in the air.
      “A toast to good friends and exceptional wine,” Jacob said.
   Cheers, was said, all around, as the glasses banged against each other.  A droplet of wine left Katherine’s glass and dropped on Jacob’s pants.
        “Sorry Jacob.  We had a bit of a spillage,” she said.
        “It’s okay Kath,” Jacob said.
        Katherine got a tissue out of her bag and dabbed it in her mouth, then tried to rub the stain off Jacob’s cream pants.  Jacob was obviously enjoying Katherine’s attention.  Jacob looked down at the stain and noticed how gentle Katherine was rubbing his pants.
        Angela noticed and managed to contain her thoughts to herself – Jacob wants Katherine.  I can see it in his eyes.  What does she have, that I don’t.  Angela picked up the restaurant menu and tried to put her mind off it.
        “What are you having Michael?” Angela asked.
        “I fancy the steak,” he responded.
        “Yeah – I might have that.  It will go well with the wine,” Angela     said.
      Everyone ordered their food and Angela waited anxiously.  Katherine picked up her wine and drank with her little finger pointing outwards.
        “Katherine – what is all of this, finger pointing about?  You’re not with royalty now,” Michael joked.
        “What do you mean – I am just drinking wine,” Katherine said.
   Michael responded by mimicking her actions.  Jacob and Angela laughed as Michael put his nose in the air, like Prince Charles.  The food arrived and in addition came another bottle of red wine.  Michael, once again filled the glasses to the top and Katherine was becoming merry.  Her face had become blushed and her laughing had increased by multiple decibels.  Jacob looked in amusement as Katherine started to ramble on about art.  She was constantly contradicting herself and Michael kept picking her up on it to everyone’s amusement.
        “I mean seriously, who decides what art is and what is porn.  Some of the pictures in the gallery you would expect to see in a dirty magazine,” Katherine said.
        “I don’t know what you would find in a dirty magazine.  Please enlighten us Katherine,” Jacob said half laughing.
        “I mean, I don’t read those filthy magazines but if you put five artistic photographs from a porn magazine and five nude photographs – what difference is there?” Katherine said.
        “The price,” Angela said.
        “And they are not under frustrated teens beds,” Michael joined in.
        The group of friends burst into laughter and everyone finished their meals.  Angela was full but she could definitely fit a dessert in.
        “What’s for pudding?” Angela said as she picked up the menu.
        “Hmm – Chocolate Turtle cheesecake – my favourite,” Angela continued with delight.
        Jacob finished his glass of wine and stood up with authority.  Angela noticed his swimmer-like frame as he went over to the bar to get another bottle of wine.  Angela sighed.  Katherine meanwhile got up and left for the toilet.  Michael moved closer to Angela.
        “Listen Angela – I don’t want to upset you, but haven’t you noticed how Jacob and Katherine look at each other.  It’s true love,” Michael said.
        “No way,” Angela said.
        “You just don’t want to admit it.  Don’t you want Jacob to be happy and what about Katherine, your best friend – she surely, deserves some happiness,” Michael insisted.
        “It’s not that I don’t want to see it – its, I just don’t see it.  You’re just trying to match make again,” Angela said.
        “I’m not trying to match make.  Look at them when they are together.  Its true love and you should not stand in their way.  Put your friends first for a change,” Michael said.
        Katherine returned from the table to a subdued Angela.  She sat quietly and ate her chocolate cake.  Katherine looked concerned as Jacob arrived back with a bottle of Renaissance Domaine Rotier Gaillac.
        “Some wine for your cakes.  Who’s died?” Jacob said.
        “Nobody – I hope that’s a Muscat,” Michael responded.
        “No, it’s a French Domaine Rotier.  Stop moaning.  This is excellent with chocolate,” Jacob said.
    Angela could tell he did like Katherine, as he poured her a glass of the apparently inferior Domaine Rotier.  He leaned in and whispered something in her ear.  Katherine giggled with delight and Angela felt disheartened – maybe I should speak to Katherine about how she feels about Jacob.  Michael – he certainly knows how to ruin a perfectly good evening.  Angela looked into her wine as Jacob and Katherine laughed at Michael’s jokes.
        “You’re quiet Angela.  Are you okay? You seem a bit down,” Katherine asked.
        “Fine.  Don’t worry about me.  A bit tired – that’s all,” Angela said.
    Angela was feeling vulnerable deep down and wished she could speak to Katherine alone and find out the truth.  They paid the bill and left for the evening.  As they walked into the Manchester night, the air was crisp and refreshing.  The stars were shinning bright in the sky.
        “What a night.  You can see Venus.  It’s the brightest star,” Michael said.
        “The moon is so big in the sky,” Katherine continued.
        “Let’s walk on the Salford keys, while it’s nice,” Jacob commanded.
   Jacob started to walk down the road with Michael following quickly.  Angela smiled at Katherine.  Katherine smiled back at Angela and put her arm through hers and they began to walk.
        “Are you ok Angela? You seem a little down?” Katherine said.
        “Yeah – it’s just Michael – messing with my head,” she responded.
        “What has he said now? He is so insensitive sometimes,” Katherine said.
        “You know that I like Jacob – I know it wasn’t meant to be.  Michael thought that you like him and he likes you.  He kept saying you should think of your friends instead of yourself for a change – can’t you see the connection when they speak to each other? Silly isn’t it?” Angela said.
        Katherine hesitated and Angela knew the truth.
“You do like him.  I can always tell when you are about to lie,” Angela said unhappily.
