Work Text:
Aldona was a woman of great beauty, some would say. Others would surely say she was below average, looking at her not brushed long hair with self-cut curtain bangs, or her light bags under eyes. But even for the ones who weren’t Aldona’s fans there was something that lured them to her. even if her jokes weren’t the ones they understood clearly, or her laugh was too loud. Auguste met Aldona during their first year of studies. At some party, or in this little cafe down the street. Neither of them remembered exactly how and when. But the moment they looked at each other they knew that was not the last time of seeing each other.
It started slowly, with little smiles or surprised looks when they crossed their paths another time during one day (the record was thirty five times). Finally they talked, exchanged names and phone numbers. She was studying ancient culture, he was studying astrophysics. Library study dates were something that occurred nearly everyday, regarding the amount of material both had to cover. She was telling him stories about Helen of Troy, or how the Roman Empire fell. He was revising material considering space travels and constellations in the form of quiet mumbling, which was so cute to Aldona. After some time they started to study in their rooms - sometimes in Aldona’s, sometimes in Auguste’s. Once they had finished, the talks and plans started. The girl always wanted to live outside the city, where she could have a little garden, or even a greenhouse. Somewhere she could quietly translate ancient texts in peace. The boy wished for huge audiences listening to his lectures, where he would talk about newly discovered places in far space. They both wished for their dreams to come true.
They were both single, but even after some time of friendship they didn’t ask each other about dating. They just didn’t. They probably didn’t even think about it. But at the same time they weren’t looking for anyone to date. They just were together, fully platonic and without anyone around. And it was perfect for both of them.
After some time more official parties started to occur. And the high heels were a dread for Aldona’s feet. Fortunately, Auguste had a car, and Aldona could sometimes leave her shoes there just in case. Sometimes the case was to return for them the other day because she forgot to take them out. It became some sort of tradition for both of them to leave shoes or sweaters in the back of Auguste’s car.
The days went by, everything was great, they were studying, talking, partying occasionally. And just like that, next party, next lift to Auguste’s house.
Aldona woke up in the morning, next to her best friend. Or boyfriend? He never asked out, so the first one was more accurate, she thought. Even if all she ever saw in him was a partner. Her partner. The girl started dressing up, piece by piece, looking for every part of her day-old outfit so she could go to her room to do laundry. Her dress, bra, panties, thighs. But her shoes were nowhere to be seen. She must have left them in Auguste’s car, she thought.
So Aldona had dressed up and went to check if her dance shoes were in the back of the boy’s car. After quickly unlocking car doors she dived to the backseat. Then, she just locked the car with her friend’s car keys and went on with her day.
The day went by, and her lessons for the day ended. After school she was supposed to meet up with some of her friends, Auguste included.
She texted him that she won't be able to make it. When he asked by the text what happened, she ignored it.
Just like the next text she got from him.
And the next one.
And next.
When he called her, disturbed by her ghosting, she picked up.
’Hello?’ was all she said.
’Where are you? Did something happened?’
’No, I’m going on a social break. I’ll contact you all once it ends.’
And she hung up.
She had been sitting on her bedroom floor before the call, and she stayed on it once it ended. She covered her face with her hands and sighed.
‘This were not my shoes.’ she said quietly, eyes slowly filling with star-like tears.