1 After 10 years and Day 1 of Destiny?

9:30 in the morning summer of April 14th, 2021 inside the Blue Gym near my apartment on my way out, I bumped into an old friend his name is Ford Select; tall, bald, fair-skinned guy with a very appealing pair of eyes. He was wearing a Plain White T-shirt, Jogging Pants, and Red Running Shoes while listening to music with his wireless earphones. He looked at me and said, "you look familiar, have we met before?" I smiled back and said "No why?". Then he said "sorry, I just remember someone or you just look familiar" then he left and went straight to the locker room, as for me I went straight to the smoking area to ease my tension. Here's why…

It was a rainy morning 18th of July 2011 I was walking going to work when I saw a wallet dropped near a trash can where I normally smoke. I picked it up, it was a black wallet with an army logo outside and then I opened it and I saw a picture of a baby, some coins and change, a rosary, a bullet, and an ID same with my company ID but from a different department. So, after smoking I first timed in for my attendance and then went straight to the Marketing Department and looked for the person in the ID, our IDs doesn't have a picture in it so I just asked a guy named Cali "who is Ford Select? He dropped his wallet and I want to return it" then he answered, "he is already resigned; he just finished his clearance today and left". I suddenly felt bad for some unknown reason so I said "How can I contact him?" then Cali said, "I have his number "then he wrote it on a piece of paper "Thank you" I said and I went back to my station in the Training Department. 1:00 in the afternoon and it's my lunch break, after eating my packed lunch I went to our smoking area and tried calling Ford but his number is unreachable so I went back to work until my shift ended at 7:00 in the evening. I walk my way out of the office and stopped to smoke near the trashcan where I saw Ford's wallet so I dialed his number again but still unreachable.

The next morning on my way to the office as I walk again, I stop in the smoking area and I saw another wallet dropped on the floor near the trashcan this time it's a red leather wallet so I picked it up and open it then I saw some coins and some change, a picture of a bald and good-looking guy wearing a white T-shirt, no identification at all. So, I look around but no one was even near the smoking area so I took the wallet and put it in my bag and went up straight to my station. I tried calling Ford's number this time it rang but no one answered, I tried calling him three times but no one is really answering so I just continued working until 7:00 pm and went back home.

While eating dinner I was looking at the two wallets and I smiled then said to myself "what will I do with these wallets?" then I sent a message to Ford saying "Hi, there I am Reddy Painter and I found your wallet in the smoking area near Mckinley West Building, I've tried calling you but you're not answering. I just want to return your wallet so please let me know when I can meet you. Thanks!". I finished my dinner but I got no message from Ford so I decided to leave the wallets in my drawer and went to sleep.

The following morning as I wake up, I check my cellphone I got a message from Ford's number saying "Hey there this is Ford's ex-girlfriend I am no longer with him, I haven't heard from him also, I'll let him know when he contacts me if he will? Ha-ha" then I replied, "I see, Thank you." Then a sudden thought in my mind pops up that this guy is at a very critical time in his life, I took the wallet from the drawer and looked at the photo of the baby inside the wallet I was thinking that could be his baby or him? I'm not sure if it's a girl or a boy but the baby is smiling like an angel with a crystal eye. I remember my sister when she was still alive, I used to put her picture also in my wallet but she died at the age of 5 her name is Michelle our baby girl. It's my day off, because of the picture I decided to visit Michelle's tomb and brought some flowers Pink and White roses her favorite, and a scented candle Vanilla her favorite scent. As I pray, I said "Michelle wherever you are I know you are watching over me and I just want to tell you I miss you baby girl" then I played the song I always sing to her Chasing Cars, while singing I stood up to take a photo of the cemetery so I can send it to my parents who are in New Zealand then I saw a guy from not so far wearing a White T-shirt, Black Pants and a sling bag holding a Blue and White balloon and a picture frame. He was not facing me so I can't see his face. I turned off the camera on my phone and went back to the tomb of my sister, after 10 minutes I stood up again to see if the guy is still there but to my surprise, he left already. I got curious so I went to the tomb where he was standing and I looked at the picture frame and I was so shocked that the photo is the same photo of the baby in Ford's wallet. The baby was 3 years old when he died his name is Ion Select, I felt so bad for Ford. I left a note saying "Hi my name is Reddy and I have your wallet here is my number 54487273 I'll explain everything when I talk to you. Hope to hear from you soon" then I left towards the parking area where my 5-year-old black pick-up truck is parked while walking I saw a white pick-up truck being drive by Ford exiting the cemetery, I just smiled and said to myself "I just want to return your wallet …".

