You Okay

The rest of the workday dragged.

Not because I was busy.

Because I wasn't.

At least not mentally.

Every time I looked at the yellow roses sitting on the corner of my desk, I found myself smiling.

Several coworkers stopped by just to admire them.

A few stopped by to be nosy.

Most wanted details.

Unfortunately for them, I wasn't sharing much.

Mostly because there wasn't much to share.

Yet.

By the time five o'clock finally arrived, I was more than ready to leave.

I carefully gathered my things, picked up the roses, and headed home.

As soon as I pulled into my parents' driveway, I noticed Dad sitting on the front porch.

Of course he was.

The man somehow knew exactly when I would arrive.

I climbed out of the car carrying the flowers.

Dad immediately spotted them.

His eyes widened.

"Well."

I laughed.

"Don't."

"Flowers?"

"Dad."

"Yellow roses?"

I pointed a finger at him.

"Not one word."

He grinned.

"Not saying anything."

"You are absolutely saying something."

"Nope."

I shook my head and headed toward the front door.

Behind me I heard him mutter,

"Good choice, kid."

I couldn't help laughing.

Inside, Mom was waiting.

Which wasn't surprising either.

The second she saw the flowers she smiled.

Then looked at me.

Then looked at the flowers.

Then looked back at me.

I sighed.

"Mom."

"What?"

"Don't start."

"I'm not starting anything."

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The look."

Mom laughed.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Liar.

I headed upstairs before the interrogation could begin.

Tonight was my first official date that I had actually asked someone on.

For some reason, that made me nervous.

More nervous than the first dinner.

The first dinner had been Jack's idea.

Tonight was mine.

That felt different.

As I stood in front of the mirror, I stared at my closet.

Immediately regretting every clothing decision I'd ever made.

"I have nothing to wear."

The statement echoed through the room.

A few seconds later, Mom's voice floated up the stairs.

"That's impossible."

I rolled my eyes.

Of course she'd heard me.

After changing outfits three times and rejecting another four, I finally settled on something simple.

Comfortable.

Something that felt like me.

Not someone I was pretending to be.

Just me.

I was finishing my makeup when I heard a knock downstairs.

A few moments later, Dad's voice echoed through the house.

"Lela."

"What?"

"You have company."

I frowned.

Company?

Who?

Curious, I headed downstairs.

The moment I reached the living room, I smiled.

John.

He was standing near the front door with his hands in his pockets.

Looking slightly awkward.

Which immediately told me something was up.

"Hey."

"Hey."

I walked over and hugged him.

"When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago."

I looked confused.

"I thought you were leaving tomorrow."

John nodded.

"I am."

Then he smiled.

"That's why I'm here."

Immediately, I knew.

This wasn't a casual visit.

This was a check-in.

John had always been good at those.

Not dramatic.

Not emotional.

Just checking in.

Making sure people were okay.

The Marine in him, I suppose.

Dad glanced between us.

Then pointed toward the kitchen.

"I'm going outside."

I laughed.

"Why?"

"So I don't accidentally hear anything."

"Liar."

He smiled.

"I want plausible deniability."

Then he disappeared.

John laughed.

"Your father is something else."

"That he is."

We sat down in the living room.

For a few moments neither of us spoke.

Finally John looked at me.

"So."

"There it is."

"What?"

"The serious conversation."

He smiled.

"Yeah."

I laughed.

"Figured."

John leaned forward slightly.

"You okay?"

The question didn't surprise me.

The sincerity behind it did.

Because he genuinely wanted to know.

Not because he was being polite.

Not because he was making conversation.

Because he cared.

I thought about my answer.

Really thought about it.

Then smiled.

"Actually?"

He nodded.

"I think I am."

John studied me for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Good."

Simple.

Just good.

Exactly like the other day.

No lecture.

No advice.

Just good.

For several moments we sat quietly.

Then John spoke again.

"You know everybody's worried about you, right?"

I laughed.

"I've noticed."

"Your parents."

I nodded.

"Sarah."

"Definitely Sarah."

"Me."

I smiled.

"I know."

John looked down for a moment.

Then back up.

"We just want to make sure you're taking care of yourself."

The statement hit me harder than I expected.

Because for years, I'd spent most of my energy taking care of everyone else.

Chris.

Work.

Responsibilities.

Everything.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped taking care of myself.

John seemed to understand.

Because he nodded.

Almost like he could see exactly what I was thinking.

"You deserve better than what you've been settling for."

The room became quiet.

The words weren't cruel.

They weren't judgmental.

They were honest.

Painfully honest.

I nodded slowly.

"I know."

For the first time, I actually meant it.

John smiled.

"Good."

Then, because he was still John, he immediately ruined the emotional moment.

"So."

I laughed.

"What?"

"Is this Jack guy real?"

I burst out laughing.

"There it is."

"What?"

"The interrogation."

He grinned.

"I had to ask."

I shook my head.

"He is real."

"Good."

"Why?"

John shrugged.

"Because I've heard about him from half the neighborhood already."

I covered my face.

"Oh my God."

"It's true."

"How?"

"Your mother."

I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the couch.

Of course.

Of course it was my mother.

John smiled.

"She likes him."

"She's met him once."

"Didn't stop her."

That only made me laugh harder.

After a while, John stood.

"I should go."

I frowned.

"So soon?"

He nodded.

"Early flight."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then I hugged him.

Tightly.

Because friendships like ours don't come around often.

The kind built over decades.

The kind that survives distance.

Time.

Life.

Everything.

As we stepped apart, he smiled.

"Be happy, okay?"

The simplicity of the request nearly made me cry.

I nodded.

"I'll try."

John shook his head.

"No."

"What?"

"Don't try."

I looked at him.

He smiled.

"Just be."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then he headed toward the door.

Halfway there, he turned around.

"Oh."

"What?"

"Have fun tonight."

I laughed.

"Thank you."

He pointed toward me.

"And if this guy hurts you, I'll let your father handle it."

I burst out laughing.

"That's terrifying."

"It should be."

With one final wave, John disappeared through the front door.

I stood there smiling long after he left.

Because somehow, without realizing it, I had spent the last several days surrounded by people who loved me.

People who showed up.

People who reminded me who I was when I'd almost forgotten.

And as I glanced at the clock and realized Jack would be arriving soon, I felt something I hadn't felt in a very long time.

Excitement.

Not nervousness.

Not fear.

Just excitement.

The kind that comes when you're looking forward to what's next.