Maya was looking out of the window as she sipped a cup of hot coffee, when she saw him, looking at her from across the street. At first she didn’t recognize him. It had been a very long time. Then recognition hit her in full force and she had to look away. When she looked up, he was walking slowly across the road towards her door. She waited for him to knock just to be sure she wasn’t imagining it all. He didn’t knock. She put her cup down and consciously paused for a bit before she walked to the door and opened it. She walked ahead of him back into the living room, leaving him to take his shoes off and shut the door behind him. He hesitated, looked around as if to get his bearings and then followed her. She gestured in the general direction of the sofa.

Maya walked into the kitchen to make him some coffee, but then remembered that he always drank tea. Strong, with one teaspoon of sugar. She could feel his eyes on her as she boiled the water and added the tea leaves. She was thankful for the time this activity gave her to compose her thoughts. What did she have to say to him? Maybe she wouldn’t have to say anything at all and he would do all the talking. Yes, that’s what she would do. Sit in stony silence. Let him know she was… she was what? She didn’t feel angry; not even indignant. This made her a little cross with herself. He was the one who owed her an explanation for leaving her with no warning. He had told her he was going for a walk. No, she steeled herself; she wouldn’t be the first to talk. 

She added milk to the brew just before it boiled over and then took it off the stove. Maya then poured the tea through a sieve into a steel tumbler before adding the teaspoon of sugar. Slowly, methodically. Every step of the process exaggerated to buy more time. She walked back into the living room, her eyes focussed on the tumbler in her hands. She handed it to him and then sat on the sofa across from him. He sipped his tea, swallowed and then exhaled softly through his lips. Some things never change, Maya thought to herself. She looked up to see him looking at her with his unflinching gaze. Time had taken its toll on both of them. His eyes were the same though. They still looked at her like they always had. And she felt the stirrings of emotions she thought had died a long time ago.

She held his gaze as he put down his tea and walked over to where she was sitting. He sat down next to her and reached out for her hand. She let him take it. He turned her palm over and slowly traced the life line. Just like he used to. He looked up at her again and seemed to want to say something but stopped himself. She had so much she wanted to ask; so many questions whose answers she had agonized about over the years. So many explanations needed. But she wouldn’t be the first to talk. That was for sure. He finished the last of his tea in one gulp and cleared his throat. He moved towards her and his lips parted as if to say something when she suddenly pulled her hand out of his grip and said, “So, did you enjoy your walk?”