I drop by the coffee shop to buy an Iced Latte and while waiting for my order I just decided to sit in the chair near the bookshelves then I saw a tissue paper and there is a note saying "hey how do you love life?" it made me smiled and thought whoever wrote this is either bored or going through a hard time then I remember Ford so I replied in the tissue "Love yourself and life will love you back. Period." Then the Barista called my name for my order "Ms. Reddy your coffee is more than ready. Enjoy!" and I smiled and said "ha-ha you just made my day! Thank you! Have a great shift" and She smiled back. I just love that coffee shop everyone is just so friendly and the coffee is really great. Upon going out of the coffee shop I saw another tissue dropped on the floor with a note "Why bad things happen?" then I pick it up and answered again "Because you are strong and living but still need to learn". Then I left the tissue on the table outside hoping that whoever is writing that can read it. Then I drove back to my place to change in my gym clothes. I've been going to the gym for a month now and I am really enjoying it my Trainor is very friendly and fun her name is Beca, she is only 20 but very hard working. She loves to talk about her family, she mentioned her sister just broke up with her long-term boyfriend because of another guy. Her sister cheated and went away with her new boyfriend and she felt really bad for the guy because they are already like a family, he said his name is FR. Beca continued talking but I got reminded again of Ford but I did not bother to share it with Beca I just listened to her. My 2-hour session in the gym ended and as I go, I said to Beca "Thanks for today Beca, I hope your sister is happier and I wish that FR will be happy also maybe not now but soon" then Beca said "You are very much welcome Red, yeah I hope FR will be happier than my sister ha-ha. See yah Red" I smiled back and said "Bad sister ha-ha Bye. See yah!" So, I left the building and stop in the smoking area near the parking then I saw a good-looking tall guy sitting in the bench while smoking and listening to music with his earphones he looks very familiar but I can't remember where I saw him. I just finish my cigar then went to my truck then I suddenly remember the other wallet the red one, it was him the guy in the photo so I rushed back to the smoking area but he was gone then I saw another tissue with a note "How to let go?" a sudden goosebump rushed in my blood, I picked up the tissue and put it in my pocket. It was a very strange day I saw the baby in the cemetery, notes from the coffee shop and gym then the guy in the red wallet. I paused and look at the note then I was thinking about what to write? Then I thought the guy who left those tissues in the coffee shop are him the guy in the Red Wallet… what a small weird world I thought! I can't think at the moment on what to answer in the third tissue so I just kept it in the car and left it there. It was already 8:00 in the evening when I reached my apartment then I went straight to the shower and took a cold shower but my head is still so confused and amazed by all the things that happened. After a shower I took a glass of milk and chocolate then I dialed my best friend's number Hazel I told her everything that happened and she just laughed at me while saying "It might be your destiny …" then I replied "I don't believe in destiny zel, we create it." She said "if you say so… maybe no one knows" then we chit chat for hours and then bid goodbye, time to sleep.

