"Wait! Hold the door!" I called as I raced to the elevator. I had an job interview to get to and I was already ten minutes late.
The only person in the elevator held their arm out, keeping the doors open just long enough for me to board. As the doors closed I briefly examined the other passenger, he was handsome. Dressed in a suit, he looked professional yet relaxed; his facial features were sharp and his eyes were an electric blue, his hair a dark, black colour. I stepped in front of the man to push the corresponding button for the floor I needed to get to and realized that we were both going to the same floor.
"Vanessa Wright? Is that really you?" Getting a good look at my face, the man with the raven black hair cocked his head to the side. As he spoke I instantly knew where I remembered him from, though I hadn't heard from him in years.
"Connor? Connor Blackhart?" I turned to him and upon getting a clear look at his face I knew it was him. "It's been so long I hardly recognize you. How have you been?" I hadn't seen him since the day I broke his heart.
"I've been good, busier than ever, actually. And yourself?" His tone and posture said he was calm and relaxed, but I knew better. I looked into his eyes and saw the same broken young man I fell out of love with five years ago.
"I've been alright, can't complain. What are you here for?"
Connor shook his head, "I work here. Actually, I'm supposed to be interviewing some applicants as we speak."
"Oh, how interesting." Great, my ex is going to interview me. I might as well give up now.
"You've applied for the position, haven't you?"
I sighed, "Yeah."
He chuckled, "Well I wish you luck. I promise I'll be as unbiased as possible."
Fat chance, I thought. The day I broke up with Connor he came to propose to me; dressed up, extravagant ring, roses in hand and everything. When I told him it was over he dropped everything in his hands, turned and left with tears in his eyes, leaving both the ring and the roses at my feet.
"How's your family been? I haven't seen them in a while." I ask.
He nods a bit before answering, "They've been good, my parents recently moved to Iowa."
"Oh, well there's something." I smile, hoping he'll start a conversation and we won't have to stand in silence as we make it to the top floor of the building. As expected, he doesn't. Just stands there with his guard up. I can't blame him, I guess. I cover my mouth to yawn, and Connor gives me a questionable look.
"Tired already? It's only 3pm."
"I haven't been sleeping well lately." Because I've been playing that day in December over and over in my head constantly.
Connor nods and runs his hand through his hair, and I can't help but notice a wedding band on his ring finger.
"You're married?"
"Oh, yeah..she and I met a 6 months after we broke up. It was love at first sight. We married two years later." His smile faded and he looked away. I opened my mouth to speak but no audible words came out.
"Connor..."
He turned back to me, "Yes?"
"I'm sorry...for that night, I mean. I wish it could have gone differently. I-I didn't know what I had at the time..."
Connor nodded, unsure what to say, "I see." As the elevator pings and the doors open, he steps out and starts to walk away. I close my eyes and breathe deeply, willing myself not to cry.
"Oh, and Vanessa?" Connor turns and calls back to me.
I look up, far too hopeful, "Yeah?"
"You're late for your interview." He smiles at me, but it isn't like the smiles he used to give me back then. It's not sweet, not warm, it doesn't accentuate his tanned skin like it used to. It's just...numb.
I manage a smile and my voice cracks as I say, "I don't think I can take the job. But, thank you for the opportunity Mr. Blackhart. Good luck with the interviews, I hope you find someone to fill the position." With that the elevator doors close, and a piece of my heart is lost to me forever.
