Day 41: Tales Of City Life And Ex-Boyfriend’s Stomping Grounds

Day 41 Of How To Move On From A Man — 1LD

Mar 17

I loved Melbourne’s CBD on the weekends.

The hustle is gone, all that’s left is the hum of a few tourists narrow-mindedly thinking the hub of culture and fascination exists when the city workers are gone.

Whilst Melbourne still existed, the buildings physically didn’t go anywhere, the proud residents didn’t think it a place where they wanted to be on their days off.

But I loved it.

You could see the city for what it was. You could see the opportunity, the possibilities little business owners like me hoped there would be.

And you could see the diehards, the people who didn’t quit just because the clock told them to.

I was on my way to find one of those people, someone who didn’t get enough credit. Angela.

I spoke to the security guard at the bottom of Douglas’s building. He knew my face. I wondered if he was trying to remember a new girlfriend’s face right now. And trying to forget mine in the process, too.

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He called the office, confirmed there was someone at the desk, and let me up in the lift. Of course, Douglas’s office was on the top floor. Always go for the best views, he preached. Always live like you’re already the best at what you do. Douglas certainly did that.

I didn’t feel any nerves ascending in the lift. It would be a quick drop at the front desk and run. I would exchange a few brief words with Angela, his very aging but kind secretary.

Then I could go, leave all this mess behind, and no one would be any the wiser. In and out, like a ninja.

The lift doors opened to an empty desk. Shit, I thought. Where is she?

I looked around to see if she was bending down behind the desk, tinkering with the ever-unreliable printer. Nope. I peered around the corner to see if she was in the nearby bathroom. Nope.

Where was she?

“Hello?,” I called out. I heard some footsteps coming from behind. There she was, in the copy room, I thought.

But no, mistaken again.

“So you’ve brought me back my things, I see?”

I stared at the beautifully suited man, looking at him up and down. He didn’t look any different from the last time I saw him.

I know I did; I was frail, tired, and sunken-eyed. I looked like shit. He looked incredible.

“Yeah, I have. Here.” I thrust the bag at him.

Douglas clutched me by the elbow. “Can we talk for a second?”