Despair of an imaginary presence

      The clock showed 10:53 am. Nemi ran her eyes around the room, trying to figure out if she'd forgotten anything important. All her documents were in her bag, spare clothes too, a few pens, a notepad, an emergency make-up bag, a comb, and a hair band. Keys. Keys? She needs keys, doesn't she? If she gets home later tonight than she expects, she'd hate to bother Atala or Mr Brandt.       The girl exhaled nervously and left the room. She wasn't normally the type of person to worry and fret, but a new city and a new job could play on the nerves of even the most hardened person. After all, this was what she had been working towards for 4 years, all the hard work couldn't go to waste, otherwise, everything she had been through was for nothing.       "...when Einar returns," Atala's scrap of a phrase came from the ground floor.       Has someone come?       "Nothing, we'll leave that question until next time. And don't tell him I stopped by."       "As you wish, but you know I don't approve."       Nemi doesn't descend the stairs fast enough to have time to get a good look at the stranger. All she manages to notice is the blue-black hair and the departing silhouette of the young man. She decides not to ask questions. Nemi has spent too little time here to have the right to.       "Um... Atala, I was going to ask you to give me a key so I wouldn't bother you when I went back to my place."       "Atala flinched in surprise and turned to Nemi. She looked a little glum."       "Oh, yes, of course. Thanks for reminding me. I'll get the spare key right away."       Nemi regretted a little that she had decided not to ask too many questions because right now she really wanted to ask who that man was, since he had upset Atala so much. She tells herself again that it's none of her business as if self-belief would help quench the interest.       "Here you go."       Back in the hallway, Atala no longer looked upset. She had the good-natured, faintly noticeable smile that was already familiar to Nemi on her face.       Silent resentment is an invisible python sitting around your neck, each day tightening its deadly noose a little more tightly. It has the power to poison the life of anyone who chooses to have such a pet. A person does not show his true feelings and does not talk about what does not suit him, because it seems to him that it will not change anything. Or he has already tried, but he was not heard. However, resentment doesn't go anywhere, it now links each new day to each old day. People don't see the quiet resentments. Or don't want to see. After all, the unvoiced doesn't concern them. It's easier to let a person suffocate than to take a step towards them.       "Excuse me, do you happen to know where I can find... Mr Argus?"       Nemi glanced at the notes on her phone, reassuring herself that she hadn't got the name wrong. Maybe today would be the day when the quiet resentment of life would at least dull a little.       Woman- A girl with long blonde hair, wearing a purple dress and a book in her hands stopped:       "Sweetheart, he's a rare visitor to the city, I don't think you'll find him here."       A smile stood in her eyes, but she wasn't smiling herself. Nemi realised the look in her eyes and immediately frowned.       "I think I know you..."       "You do? I think I'd remember such a pretty face," the smile wasn't just in her eyes now.       "You're Sophia Schreiber, aren't you? You graduated in biochemistry at the Academy in Osdakshin, right?"       "Oh, interesting... Yes, that's correct."       "Amazing! I don't know if you remember me. We met a few times a couple of years ago. I was consulting with you about my thesis... I was a medicinal chemistry student..."       "Oh, yes, I remember you. You managed to snatch me on my little journey through Osdakshin. But I was glad to help, remember my student years."       "You've been a great help to me. I didn't know you worked here. I am honoured to work in the same place as someone like you."       "Nemi Esena, I believe? What brings you to Iparzis? And please, please use your first name, otherwise, I feel much older than I am."       "Oh, of course. I have to do an internship here, with Mr Argus to be exact. They need help in the mountains, many have health problems due to the cold and altitude sickness. But since you...you say he's not here..."       "If you've been assigned, I think you'll find him around here somewhere. I'd start with Commander Heinrike's office or stop by Captain Dokken's office".       Somewhere deep beneath all the desires, resentments, feelings and emotions inside Nemi something niggled, she didn't understand what had caused this reaction in her and why it was as if her heart had skipped a few beats.       "I wouldn't want to distract anyone from their work..."       "It's okay, it's just a question after all. Let me show you where whose office is."       Sophia gently took Nemi under her arm and led her slightly sideways towards one of the solid wooden doors.       "You can come by my library after hours, I'll show you around."       "Thank you, that will help me get settled in," Nemi smiled politely.       At least one familiar person to stop next to drop anchor in Iparraldeco. It always starts with one person. Though Sophia was about ten years older than her, that couldn't stop them from becoming good friends and colleagues.       The door opened, almost driving over Nemi's nose, and out stepped a short young man with lush blonde hair.       "Excuse me," he closed the door carefully behind him. "Sophia, have you found yourself a new victim?"       "Of course not, how could I offend the lady."       After exchanging pleasantries, Mr Argus looked at the "victim" closely, but, try as he might, he could not find his acquaintance in her. To break the somewhat awkward silence, Nemi spoke up:       "Mr Argus, I am Nemi Esena, your trainee intern. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," the girl held out her hand.       "Yes-yes, of course, we spoke to you on the phone this morning," Argus shook her hand and turned to Sophia. "Then we'll be on our way. It was good to see you not behind a book in the library."       Sophia was about to quip as well, saying that the head of the Iparzis research team walking out of the Captain's office was not a good thing, and those two were clearly up to something but decided to keep quiet. After all, there would have to be something to discuss with her new colleague when she gave her a tour. So Sophia gave a slightly strained smile in response to Argus' words and retired to the library.       "Well, I hope you took everything I asked you to."       "Yes, of course."       The girl slipped her hand into her pocket and touched the cold metal key.       "Excellent, then I will first show you where my - and now your office too - is, and then we will head for the mountains."       Perhaps it is in this city, with these people, that Nemi will cross over to the white line. Could it be that life has finally heard her, seen her, and is already reaching out its hands to remove the python from her neck?       "Welcome to Iparraldeco, Nemi."