A Heart Untouched
The arrival hall pulsed with the rhythm of rolling suitcases and muted chatter. Above it all, the giant airport clock struck 10am. Damon lifted his gaze to the arrivals board just as the status of the flight shifted. LANDED.
“That should be her” he murmured rising to his feet.
He walked towards the glass partition drawing a few curious looks as he passed. Damon stood tall, his slender well-built frame wrapped in a tailored black coat, sharpening the lines of his broad shoulders.
Dark brown hair fell neatly over sweet, warm brown eyes. A thin perfectly aligned beard framed a jaw carved with precision. He carried an effortless elegance. One that made strangers pause without understanding why.
Then he saw her.
Charlotte emerged from the crowd tugging her suitcase behind her, a wool scarf looped around her neck, her face stretched into a broad smile. She started to run
“Damon, it’s been forever” she laughed as he swept her into a warm, familiar hug.
“I know” he said softly. “It’s really good to see you”
The atmosphere warmed up as if time itself exhaled. Their eyes sparkled with the kind of joy reserved for people who didn’t realize how much they missed each other until they met.
“I missed you” she said.
“I missed you more” he replied, as he took her suitcase handle and glided towards the exit. Words couldn’t define their happiness.
They pulled up in front of a nearby café. Inside, the espresso machine hissed softly, the air smelled toasty, the scent of freshly baked pastries. They placed their order.
“One cappuccino and…a cup of hot cocoa” Damon ordered.
Charlotte chuckled. “You still remember?”.
He raised a brow playfully “Or has your scary love for cocoa finally changed?”
“Never” she said shaking her head.
They settled in a corner booth, the low whispers drifted around them, blending with the frequent ringing of the entrance bell. Their drinks arrived. They slipped into warm calming conversation.
“So…how was Singapore” Damon started, “And France, and Barcelona and Italy and…”
“I get it” she cut laughing, “They were all amazing in their peculiar ways. I loved them all. But now I’m back home. To my family, and to my best friend”
A pleasant silence slid between them. Not awkward, but peaceful. Not because they didn’t know what to say, but a lot better than words were being said.
“So, how’s life?” Charlotte asked casually, taking a sip of her warm drink. “And love?”
Damon’s eyes drifted to the window “The winter is dragging longer this year, don’t you think?”
“Don’t dodge the subject” Charlotte hissed. “A girlfriend?” she asked.
He remained silent. His expression barely shifted. Her breath hitched.
“Okay fine, at least tell me about an ex”
There was just a slight shake of his head.
“Damon come on. Seriously?” she groaned.
“Stop that Char” His finger traced the rim of his cup. Avoiding her eyes.
“It’s been forever. Not even an Ex?”
“Can we not talk about this here?”
She bit her lips, letting the thousand questions that she had go away. The conversation dissolved into the hot steam from their mugs.
A soft smile tugged at her lips “Do you remember that day?” she asked. Just like that, they were both pulled into a memory.
********
Years Ago…
Seventeen-year-old Damon staggered down the school corridor. Charlotte’s arm locked around his neck. Damon struggled to escape from her grasp.
“Hey, stop it Char” he gasped between laughs, trying to pry her arm off.
“Apologize!” she ordered, tightening the playful hold.
“Why should I?” he screamed.
“Because I’m older” she declared triumphantly.
“Fine, I’m sorry?” he blurted, tapping her arm in surrender.
She finally let go of him, and they both burst into laughter the sound echoing through the hallway.
“Hey, hey. Look over there” she nudged him with her elbow, pointing at another girl passing by, her books clutched to her chest.
“It’s Lydia, go talk to her”
Damon froze, “I can’t do it yet”.
“Why not? You like the girl come on”
He pressed his lips lightly and shook his head.
“Okay then” Charlotte said mischievously, “I’ll bring her over”.
“No, stop” he held her wrist. “I’ll talk to her soon. I swear”
“When? We’re about to start the final exams. You may never get another chance to tell her how you feel”
“Trust me, I will. I’ll get a girlfriend before I turn eighteen. You’ll see”
Charlotte gave him a tired smile and walked ahead.
“Wait for me” Damon said sprinting after her.
They drifted slowly back to the present.
“That was the first time we actually talked about your…love situation” Charlotte reminded him.
“What situation?” he asked flatly.
“Really? Should I repeat that?” she scoffed “Girls in my class even started asking if you were gay”
Damon blinked, startled “What?”. He swallowed softly. “Let’s go” Charlotte stared at him, softly. “Why?” she thought to herself staring at him a second too long.
They strode out and soon zoomed back into the street.
********
Charlotte barely stepped into the front door before a warm voice called out.
“Auntie!” a young girl squealed as she ran into Charlotte's waiting arms.
“Sasha. How are you?”
“I’m good, aunt Charlotte”
“You’re really big now”
Someone cleared their throat, they jolted. An older woman behind them.
Rita Hale. She stood elegant and composed, dressed in a fitted black gown, ruby earrings catching the light. Her hair was tied back tightly that it tightened her already commanding features.
“Good afternoon mum” Damon greeted. She nodded.
“Oh, my dear. Welcome back” she said already glancing at her watch.
“Let’s catch up some other time Charlotte, I’m in quite a rush” she said. “Goodbye baby” she bid the little girl goodbye.
“Goodbye mummy” she replied.
“Don’t forget about the board meeting, Damon” she stepped forward, heels clicking.
Charlotte held on to the little girl’s hand. “Don’t worry, I understand. I’ll be with Sasha before heading home” Charlotte said to Damon.
“Catch you later” he smiled before heading out.
********
The Hale Groups towered high into the sky, steel outlined the building, glass windows gleaming in the pale winter light. Inside the boardroom buzzed with tension as Rita led the meeting with practiced authority.
Hours later, she dismissed the team with a sharp close of her folder. “I’ll need those reports ready by tomorrow morning. No excuses”
Damon rose after Rita from the conference table, she touched his arm. “Walk with me”
A soft ding opened the elevator doors, they entered together.
“About what we discussed the last time” she started.
“I’ll send you a list of potential partners before Friday”
“Not that son” her expression softened. “You know what I’m talking about”
“Mum, I’m fine”
“Damon…I want to see you happy. Truly happy. You and I know you need love in your life”
“Mum, you too?” he exhaled.
“I guess Charlotte spoke to you about it as well”
He looked away “Mum, I’m fine with life as it is. I’m focused on work at the office”
“Stop that son, if there’s really a problem, you can tell me”
“There’s nothing mum, I’m fine”
She sighed “You’ll be thirty-one next month. As far as I known, the only women in your life are me and your sister. That worries me”
“And Charlotte?” he added.
“Everyone knows the kind of relationship you and Charlotte share”
"Please stop it mum. I’ll settle down soon enough”
Silence stretched between them. For a while, Rita studied her son.
“Damon my son. Don’t let what happened with your father ruin you forever”
She pulled him in for a hug. Damon jerked; his expression cracked revealing something fragile. Deeply buried.
He could still hear the voice echoing freshly. “Good for nothing. You and your brother. Why are you so stupid? Get out." The sting of the whip as it tore into his skin. "Please dad" he begged.
In the corner his mother knelt. Her face to the floor. She was there.
