Medicine Love

“Listen, I am fine! I promise all is well. Marlon went out to grab me some medicine. He should be back soon. I am really stiff and slightly sore but the doctor said I do not have a concussion.”

“Are you sure that is what the doctor said? You know some doctors don’t know what they are talking about. They just want to rush you out of their emergency room to make way for another patient they can bill.”

“Mom, I am going to be fine the car barely hit me. I’m glad there are only a few scratches on the side of the car so it will only need a paint job.”

“Sonya, I am so glad Marlon is there to take good care of you. He is really one of a kind. You are really fortunate to have someone to care for you in times like this honey. Your father takes wonderful care of me and I am so glad you have someone doing the same for you.”

Sonya glared out the window and bit into another lie. “Yeah mom, such good care of me. He’s one of a kind. Let me go ahead and rest and I’ll talk to you later mom.”

“Alright, love you baby girl.” “Love you too, bye.”

Yeah, one of a kind in deed, she mumbled after hanging up the phone. A one-of-a-kind jerk who left her for his secretary. How freaking cliché could he be? Marlon was her handsome, intelligent, goal setting, money-making boyfriend. That was until she saw him out “lunching” with his secretary last week. And when I say “lunching” I mean feeding each other french fries and lip locking between swallows. Sonya confronted them right there because she is a sucker for knowledge and always wants the truth. She needed to be sure. He was shocked to see her but he went on and put Sonya out of her misery. Or put her in misery? I don’t know but it felt like a little bit of both to the distressed woman who was now pained from a fender bender. And now she had to walk to the pharmacy and get her own medicine, feeling like crap. Delivery seemed like a great idea until the estimated time shown three hours across the phone. Luckily the pharmacy was only two blocks away.

“Excuse me, I did not see any ibuprofen in the medicine aisle. Is there any behind the counter?” “Oh, ma’am I’ll be right with you after this gentleman here.” Ma’am? Do I look that old? Just great, I am in pain, without a boo, and now I have reached “ma’am” status she thought to herself. “Are you ok?” the gentleman asked. “You can go ahead of me, I don’t mind. You look like you’re having a rough day.” I snapped out of whatever daze I was in when he grazed my arm. “Yes, I am fine. I do not want to cut in front of you. It’s okay. I just need some ibuprofen since a car hit me this afternoon.”

With a shocked and confused look he said, “You’re joking right?” “I mean I was in a car. So, the car hit my car but lucky for me the doctor said I do not have a concussion.” “I am sorry.” he said genuinely. “You didn’t hit me.” “I know I didn’t hit you but that sounds traumatic and I care about people in general so…” “Oh, thanks. That did come out in a weird way. I just want to be in bed resting but I have no pain medicine at home and so here I am. And now my head is starting to hurt because I haven’t eaten since seven this morning.”

“Wow. You’re really having a rough time, huh? Let me buy you lunch.” “That’s kind of you but if the pharmacist would just give me some ibuprofen, I could figure out something to eat.”

“Do you make it a habit of rejecting kind gestures from people who just want to be nice?” “What? Well people normally want something in return. You are a stranger, and could also be a predator who prey on injured women.” He chuckled, “Seriously?! You clearly had a difficult day and could use some help. Do I look like a predator? You came in here. I didn’t go looking for you. And I am Lorenzo, the kind guy just trying to help a beautiful young lady out.”

Sonya smiled and took a deep breath. “I am Sonya, My apologies. I am just in a little pain and have brain fog. I am sure you are a good guy. You did offer me your space in line and lunch. I am just focused on feeling better.” He grabbed his prescription and moved to the side. He gave her some room as the pharmacist asked how she could help Sonya. Lorenzo gave her an endearing glance before opening his mouth again. “Well, I accept your apology, if you let me buy you lunch. Listen, it can be a take-out order. You do not have to sit, eat, and fall in love with me. I promise I just want to make your day just a little bit better if I can.”

Sonya snickered and thought to herself ‘fall in love’ he thinks he’s cute don’t he. Her joints were sore and she was getting one of those increasingly straining hunger headaches. She grabbed the medicine out of the overworked lady’s hand, cracked open the bottle and popped two pills. She turned, walking slowly toward the door. “I could go for a chicken and spinach panini from Lana’s café. Oh, an order of eggplant fries and peach tea too.” Lorenzo followed behind her saying “That is something we can do.”

It was a swift five blocks to Lana’s Café. The two didn’t bother filling the air with conversation. Sonya was hoping by the time they got to the restaurant the meds would kick in and Lorenzo just enjoyed her beauty shimmering in the sun’s rays. The silence felt nice to the both of them, calm and reassuring.

“Welcome to Lana’s, will you be dining in or taking out?” Lorenzo turned to Sonya expecting her to say take-out but surprisingly he was wrong. “Wonderful, choose a table and I’ll be right with you two.” They started walking to a corner booth where the sunlight was warm but not in their eyes. “Well, well, well Ms. Sonya. Be yee warned my dear. If you are choosing to sit and eat with me then you are choosing to risk falling in love too.” Sonya cackled a loud obnoxious laugh that brought attention to their table. “Pa-lease, I’ll take my chances. I just want a free meal. My day has sucked, shoot my month has sucked, so food shall heal my wounds.”

Lorenzo did not expect such a rude retort but he knew she owed him nothing. He was the one who asked to buy her lunch. “I’m sorry it has sucked but hopefully things will start looking up.” He couldn’t resist gazing at her sepia allure and indifferent responsiveness. It left him wondering, slightly curious perhaps. He wanted to make her smile since her day seemed staggering. Sonya ordered the chicken spinach panini with eggplant fries, extra crispy, and a large peach tea. While Lorenzo ordered a turkey burger, regular fries, and strawberry lemonade.

The waitress sped across the floor, giving their order to the kitchen. “I come here at least once every two weeks. The food is amazing and inexpensive.” Sonya stated. Then they awkwardly sat for about five minutes until… “So, what do you do Sonya?” With a smirk and brush of her hair, “Anything I want. How about we cut out those boring questions that are normally asked when you first meet a person. We are not trying to woo each other.” “Ok, top five comedy movies of all time, go.” “Now see that’s more like it.” Sonya replied. Their food soon arrived and the conversation continued. They talked food, sports, music, and super powers. Yeah, Sonya is a flyer and Lorenzo can throw a bus at any evil doer. The lunch turned into a four hour exchange of interests, jokes, and laughter.

They stopped chatting when Sonya’s phone rang. “Oh, let me answer that, it’s my mom. Hello mom.” “Hello baby, I’m just checking on you. Are you resting and feeling better?” “I am actually feeling great right now.” She lifted her eyes and met Lorenzo’s intensity at the touch of his hand. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow mom, bye. Wow! It’s incredibly late. I can’t believe we’ve been talking for almost four hours.” Sonya said with genuine surprise. “Incredibly time well spent.” Lorenzo winked as he parted those words. They got up and walked out of the door. They didn’t say goodbye and walked separate directions. They were pleased and didn’t feel the need to ask each other for anything else, not even a number. But in two weeks Lorenzo sat in a corner of Lana’s café, smiling while looking up as Sonya strolled in grinning. She had a craving for eggplant fries, extra crispy.