CHARLIE

      Faith chuckled as she thought of that day. Charlie placed the mug of espresso and the plate of cake in her front. She had gotten quite close to Charlie, it had even marvelled Nora. Nora had wanted to know why she had gotten close after finding out he was gay. Faith had not thought of the answer, she had blurted it. 

      "It makes me feel closer to Joshua." 

   She had gone for breakfast with Charlie. Charlie had been off duty that day and Faith had no client that morning, so she had decided that meeting with her new friend wasn't bad. 

      Charlie took the seat opposite her and drank his coffee. "I saw you smiling to yourself when I was getting coffee. Care to share?" 

      Faith smiled and sipped her espresso. "I was just thinking about Nora and Charlotte." 

        "I don't know Charlotte, but since she is associated with Nora, she must be crazy." 

      Faith glanced at him, how did you know that? "

 Charlie smiled and set his mug on the table. " I know once it's about Nora, then it's craziness."

      "But I'm not crazy." 

       "You are, it's just that you have not let yourself be." 

       "You know that before I came to LA, Nora always said that LA holds a better life for me, it's proving to be true." She cut the cake and put it in her mouth. 

        "I'm glad you are happy here," Charlie said and sipped his coffee. "The first day we met, you were so reclusive, you didn't even want to tell me your name, but look at us today, best of buddies." 

        "Don't let Nora hear that. And who said I didn't want you to know my name?" 

        "I know, that was how my boyfriend was when I met him. He had a traumatic past and it made him that withdrawn." 

        "Mmmh," Faith nodded her head. "So you think I'm reclusive because I had a traumatic past too?" 

         Charlie shrugged and chewed his sandwiches. "Mostly. People who were victims of abusive homes, rape, violence are always so reclusive in the future, but sometimes it's natural." 

         "I think I agree with you. But I don't think the reason I like being alone is because of any of those you mentioned. So Is your boyfriend still reserved?" 

          "Yes, but we are seeing a therapist. He is coming out gradually. He didn't know it was buried in his subconsciousness all this while, so he has been thinking nothing was wrong with him. Most people have that case too." 

     "Mmmh," Faith hummed and looked out of the window. She felt he was talking about her. But she wasn't naturally a sad person. Yes, she gets sad sometimes when she thinks about Noah, but that was it. She was generally happy and join happy moments. There was nothing buried in her subconsciousness. All her feelings were pronounced and she was conscious of them. Does she feel a part of her was forever unhappy? The answer was yes. There was something she has refused to let go of, something from the past that still makes her sad. Even though she didn't know what it was.