“Nice to meet you, Amy. I’m Steve.”
He reached out his hand.
Amy shook it…
Analyzed it…
His hand was gentle…
The kind of hand that belonged to a kind-hearted man…
The kind of man that’s happy to lend a hand.
“Steve, it’s great to finally meet you in person. I’m in awe of your work.”
She was still looking down at his hand…
Still holding it…
“Oh, please. I speak on behalf of all of us here Amy when I say, we’re ecstatic you picked us. We can’t wait to see your impact here.”
“Thanks, Steve. I promise to do my best. Hope I don’t disappoint…”
Amy smiled.
Behind her smile—
Her mouth was dry.
“Disappoint? Amy, you kidding? I’m worried you’ll take over my job one day. And it’s not because you disappoint.”
He smiled.
Amy smiled again.
Her mouth was dry as Steve — her new boss — led her out of his office.
Her mouth was dry as he interrupted the entire staff. “Ladies and gentleman! We did it! As of now, Amy is officially a part of our team!”
The office broke out in applause.
Amy hoped nobody noticed she broke out in sweat.
Her mouth was dry as Steve introduced her to everyone…
1 by 1…
It took all her energy to maintain eye contact…
When she finally sat at her desk — in a corner office — she was exhausted.
Her first task…
Gulp down 2 bottles of water.
Her mouth was still dry.
How was she going to live up to everyone’s expectations?
Simple…
How did she please her never-pleased parents?
How did she go from bottom of the barrel in boarding school to cream of the crop in college?
How did she start her career with a bang so loud—
“Sorry to interrupt, Amy.”
It was Steve.
She must not have heard him knock.
“I just want to say…I’m in awe of your work, too. I don’t know how you do what you do.”
The answer…
Always work harder than she ever worked before.
“Good luck, Amy.”
With that, the impossibly hard work began…
Within a day—
Amy was everyone’s best friend.
Within a week—
She memorized every important document.
Within a month—
She wrote up her first major proposal…
A proposal that surely, she felt, was ridiculous…
She should surely trash it…
But she had a deadline.
So with trembling fingers Amy handed her doomed proposal to Steve.
He skimmed it.
Looked up at her.
“I expected genius when you came here, Amy. Not this—this—”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“Amy, what can I say?”
There was disappointment in his eyes.
But Amy didn’t see this.
She was analyzing the carpet floor…
Sweating…
“I’m sorry, Steve. I’ll—”
“Hey, it’s not your fault you’re gonna take over my job.” He smiled. “Amy…you’re better than genius.”
He stood up.
Looked into her eyes.
Stuck out his hand.
She shook it…
Looking down…
Her career continued to go up.
After work, she’d sit in her car. Lower her seat. Roll up the tinted windows.
And splurge on sweets…
Sometimes chocolate.
Often caramel.
Always too many.
Never enough.
And she’d always wash them down with too many bottles of water…
And yet never enough…
Ever since she started her job as Operations Chief at Everybody Smiles, her mouth was always dry.
When she got home, her cat would always be waiting for her.
Who said dogs were the loyal ones?
The first thing she’d see every time she opened her apartment door was delight in Freckle’s eyes.
Those eyes…
So happy…
So big…
So cute.
Seeing Freckle’s delighted & delightfully cute eyes were the highlight of those years of Amy’s life.
After kissing & rubbing Freckle all over, she’d change into pajamas.
And collapse on her sofa.
With her head resting on a pillow, a laptop resting next to her, and Freckle resting on her lap, she’d drink coffee cup after coffee cup as she worked, with no rest, into the late hours…
At 3 AM — time for sleep…
At 6 AM — time to wake up…
Repeat…
Over and over…
If Amy’s body needed rest, she was too tired to know it…
Too determined not to show it…
One day, her best friend Sarah forced her to meet for dinner.
“Where have you been, Amy?”
“You know…my job…”
“Are you ok? You have circles under your eyes. No color on your face…”
“Yeah, it’s been stressful…”
“Please relax more, Amy. I’m worried you’ll crash & burn. Why aren’t you eating?”
“Not hungry…”
Sarah nodded. Her own color disappeared as grave concern took over.
“Take time out. Take care of yourself. Please.”
Amy decided to follow Sarah’s advice.
No more sweets after work.
From that day onward, she’d go for a relaxing walk instead.
And she did…
For one day…
Until she saw a bar.
What’s the harm in one drink?
Sarah did tell her to relax, after all.
She walked into the bar…
And came back the next day…
And the next…
She always made sure to follow her “1 drink” rule.
Once, she noticed a man with dark hair looking at her from across the bar.
He smiled at her.
She finished her drink and left.
A few days later, the man with dark hair was there again.
Across the bar.
She forced herself to look at him more closely…
He was cute…
Blue eyes…
Her favorite.
He caught her looking at him.
She finished her drink and left.
A few weeks later — after finishing her drink — she looked across the bar and remembered the blue-eyed man.
Amy wondered where he was…
Where he’d been…
Who he was…
She stood up to leave.
And came face-to-face with him.
She looked away…
He cleared his throat…
“Um, hey, I’ve noticed you here. And I uh finally decided to-to, ya know, talk to you…”
“I’m sorry. But I’m extremely busy these days…work…”
“Oh yeah, I uh totally understand…” He searched for words. “Um it’s just that…”
“I’m so sorry…gotta go…you seem really sweet…”
She turned to leave.
And came face-to-face with another man.
“Only the president is too busy for a man that sweet.”
Amy looked away as she smiled.
“What can I say? I’d be happy to switch with the president for a few days. Could use the break…”
She had only caught sight of this man’s eyes for a split second…
They were brown.
Her least favorite color.
The brown-eyed man smiled. “Well, take a break right now. Have a drink with me.”
“Slick. But I have a strict 1 drink policy. And unfortunately, I already had it.”
Amy analyzed her shoes…
Too much dirt from the walking…
Don’t forget to clean it before stepping back inside the office.
She sensed the brown-eyed man was still smiling and ready to speak…
“You have a drinking policy? You sound like a president. Break some rules. Just 1 drink with me. Our secret.”
She debated whether to reject him with words or just walk out.
She checked the time.
Began walking out…
“Don’t leave. Please. I’ve seen you here every day. Even smiled at you a few times. Not sure you noticed.” He chuckled. “1 drink. I promise.”
Time to reject his offer — reject him — with unmistakable clarity.
She forced herself to turn back around…
And look into his eyes—
That’s when it happened.
His eyes lit up…
A flash…
And Amy noticed they weren’t brown…
They were different…
Something sweeter…
Like caramel.
And as she forced herself to look into them, she started to feel so…
Dizzy…
So HEAVY…
So…
light…
Those eyes were the kind you can trust.
The kind you can love.
The kind Amy knew even then she’d never be able to forget…
His caramel eyes smiled. “Just a 10 minute break and—”
“I’m Amy.”
Her mouth was even dryer than usual…
So dry and yet…
Why does she feel like she’s drowning in her own head?
Years after Amy breaks her 1 drink rule and takes a 1 hour break with the caramel-eyed man, who breaks his 1 drink promise, all HELL breaks loose at the break of dawn when — in this very bar — she breaks down into a blur of tears as she tries to watch, with a broken heart, this very man —
broke, broken — break his final promise to her, breaking all her dreams of happiness years after breaking her mind & body but not her trust and years before he’d end up breaking up with her — breaking the dam of her soul with 1 month left till her water breaks—
“Nice to meet you, Amy. I’m Carter.”
