Anna had been working with Vlad on a campaign when Harriet hit him with divorce papers. One moment he’d considered himself happily married. The next…well it was too much to bear.
Anna helped him understand. It wasn’t all about him. A woman needs more than someone who’s just there sometimes.
But Vlad still felt like an abandoned boy. He didn’t want mediation. He was sorry. He could change.
Harriet got a solicitor.
Vlad got depressed.
Anna liked him. She liked him even more with his vulnerability showing. One day, after he’d spent the morning half in tears, she slipped him a note. I can help you through this. Call me, followed by a number.
He dialled then had second thoughts. So he selected ‘Save as Contact,’ and filed her under ‘Anna J’.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about her.
He spent an hour troubling over a text message. Everything I did wrong in my marriage I want to do right now. If you take a risk with me I’ll do everything I can. I think you’re wonderful. Vlad. He hit send
His phone rang almost immediately. ‘I suppose this is some weird joke.’ He glanced at the screen. Harriet’s lawyer was a real hard nose. They’d once been friends. She was still filed in his contacts under ‘Anna B’.
2011—Richard Holt / small stories about love (smallstoriesaboutlove.wordpress.com)
small stories about love 