Wait forever

      It was morning. The smell of coffee and pancakes wafted through the house.       The birds sang and returned from warm countries to their native land.       Winter has passed, spring has come.       There was no sign of trouble. Nothing even hinted at it.              The sun's rays illuminated the apartment, shining directly into her eyes, causing the girl in bed to try to cover herself with the blanket.       But she had to wake up. The silence in the house was unnerving. It wasn't supposed to be like this.       Emma yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. Emma yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. She rubbed her eyes and sat up in bed.       The first thing she didn't like was the cold wind. It was spring, but winter still had a way of making a dent.       She managed to slip her feet into the slippers with giraffe prints. And in her pajamas with all sorts of animal prints, she went to the kitchen. Followed by the smell.       She stepped into the kitchen and froze.       It was empty. But there was a plate of pancakes and a cup of coffee on the table.       But the one who prepared it was not here.       — An? Are you here?       There was only silence in response. Cold. Mixed with the smell of breakfast.       — An? — Emma repeated. But there was no answer.       The girl sat down on a chair and looked at the pancakes. They were with maple syrup. Anna always made them like that.       A cup of black coffee stood a little further away. Only now did Emma's eyes catch the paper underneath the cup.       It was a note.       She took it in her hands and unfolded it.                   «My dear Emma.       I was too afraid to tell you to your face. I knew you would cry, beg, and plead. But I need to leave. For a long time. Maybe forever».       Her hands were shaking. Tears began to appear in her eyes.       — This isn't true, is it? This is just a joke?       Of course, it's just a joke.       But it is not the same for everyone.       Emma stood up. Abruptly. Emma stood up. Abruptly. The coffee cup tipped over, spilling dark liquid onto the tablecloth.       She ran into the hallway. She threw an old, light beige coat over her shoulders. She grabbed her keys and ran down the stairs.       She was hoping for something stupid. That Anna would be outside, waiting, and then say it was a prank.       Because she couldn't Because she couldn't leave. Not on Emma's birthday. Never.       She did promise...

***

      Time passed. And Anna never showed up. Never returned.       Emma ran around to all her acquaintances, but they only shook their heads and said that they didn’t know anything and were sorry.       Morning turned to night. Emma sat on a bench near a seven-story building. And cried.       — You couldn't do this to me.       It turned out she could.       Stars began to appear in the black sky. White, delicate, and so bright...       They reminded her of Anna. She was just as bright and gentle.       Emma remembers the girl stroking her head, singing silly songs about birds coming home.       It's amazing how much can change in one day. All because of a single piece of paper left in the kitchen before someone passed away.       Emma continued to cry and hope that Anna would return. Until someone spoke to her.       — Why are you crying, dear? — A quiet old voice sounded.       Emma raised her tear-stained face and looked at the person who asked.       It was an old lady. A neighbor from the fifth floor, apartment thirty-seven.       — You are so beautiful, but you are crying.       Emma sniffled.       — Beautiful people cry too.       The neighbor sat down on the bench nearby.       — What happened to you?       Emma remained silent. This question only made her cry harder.       — She left. She left me alone.       The woman listened to her attentively. She gave her a napkin to wipe away her tears and hugged her.       — A lot of things happen in life. Good and bad.       Emma took the handkerchiefEmma took the handkerchief and listened attentively, wiping away her tears.       — Life sometimes gets too hard. Too unfair. You can never be sure about her.       — But everyone else is doing well! Why then is it not the same for me?       The woman sighed heavily and pulled Emma closer. She leaned toward her ear and continued:       — Life is testing you.       — Testing? — Emma asked.       — Yes. You said yourself that «she» left. Don't you think that life wants to understand whether you really love the girl who dumped you.       Emma listened attentively.       — Maybe if you wait, she will come back?       — Maybe...