I've been waiting for you forever

"It's nice to meet you, Arthur."

Eliza didn't bat an eyelid at the mention of his full name, which left Arthur a little taken aback.

"Does my name mean anything to you?"

"Are you famous?" Eliza's tone was half serious, half sarcastic. Arthur looked at her for a few seconds without saying anything, then a crooked, slightly sad smile played on his lips. "Let's say so. Don't you watch the news?"

"No, never."

Arthur seemed taken aback by her answer. "Really?"

"I always leave the room when my parents turn on the TV and put it on the evening news. It's stupid, I know, but it makes me sad to listen to the news. I mean, all they talk about is murderers and rapists… I wish they'd talk about other things. Good things, things that make people smile."

"It's not stupid." Arthur said it with such conviction that Eliza smiled.

"You're the first one to think that. Usually when I say that, people think I'm stupid, or just someone who wants to live in ignorance. I really am, though. I mean, ignorant. I didn't even finish high school."

"Me neither, I only got to eighth grade. My teachers said I was stupid."

"They told me that my shyness was a big problem, that I would never be able to have a social life when I grew up."

"You don't seem shy at all."

"You're saying that now. You should have seen me when I was little. I was so shy that I could never open my mouth in class, not even during test sessions, even if I knew the answers to the teacher's questions. After I finished middle school, I started going to a public high school, but I couldn't stand spending five hours around so many people every day, so my parents signed me up for private school, where I took one-on-one lessons. But then even studying there became too much for me, or maybe I wasn't smart enough, I don't know. Then I got sick, and just leaving the house seemed impossible, so I dropped out. No one understood how I felt, not even my parents."

"That's the thing about mental illness—people expect you to act like you don't have it."

Eliza looked at him in amazement. "You're right, that's exactly what I think." She rarely met people so understanding.

Arthur was a kind soul, Eliza could tell from the first moment she met his gaze.

He seemed deeply hurt by life, yet still kind. Maybe that was why she found it so easy to open up to him and tell him personal things.

"It's nice to talk to you." Arthur's next sentence caught Eliza off guard.

Now it was her turn to smile sadly. "Thanks, but again, you're the only one who feels that way. I never know how to talk to other people. I usually make them uncomfortable. I reveal too many personal and embarrassing things too quickly, and I think I just did that to you. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Don't apologize," Arthur said quickly. "It's rare to find someone this honest. Usually people lie all the time." His gaze suddenly became wistful, far away, caught in an old memory that still seemed to hurt him.

"Have they ever lied to you?" Before Eliza could realize he'd asked a question that was too personal, Arthur responded with a sad smile that was the least like a smile she'd ever seen. "All the time."

Eliza wanted to ask him more questions, but she realized that would be too indiscreet, that she'd risk hurting or offending Arthur, and that was the last thing she wanted. "Do you want to make a deal with me?" she asked instead, her tone serious.

Arthur looked at her curiously, then nodded, inviting her to continue. "What people usually do… let's not do that. Let's not lie to each other, let's not keep secrets. I'll tell you everything, and you'll tell me everything. Only if you want to, of course."

Arthur thought carefully for a few seconds, then nodded again. "I like that. I'm in."

"Great." Eliza said cheerfully, ending the subject there, to let him know that he didn't have to tell her anything here and now, but only when and if he was ready. And if he wanted to see her again, of course.

"I'll ask you one question, okay? And remember, lying is not allowed."

Arthur looked nervous, but nodded anyway. "Shoot."

"Do you want to see me again?"

"Of course." The complete lack of hesitation in Arthur's voice struck Eliza, making her blush a little.

"You haven't had your cocoa yet." Eliza noticed, saying the first thing that came to mind to distract herself from the embarrassment. "It'll warm you up."

Arthur seemed surprised once again by Eliza's concern for him; he smiled slightly tiny but grateful and began to drink from his cup in small sips.

A silence fell between them as they finished sipping their drinks, but it wasn't an uncomfortable or awkward silence.

There was warmth, and completeness, in those wordless moments. Two damaged people had crossed paths by pure chance that night, and from that moment on, they had both begun to feel a little less alone in the world.