My Only Regret

The Same Old City

Avery’s P.O.V.

“Hey…. Relax…. We are just out of our city. It’s not like that we are going to any army mission that you are shaking so badly,” Sandra said to me in a comforting tone but it didn’t ease up my tension. New York is a big city. Still I couldn’t be assure that I wouldn’t cross any familiar face. I am sure that no one would recognize me. Still I was anxious.

“Gosh, Avery…. You are sweating so much. Are you feeling airsickness?” Britany asked me this time and I looked at her anxiously. “Yeah… yeah… I must be feeling airsickness. I.. I am also afraid of heights,” I replied to her, telling a white lie through my teeth. I had air-travelled a lot in the past.

“Here…. drink this… you will feel good,” Connor passed me a bottle of juice. I took the bottle with shaky hands. I didn’t want to appear so nervous but I wasn’t able to hide my emotions right now. Dad told me that Sebastian wouldn’t deal with us. Yet I couldn’t be assured about us not meeting with each other in the future. Also, I was afraid of meeting Dave. What if he recognize me? What would I do?

I drank a few mouthful of juice and didn’t know why but felt better. “Okay now?” Sandra asked me once again and I nodded in agreement. “We still have some time. Take a nap. I will wake you up,” she instructed me in a gentle tone. Although Sandra was still junior to me in the department but she was older than all of us. She always gave motherly vibe to everyone.

Her concerned put my mind on ease for a while and I closed my eyes while leaning my head on the seat. “I will massage your head. You will feel better,” I heard her telling me something. I didn’t say to her anything but felt her fingers dancing on my forehead. I took a deep breath and tried to relax my mind.

I didn’t know how but I slept. It was a peaceful and dreamless sleep. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Sandra looking at me with concern. I blinked my eyes to remove sleep from my eyes. “What happened?” I asked her in a hoarse voice. “We are about to reach. Buckle your seat belt,” she told me and I nodded to her while yawning. I buckled my seat belt.

“Thanks, Sandra, for help,” I thanked her sincerely as her massage did a magic on both my mind and my heart. I was now at ease. “Aaah… this is nothing. I am glad that you slept well,” she replied to me with a small smile on her lips. I smiled back and looked out of the window. I felt tears in my eyes when familiar scene appeared in front of my eyes. It was almost ten in the morning. The sun was shining brightly, making me see the outside world clearly.

The buildings were still as tall as they were in my memories. The traffic, the crowd, the Hudson River, everything was the same as it was five years ago when I left this city. I smiled bitterly while taking everything in. I didn’t know what fate would show me this time here but one thing that I was sure now was that I would miss this city badly after leaving it again.

After getting our luggage, we exited the airport and stopped outside the terminal. The familiar scent of the city hit my nostrils making me feel nauseated. I wanted to cry badly but I blinked hard to push my tears back into my eyes. I had to stay strong all the time that I was going to spend here this time.

“I am really happy that today is Saturday. I am so exhausted and want to sleep all day", Jade said while cracking her neck to get rid of tiredness. I felt a tug on my sleeve making me look at Britany questioningly. She was looking in other direction.

“I think they sent someone for us”, she whispered to me and I looked in the direction where she was looking right now. I saw a man standing there with a name board with my name. I was relieved to see an unknown person because I was clearly not ready to meet someone familiar right now. Would I be ready any time soon? We walked towards him. “Ms. Avery Hopkins?” he asked in a polite tone while looking at all of us questioningly. “It’s me”, I raised my hand while answering him in a calm tone.

“Good morning, ma’am… I am Alex Nash from the secretary department of CEO of Walton Inc. I am here to escort you to your apartment that our company has arranged for all of you”, he greeted me in a polite tone while introducing himself. “Thanks for troubling yourself for us, Alex…. Please lead the way”, I replied to him in the same tone and ushered him to show us the way.

“This way, ma’am”, he signaled politely in a formal tone. We all followed his lead and went to the parking area. I had been here so many times in the past but it felt so strange yet familiar to be here this time. I looked at him questioningly when he signaled someone else there. “The company has arranged two cars for you, Ms. Hopkins,” he told me when he met my gaze. I nodded to him and then looked at everyone.

“Let’s split into two teams,” I said in a calm tone. “Britany, Connor, Sandra and Tessa…. You all come with me and rest will be in the next car,” I instructed them and they all nodded in agreement. The driver of the other car and Alex opened the trunks and we put our luggage there before hopping into the car. Alex was on the driver’s seat in our car. The next car followed us during the drive. I was now on the passenger’s seat of our car.

“Uhhhh…. Mr. Nash,” I heard Tessa calling him in a low tone. I looked behind at her questioningly. “Yes, Ma’am?” Alex replied to her while looking into front mirror. I also raised my brows questioningly. “How about our meals today?” she asked in the same tone and a faint smile appeared my lips while I jerked my head a little helplessly. Tessa was a foodie and it was not a surprise to us that she asked this question.

“The kitchen in your apartments are fully stocked, Ma’am. You have two options. One you can cook or you can order take-out and can claim the bill later,” he answered her this time with a small smile on his lips. “Let’s order take away then. I am so hungry and tired that I can’t cook,” she said in a tired tone while rubbing her belly. Connor immediately nudged her, making her glare at him. He was sitting beside her.

“It’s already 11, Ma’am….do … do you want breakfast or lunch to order?” Alex asked her in the same gentle but light tone this time. I looked behind and saw her blushing while pouting lightly. We all shared a gaze and burst into laughter this time.