Monday Morning, I got up late because I had a dream about a guy holding a baby and a balloon in the coffee shop with a girl sitting in a black chair holding a sword. I was catching my breath when I woke up and took the wallets from my drawer. I decided not to go to work and go to the coffee shop instead, I was thinking maybe it has something to do with the wallet. So, after breakfast I went straight to the coffee shop but it is still close, they open at 10:00 am so I just waited in my truck in the parking area then a yellow car arrived with balloons, now I got scared already something weird is going on I thought. In my nervousness I decided to smoke and sit on the bench where the guy in the photo was sitting then I saw another tissue with a note saying "Thank you". So, I pick it up again and put it in my bag then the baristas came in to open the shop they saw me and said "Hi Ms. Reddy too early today" then I replied "yeah I did not have a good sleep so I need a good coffee to wake me up." "Iced latte won't be a good idea then Ms. Red" the barista said "Hot Latte then" I replied and we entered the coffee shop all together then I went to the table where I was sitting yesterday the tissue was no longer there. After 10 minutes I got my coffee and then I bravely asked the barista if she knows the guy in the photo? She replied "yes of course he is the owner" I was so shocked when I said "what is his name?" and the staff replied: "Mr. Ford Mill Select he was just here yesterday when you left and he was sitting there in the same spot you were sitting." "No way!" I said, the barista asked "why Ms. Red do you have any business with him?" "No, No, No I don't have any but I need to return something to him". "You can just give it to us if you can't wait for him because he rarely goes here especially now, he is in a critical time of his life, we suspect… he is acting weird lately". She said, so I gave the wallets back to the barista and asked for a pen to answer the tissue from my truck then I wrote "You don't move on, you move forward. Close everything that is open and then open a new close". Then I handed it over also to the barista and I left. I was planning to go back to the cemetery to visit my baby sister but upon exiting I saw Ford going down from his truck holding a balloon wearing a White T-shirt and red jogging pants and wearing a shade. I got so nervous, I wanted to stay and talk to him but I can't, I got so nervous and something weird inside me is saying don't come close to him, so I just went to the smoking area and to my surprise, he was also going towards the smoking area. He dropped his wallet again now it's a black wallet so I pick it up and handed it over to him "Hi Sir you dropped your wallet" then he said, "That always happens, thank you for picking it up". Then I just smiled and said "you are welcome three times" then I said again "Goodbye Sir, I have to go". Then I slowly walked away while smiling and, in my head, "shit! What is happening? "then I Dialed Hazel and told her everything the only word she said was "Wow!"

14th of April 2021, 10:00 in the morning I was still in the smoking area so amazed and in my head "how in the earth that happened? After 10 years … "then a balloon flew in the sky, a hand suddenly appeared from my back with a tissue saying "I know you, thank you three times". I wanted to faint at that moment and my heart stopped beating it's like the world was in freeze mode, my cheeks are numb and a sudden rush of heat flowed from my head to toe. "Hey there how are you Ford?" I said, "You said you don't know me a while ago?" he said "I just forgot where I saw you," I said, he smiled and said "do you have a brain disease or something?" I was like "what? It was already 10 years ago … seriously?" then he said "calm down! I was just joking … how can you forget me when you had my wallet for a long time and saw me at the cemetery and answer all my tissues and messaged my ex-girlfriend and went to the marketing department Ms. Reddy Painter, who always order an iced latte from my coffee shop?" then he sat on the bench, "have a seat, can we talk?" he said. He is like a magnet without me noticing I was already sitting beside him then I started asking about the pictures and tissues after 10 years here are the answers "Who is the baby in the cemetery and in your wallet?" "my brother" he said. "Sorry about him" I said then he just smiled and said "It's okay it is not your fault and he is better wherever he is now" then I got curious on how did he know I saw him in the cemetery "how did you know I was there?" he laughed and looked at me and said "small world, I saw your car in the cemetery then I saw it in the coffee shop on the same day. On my way out of the cemetery I saw you standing in my rear-view mirror then at the coffee shop I saw you standing in the smoking area while I was sitting on the bench, then on the day you returned my wallets I saw you coming out of the shop then I dropped my wallet and you gave it back to me. I wanted to tell you that but I didn't. Then my staff gave me the wallets and the tissue, I wanted to run after you but it was just going to be odd and weird so I let it passed but I kept all the tissues you answered and always read it when I fell down. I tried searching for your name on social media but it was hopeless, I couldn't find you. I tried fixing my relationship with my ex-girlfriend but we ended up just fighting and she mentioned someone messages her about my wallet but that was before I saw you in the cemetery so I was not able to get your number, then I spoke with Beca my ex-girlfriend's sister she mentioned your name because she wanted me to date again and she recommended you, I refused to date you but I enrolled in the gym so I can see you. I've had girlfriends while watching you going here, you are like a maze that always bugs my mind for a long time now… until today happened." I was so amazed at what he said "wow, I feel the same" I utterly said. "It was like …" I continued talking then we both said, "like Destiny?". Then we just laughed. 10 years of curiosity ended on a bench in the smoking area of Blue gym.

I don't really believe in Destiny but because of Ford … I did and still do but maybe some are not destined to be together but destined to cross paths no matter what. And no one knows maybe destiny will play again with them.