        “Sorry Angela.  He is so nice, sweet and affectionate with a good heart.  I am not going to do anything with him.  I don’t want to jeopardise our friendship,” Katherine said timidly.
        Angela felt her world collapse on top of her.  Angela thought – I found him first – she’d better not steal him away from me.  He is meant to fall in love with me.  We will get married.  Our house will have the white picketed fence.
        “He is nice.  You’re the best Kath,” she said.
    The two women cuddled as they continued on the walk behind Jacob and Michael.  The city lights beautifully lit the path and the image was reflected on the canal’s surface.  Only the occasional ripple would spoil the image.  The quietness of the night was unsetting as the two friends walked in silence.  The wonder of the beautiful city could not forge the two women to be truthful with each other.
Michael and Jacob stopped walking and joined Angela and Katherine.  Michael started talking to Angela.  While this was happening, Katherine put her arm through Jacobs and they began to walk.
        “Do you fancy going to the Mill for a drink,” Jacob asked.
        “Yes.  I would like that,” Katherine said, as she rubbed up closer to Jacob.
    The four friends walked into the Mill bar and they sat near the dance floor.  Jacob went to the bar to get everyone a drink, while Katherine smiled to herself.  Angela looked across at Katherine with a growing concern.  Michael was yapping in Angela’s ear but she wasn’t listening.  She was watching the way Katherine was watching Jacob and the way he would turn around and smile at her. She turned to Michael.
        “You are right – they are smitten with each other.  They look at each other with love,” Angela said.
        “I told you.  When they get together, perhaps I could take you out.  We would make a great double act,” Michael said.
        “Don’t think so,” Angela said.
    A few drinks later the four friends were on the dance floor, knocking out some shapes to Jerry Lee Lewis.  All of them were drunk and Jacob and Katherine’s affection towards each other was becoming more obvious.  They were dancing in each other’s arms.
Jacob looked into Katherine’s eyes and sang the words of the current song.  She knelt her head on his chest.  She suddenly lifted her head to look directly into his eyes.  Jacob and Katherine’s lips met and in that moment, everything would change forever.
  Bang! Bang! Angela lifts her head up from the floor and returns back to reality.
        “Angela.  It is Katherine.  I can understand why you are upset with me.  I am so sorry – It just happened – I can’t explain it.  I don’t want to jeopardise our friendship.  You’re my best friend – please forgive me,” Katherine says as a tear runs down her cheek.
        Angela opens the door to a surprised Katherine.  The door slams against the cubical and Katherine face looks in shock.
        “Some friend you are!” Angela shouts and she runs past her.
        Angela runs out of the toilet to the music of Pat Boone.  Michael and Jacob look at Angela as she runs out of the front door.  Katherine runs out of the toilet and follows Angela out of the door.  Angela’s lack of fitness becomes apparent as she slows to walking speed.  Katherine shortly catches her up.
        “Angela – listen to me.  I didn’t mean it to happen.  You have to believe me,” Katherine says.
        “Get away from me.  You are not my friend anymore,” Angela shouts back.
        Angela continues to walk away, crying into the night.  Katherine stands on the pavement, trying to hold the tears back.  The tears start to run down her face as the guilt engulfs her.  A sudden cloud cover appears killing Venus’s light and rain begins to pour.  Katherine looks at the sky as the shower submerses her clothes.  She walks into the bar to Jacob and Michael.
        Angela sits on a bench facing the canal.  Her drenched clothes have wrinkled in the storm and she looks glum.  Angela feels fed up of crying and feeling sorry for herself.  She begins to daydream about Jacobs and her wedding day – The weather is bright and sunny.  Her wedding dress is a traditional white fitting and everyone keeps commenting on how beautiful she looks.  Her father is walking her down the aisle and Jacob is standing on at the front, waiting for her.  He looks very handsome and very happy.  Their first dance is a beautiful moment and their friends and family clap.  She pops out of the dream with the realisation that this will never happen.
        “Hello –are you okay?” A man says.
        “Yes.  You startled me,” Angela says.
        “Sorry.  Can I sit here?” the man says.
        Angela agrees and a handsome man sits next her.  He turns to face her and gives her a warm smile.  His eyes seem to sparkle.  The night is drawing to a close as the sun begins to rise.  There is a reddish glow across the horizon.
        “I love the sunrise, don’t you,” the man says.
        “I’ve never really sat anywhere and watched it before,” Angela says.
        “Well, you’re in for a treat.  The sun will rise in between those two building in the distance and the light will explode through.  It’s amazing,” The man says.
        “Do you come here a lot?” Angela asks.
        “Most mornings at this time of year, except for Saturdays and Sundays.  I work nights and its final act before going home,” he says.
        The sunrise was certainly beautiful and brought a small smile to Angela.  The sun rose in between the building as promised and it was amazing.
        Jacob and Katherine get their coats and head outside to find Angela waiting for them.  To their surprise, Angela is looking quite happy.
        “Where have you been?” Katherine says as she goes to hug her.
        “I went for a walk and did some thinking.  I thought about it and Jacob and I are never going to work out.  He is lovely and you deserve someone nice.  You should go out with him.  If it is true love, I shouldn’t stand in your way.  Michael is right about that,” Angela says.
        Jacob, Katherine and Angela at that moment all hug in the middle of street in the glowing sunrise.
        “Let’s get a taxi. Angela- I hear Michael likes you.  Do you fancy going out with him?” Jacob says.
        “Not really.  He is not my type and I’ve met the one tonight,” Angela responds.
        Angela continues to tell them about the sunrise man, as Jacob and Katherine walk hand in hand to the taxi rank.