Sophie

　　I opened my bedroom door. As I walked through the frame, I hit my toe.

　　"Shit," I exclaimed; that's whats I get for walking bare feet. I got to the kitchen to make myself some tea; some people say they cannot function without coffee in the morning; well, I can't function without tea.

　　I put the pot on as I wait for it to boil; I had two hours before I get to work. I loved cooking myself breakfast in the morning.

　　The silence is soothing, I take my tea as I browse through my phone. I read my messages and found a message from my best friend, Gabriella.

　　Gab and I met years ago when I went to live with my granny; our friendship wasn't instant, I can't even tell you how we ended up inseparable, but we did. And here we are, still each other's buds.

　　We still had that agreement that if we both turned 50 and still single, we should move in together. I know it's crazy, but we are mad; the thing is, Gab is in love with her boss, who hasn't even realized she exists.

　　Love is cruel, sometimes. I look at her as she talks about him sometimes, and I can't help but sympathize. Every time we see him on tabloids with a beautiful woman in his arms, Gab gets hurt and sad.

　　I wish it were possible to choose the people we love; she would have chosen Aldo. The guy who serves us tea and scones at the downside cafe near our apartments who happens to adore her.

　　We don't live together, but we are more or fewer neighbors. I got up and headed to the bathroom to take a shower and dress.

　　I'm a Realtor, and today I have a client who I have to show this beautiful house. I love my job, but a part of me thinks it because every time I get a new house to show, I dream more about the house I want to own someday.

　　I should start to save, but I don't have enough money to do so, but It wouldn't hurt to start a savings account. To be putting in just a little amount there, would it?

　　Anyway. I dress up in a skirt suit, pick up my phone and car keys, opens the door, and close it's up, and leave.

　　We don't have parking in the apartment, so I park outside, I don't mind. No one in their right mind would steal my car anyway. It was a small old beetle car that I bought from David, a friend of mine who owns a garage not far away from here. He also gets to check it out for me regularly. The last thing I need is to get into an accident and harm myself and anybody with me or around me, although no one likes riding with me.

　　Gabs hates my car and rarely rides with me; she prefers her old but still serviceable Chevrolet. It's better than mine. A car is still one of those things I want to buy myself someday, plenty much like the house. Maybe I will buy

　　myself an Audi, I chuckle to myself, "a girl can dream, right?"

　　I drive to the house. It was located in that beautiful neighborhood that just exudes wealth, maybe my house will be In such a neighborhood, I tell myself.

　　I almost believe it, but being a girl who came from nothing and fathered by a man who told her she'll amount to nothing did something to my self-esteem, but my granny made up for it. She loves me; she is all I have in this world, which reminds me. I should call her today.

　　I round my car to the entrance to wait for my client; it's almost 9 am. I sit up and wait; I'm never late for work. I like it that way. I don't want to give my boss any reason to fire me. Although we have never had any disagreement about how I do my job, we have had a few run-ins.

　　He came onto me the first month I started working in the company. He is married and has two beautiful girls. Why would he think I wanted to be the other woman? I would instead end up alone than getting mixed up with a married man; God knows I would hate myself.

　　I want a man to call my own; I want a man who can love me insanely, crazily, passionately, and irrevocably. I know, I'm unrealistic; I have been told that a thousand times, but still. I dream, I hope, and I pray. This will come from God.

　　I see a land Rover pulling beside me, I guess my client is here.

　　I get out just as a beautiful stunning blond woman is getting out too. Wow! She must be a model, I thought.

　　"You must be Sophie," she says, her voice is soft, she extends her hand to me, as we shake hands, I say

　　"Yes, I am,

　　"My name is Kelly; I'm here to see the house."

　　"Yes, of course, nice to meet you, Kelly, sorry for staring."

　　"No problem, can we get started? I kind of have a meeting at 10:30

　　"Sure, come on in," I tell her.

　　We walk towards the house. As I open the door, she says, "it's so beautiful from outside," and I nod in agreement as we enter.

　　The living room is big. I have seen it more times than I can count, but every time I see it again, it feels like the first time.

　　"It's beautiful," I whisper in wonder; she looks at me and nods vigorously.

　　" I love it; I guess we have a winner."

　　"You do? Wouldn't you like to see the rest of it?"

　　"I already love it, but I wouldn't mind seeing the master's bedroom."

　　"This way," I head to the bedroom; I can hear her heels as she follows me, I open, and I let her proceed.

　　"Wow, I love it. I keep saying that, I'm sorry, I don't have another adjective to explain it. I smile at her to show her, I understand.

　　" I guess we'll see you by the end of the week to sign the papers?"

　　"We?"

　　"Yes, me and my husband, he is out of the country at the moment, we would have come to see it together, but he will be delighted."

　　I looked at her deeply skeptical; I lost a bit of my hope; I had been so excited, I had started planning for the commission I would get. But now I didn't know whether her husband will love the house or not, I prayed he would.

　　"Don't look so sad, and he is going to love it. I know my husband; he would love it for the sole reason that I do! So' don't worry about it."

　　"Okay." That was comforting, I guess.

　　"We should go so I can make that meeting," she says

　　"Yes, of course."

　　We walk outside in silence; then, she turns around to Shake my hand again.

　　"Thank you for showing me the house; I think you love it as much as I do, if not more."

　　"Yes, I do. It a beautiful house; anybody would."

　　"I agree with you; I will call you to confirm the day we sign those papers?"

　　"Okay, see you then."

　　She gets in her car and wave at me as she drives away.

　　I made a sale today, I thought, but I will not celebrate until the agreement and the cheque is signed. But nonetheless, that doesn't make me less excited.

　　I pull out my phone to call Gabriella.

　　"Hi sweetie, I think I just made a sale."

　　"Oh, really? Maybe we should celebrate, she says after a high pitched screech.

　　"Gab, that's an annoying sound. Do you want your boss to come and throw you out?"

　　"At least he will notice me."

　　"Oh Gab_

　　"No, no, no, this is not about me, it's about you, and we need to celebrate; wine is on me."

　　"I don't want to celebrate right now; we can do after the cheque is signed. I don't want to jinx it."

　　"Since when do you believe in jinxing anything? I thought you're a strong believer of 'what is meant for you will be yours, and no one can do anything about it?'

　　"I still believe in that, but I want to wait for this, please."

　　" Okay, the wine is still on me when that cheque is signed."

　　"You won't get an argument from me on that. Thanks, sweetie I have to go to the office now, see you at Aldo,s."

　　I end the call. We call it at Aldo s because he is the one who serves us most times, but we both know it because he's in love with Gab. Poor guy. But the fact that he knows Gab doesn't love him back will never deter him. He always welcomes us with a smile; you should see him telling us each time the cook tries a new recipe for pastries.

　　I drove to the office and parked my car at the end of the driveway. I didn't want to park near the entrance. I knew I wouldn't be staying in the office for long; I just needed to write a report and get out as soon as possible.

　　"You're late," Mr. Hanson says as I enter the office; he shouldn't be here, he has his big office at the corner, but here he is.