Page 49 of Zimyra

“How does that make you feel?”

I snicker. “Who are you? My therapist?”

“No, but I can see that you feel a way about it.”

“Well, of course I do. I’m losing a friend.”

“You’re not losing anything.”

I shake my head. “When single people get married, they don’t have time to hang out with theirsinglefriends. As a matter of fact, today just may be the end of our friendship.”

“I think you’re taking this a little too far.”

“I’m not. Do you have close single friends back home?”

“Yes.”

“If they got engaged, you would feel the same way I’m feeling right now. It’s like the end of an era. The people who know you—who you had the time of your life with—are now about to get married, have babies, and their lives become completely different from yours. It’s the same way with my brothers. I’m close with my family, but since my brothers got married, it’s like I’m the odd one out.”

“You could always embrace the journey with them and your friend. Besides, it’s not like you’ll never get married. You’re too beautiful to be single.”

I grin and say, “That’s an awful thing to say.”

A grin spreads across his face. “How? It’s a compliment, Zimyra.”

“It implies that I should be married because I’m pretty. I’m more than my looks.”

“Trust me—I’m highly aware of that, and I’m not gassing you up. You are an amazing woman. Any man is lucky to be in your presence.”

“Well, thank you, Axel. That’s a sweet thing to say.”

“You’re welcome.”

I inhale the night air and close my eyes to take it all in. I smell the aroma of food. I hear people having a good time. I feel the warmness of the breeze against my cheeks.

Axel asks, “Was that two questions for me already, because I have more?”

Opening my eyes, I say, “Sorry. You don’t get any more. You’re being greedy. I still have one to ask you.”

“Which is?”

“Why are you single?”

“Y’all women love that question, don’t you?”

“So do y’allmen. You asked me the same thing in a roundabout way. Now, it’s your turn.”

“Let’s see,” he says, rubbing his hands together. “Why am I single?”

Amused, I ask, “You don’t know off the top of your head?”

“I do. I’m single for some of the same reasons you are. I’m satisfied with my life the way it is. I go and come as I please. There’s no one there asking me where I’m going, who I’m going to be with, or when I’ll be back. I’m free to do me.”

I nod because I know where he’s coming from. “I get that, but don’t you ever wonder how that life would be when you get older? The reason I’m asking is because I think about it often. You’re right—no one is there to ask you where you’re going and all that, but when you get sick, no one is there to ask you if you’re okay or if you need something.”

“That’s true.”

“I feel like men can easily hold out on trying to find that person, but for a woman, for me, it’ll change and soon, I might add.”

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