Getting Closer

During Sharon's first month working at our corporate headquarters, we started to hang out with each other.   I was always the early riser and would get in around 7:00 or 7:30 am every morning.  Sharon was not a morning person and would usually stroll in around 9:00 am.  Time seemed to stand still for me as 9:00 am couldn't come around fast enough.  I couldn't wait to see her, how she would wear her hair and what she would be wearing.  But most of all, I couldn't wait to hear her voice.  Since I knew what time she would arrive, I would always stop by a few minutes later to say hello and make small conversation.  Some times she would be running late and I would remark, "Oh, you just got here."  She was trying to play down her late arrival and I probably didn't help matters.  But I would always stop by and chat.  I even added to her initial training.  Since we were in Burbank, a group of us would go to lunch together on a regular basis.  We would always include her.  Sharon and I would always find ourselves sitting next to each other chatting.  I remember asking her if she liked to ice skate as that was one of the things that I enjoyed doing, the cold and the gliding feeling of the ice beneath my feet.  I told her that we should go sometime.  Throughout that time, I would often think about her in the evenings.  I would wonder what she was doing and whether she was thinking about me as well.  Sharon was never far from my thoughts.  I remember listening to songs on the radio that would immediately make me think of her.  Something did puzzle me.  Patrick had said that she was engaged, but I didn't see a ring on her finger or any pictures on her desk.  Also, during our many conversations there was never any talk of a significant other.  I did give her openings to say something, still there was no mention of it.

Sometime later, after really doing some soul-searching, I decided to do something about how I felt.  We had just gotten back from lunch and I walked her to her cube.  My heart was racing as I asked her if she wanted to do something outside of work.  I kept thinking to myself that it seemed like an eternity for her response.  Sharon told me that she had some things to figure out and that she wasn't sure about her relationship.  So I took a big breath and grabbed a piece of paper and pen.  I started writing and gave her the paper.  I told her, "Here is my phone number.  If you figure it out and you are free give me a call.   If not, no worries."  As I walked away I couldn't help but feel like I had been in this situation before.  Hopefully, this one would be different.