September 2022

‘Angela, what is it?’ Michelle says.

I can’t get the words out. Ten years ago, I thought I would never hear her voice again. ‘It’s William. He’s found me.’

‘What d’you mean, found you?’ Michelle asks.

I hold my hand to my forehead. What the hell is going through her mind? It doesn’t sound as though she’s concerned at all; she seems almost annoyed that I’ve contacted her. She hasn’t even asked me how I am.

‘I . . . look I was interviewing someone today; I’d only seen their CV before, but, when I saw him, it was, it was William, Michelle.’

‘Right,’ Michelle says. There’s a roar of a car in the background. I imagine her standing out on a street. Back when I knew her she lived in Ilford, she’d managed to buy her first house there when we were in our late twenties. ‘What proof d’you have that it’s him?’

I half-laugh. ‘He told Olivia, my boss he’d been out of work recently because he was searching for someone, his girlfriend who he hasn’t seen for twenty years. It was him, Michelle, he acted in the same way he used to, he looks the same, bloody hell he was even wearing the same cologne.’

‘OK, OK, calm down. Did he give you any assurance that it was actually him?’ Michelle asks.

Tears begin to prick my eyes. ‘He . . . he didn't exactly say anything to me, but, Michelle, you have to believe me. He’s come back because he knows what happened. He knows what we did.’

‘But why would he not say anything to you?’ There’s still a coldness to Michelle’s voice as she speaks.

I shake my head. She doesn’t believe me. She thinks I’m mad. ‘I don’t know. Perhaps he wanted to see how I would react to him being there, I don’t know. I thought when I first saw him, I thought it might be coincidence, that he had no idea I work here, but when he started talking to Olivia about his missing girlfriend, it just made me think he was trying to get me to say something. But Olivia’s set on giving him the job, Michelle. I’m scared, I don’t know what to do.’ I choke back a sob. She has to help me. 

‘OK. Well, we need to see first what his motives are. Like you say, this could all just be coincidence, but. Look, leave this with me, Angela, I’ll try and work out what to do and I’ll promise I’ll get back to you within the next couple of days, OK.’ At last there’s a softness to her voice as she speaks.

I take in a steady breath. ‘OK, but please don’t leave me hanging, Michelle.’

‘I won’t, I’ll talk to you soon, Angela, I promise.’

The line goes dead. I spin around and press my hands into the side of the work surface. Olivia said she was going to call William this afternoon to offer him the job; he could be starting here within the next couple of days. I need to know what to do now. Before it’s too late. The kitchen door opens making me jump. Scarlett, one of the girls I work with breezes in before flicking on the kettle. She’s a good ten years younger than me.

‘Everything alright, Angela?’ she asks.

‘Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?’ I ask, feeling the tightness in my smile.

‘Oh I heard you talking outside, you seemed a bit upset.’ The kettle starts to roar. Shit, shit, shit, what exactly did she hear?

‘Oh, just something going on at home,’ I say. ‘Nothing to worry about.’

‘Well, I hope everything’s alright,’ Scarlett says, although I see a hint of a glint in her eyes.

‘Yes it is. Well, anyway, better get back to work.’

I leave Scarlett in the kitchen, my head throbbing and sprint to my desk, not looking back. I thought no one had been standing outside the kitchen when I was on the phone. How much of my conversation with Michelle had she been able to hear?

***************

Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend