— a million little times

“You know,” he began as he finished his drink, “things felt so much easier when I didn’t have a job. Now I have responsibilities and a curfew and it’s really life changing,” he rambled, knowing that in all actuality he truly loved his job and only enjoyed complaining about things.

“Things are always easier when you ain’t got no responsibilities to worry about,” Tulip responded with a small shrug as she took another sip from her own bottle. She wasn’t usually the kind of person who would start a conversation with a stranger, but this wasn’t just another usual night. “I guess there’s a reason why I never survived longer than three weeks in any job I tried to get.”

" okay, okay! i'm here, calm down! " she called to her boss as she wrapped her uniform's apron around her waist. picking up her notepad, she made her way over to the first table she had in her section. " hi, i'm evelyn, i'll be taking care of you today. would you like a moment to- " she looked at the customer in front of her and paused, her pen stopping mid-air. " celia? " she asked with pure shock in her voice as a smile crossed her face.

at first, it was the voice. a voice that celia couldn’t possibly mistake for anybody else’s. it chimed with almost childish innocence and purred with sweet seduction all at once. that, right there, was the true power of a woman. that was the power of evelyn hugo. celia was stunned, unable to tear her eyes away from the other woman who didn’t look a day over twenty-five, making it feel like the last fifteen years has been nothing but a long, long dream full of far too much heartbreak. her eyes pooled with tears as celia swallowed thickly in an attempt to find her voice. “please, tell me that i am not dreaming.”