Routines

Paris… Now…

Nadia stretched. Her black hair in a ponytail. Bent over touching her toes. In her sports bra and shorts. Long legs. Thin road runners.

She started this routine a month ago. In their apartment complexes common garden. Tomato plants and ginger.

This routine was different. But it was still a routine. Back then with Greg — she lived a routine as a housewife.

She was up in the morning. Made lunch for his work. Breakfast for his start. And cleaned the entire house before he woke.

“Hey Baby… Wake up darling,” she would give Greg a mug of hot chocolate in bed.

He woke up slowly, rubbed the dust out of his eyes, happy to see her.

That was then. A routine set up for another. Leon did not expect such. He told her to relax and that they were supposed to take care of each other. Something Nadia struggled to accept.

Alone in the garden. Feeling well. Then kicked her heels and set off on a crisp morning run.

***

Nadia crossed a bridge on her run. Stopped in the middle. Looking over. Watching the city of Paris breathe.

The endorphins pumping. Eyes wide.

“Nadia,” a voice said from behind.

Nadia’s heart grew a thousand times. She turned with a big smile.

“Xiao Mei,” she met her eyes.

Her closest friend. Same twin tails. Big black eyes. And easy going nature. Just like yesterday.

“I just got here… I’m hungry. And nothing in Paris is like your pizza,” Xiao Mei smiled.