Chapter Five

Chapter Five

First Person’s Perspective

Carlos

“Daddy! Who is that nice lady?” My son, Allen asked

I glanced at the direction she left through one more time and turned to him. “Um…”

“Do you know her?” I didn’t even know what to tell him

‘Yes, she used to be my wife but I chased her away for someone else’?

“I dont think I know her son” came my very lame response. But I was dealing with a six years old here, he wouldn’t push right?

Wrong

“But you called out to her severally. If you didn’t know her….”

“Buddy, you heard her when she said she didn’t remember me right? She does look like someone I used to know, but she’s not… now let’s go home, it’s almost time for your swimming practice “ he nodded reluctantly

I tried to busy myself the rest of the day, maybe then the thoughts of her would leave my head, but I was sorely mistaken

I saw her face in everything I did, I couldn’t concentrate in anything else at all

Even when I decided to take a nap, I dreamt of her

“Sorry, Do I Know You?”

“Do I Know You?”

“Do I Know You?”

I stirred in my sleep as the words kept echoing in my head

Tap. Tap. Tap

“Boss!”

I opened my eyes slowly. I must have dozed off on the bench again. My shirt stuck to my back with sweat, and the dream of Amanda was still stuck in my head.

“What is it?” I asked, sitting up and rubbing my face.

“There’s someone here. A customer. She’s waiting,” one of the boys said. I think his name was Kelvin, the new one. He was the youngest of my boys at the workshop.

I stood up and stretched my arms. “I’m coming,” I said and walked towards the front.

Then I froze.

There she was.

Her back was turned to me, but I knew that hair, I knew that body. I would know her anywhere.

“Amanda,” I said softly.

She turned.

She was wearing dark jeans and a black blouse. Her face had makeup on it, but it didn’t hide who she really was. She looked surprised for just a second, then her face changed. Like she was putting on a mask.

“Hi!, Sorry,” she said. “My name is not Amanda” She said

I shook my head, “No, I know you, you’re Amanda”

“. I think you’re mistaking me for someone else.”

I laughed a little. “Seeing you two times in one day? That has to be fate.”

“I’m not who you think I am,” she replied. “My name is Sasha.”

“Sasha?” I repeated, stepping closer. “Amanda, please. Stop. I know you. You’re Amanda Delgado. You’re my wife—”

“What the hell, I’m not your wife,” she said sharply. Her voice was calm, but her eyes were cold. “And I don’t know you. Is that how you all act here?”

I took another step toward her. “Please, listen. I know I messed up. I know what I did. I can explain everything, but just don’t pretend like you don’t know me.”

She crossed her arms. “Sir, I came here because my car broke down. If you’re not the mechanic, then please call someone else or if you cannot render services, let me find another place.”

Her words stung, but I tried not to show it. “Okay. I’ll look at the car,” I said quietly. “But… please. Don’t lie to me. I know you’re Amanda.”

She didn’t reply. She just stood there, staring past me like I wasn’t even there.

I walked over to the car and popped the hood. My hands moved automatically, but my mind was not on the engine.

It was on her.

Seven years.

Seven long years.

And now she was back. But not as my Amanda, my sweet, loving Amanda. Now she was claiming to be Sasha. Cold, proud, and distant.

I closed the hood and wiped my hands.

“Your engine belt is loose,” I said. “I can fix it, but you’ll need a new one in a week or two.”

She nodded without looking at me.

I stood there, unsure of what to say next. I had so much to tell her. But nothing came out right.

Then I did something stupid.

I reached out and touched her arm.

Just a small touch.

But she jerked back like I burned her.

“Don’t touch me!” she shouted.

I stepped back immediately, hands in the air. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—Amanda—Sasha, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Her chest was rising and falling fast. “Don’t ever touch me again,” she said. “I’m warning you.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m really sorry.”

She got into her car and slammed the door. I watched as she drove away, not even looking back once.

I stood there, heart beating fast, feeling like I had just lost her all over again.

~~~

After she left, I went back to the bench and sat down. Kelvin came over, wiping his hands on his dirty jeans.

“Boss, are you okay?” he asked.

I didn’t answer him. My eyes were still on the road where she had disappeared.

“Go back to work,” I finally said. “I’m fine.”

But I wasn’t.

Not even close.

I rested my elbows on my knees and ran my hands through my hair.

How did my life turn out like this?

Once, I had a beautiful wife. I had a home, I had a job and I was building a life

Now?

I was working in a dusty roadside workshop. My hands were always greasy. My clothes smelled like oil. My wife—Saraya—was never home. She only came back late at night, drunk or smelling of another man’s cologne.

Sometimes, she didn’t come home at all.

She stopped caring a long time ago. She used to be sweet when she first moved in after Amanda left. Now, she didn’t even look at me. She treated Allen like a burden, she treated her own son like he was some stranger

I was the one who woke him up for school.

I was the one who made sure he ate.

I was the one who showed up for parent-teacher meetings.

Saraya didn’t do any of that. Sometimes, she even yelled at him for making noise. My own son had started calling me “mummy and daddy.”

And the worst part? I let it all happen.

I let Amanda go.

I thought I was protecting her when I left her. He said he would hurt her if I didn’t back off. So I took the money. I lied. I told her I didn’t love her. I thought it was the right thing.

Now I see how wrong I was.

She thinks I betrayed her.

She thinks I threw her away.

And now that I’ve seen her again, I realize something…

She’s never going to forgive me.

Even worse?

She’s not coming back.

Not as Amanda.

Not even as Sasha.

She hates me.

And I don’t blame her.