A Journey to the Other Side

John was floating. We walked by the lab with no weigh in his legs, floating everywhere, enjoying every task, every single second. Nothing would take him apart from the dream he was living.
He was going for a coffee. He had 45 min until the next step of his protocol, and counting when somebody called him.
“Hey John! Someone is here for you.”
“Be right there.”
“Hi!” He was surprised, truly surprised and maybe pleased too, but he was having a hard time putting words together and generate sentences.
“I was nearby and decided to show up and see if you wonna grab a coffee or something.”
“Sorry. Hi Maryann. I was just going on my way out to get a coffee. I would love to.”
They went down the stairs and walked in the sunset. John was getting the feeling that Maryann had something to tell him and he knew he wanted to tell her what happened today but he had no idea how to start.
All in a sudden Maryann made the right question, the question he was waiting for but he had no idea that it could be so simple:
“You shine today. What happened?
Those words left her mouth but she was trying to avoid it, she wasn't sure she wanted to hear his answer. Since the very first second in the lab that she noticed that he was different. He was confident, happy, in harmony with everything surrounding him. And she was sure she wasn't the cause of that and she was afraid to hear his words. But what the hell, she said it so she had to listen.
“Is it that clear? I know I'm not that good hiding my feelings, but I had no idea it was so clear.
I got a letter today, one I was expecting for the last few weeks. I applied for a research position in Europe and today I got a letter saying that I was the chosen one. I'll be leaving as soon as I get my degree. All I've ever wished for is now becoming true.”
Maryann had no idea how she felt. A mix of relief and sadness was hitting her pretty hard. She couldn't say a word.
“Are you feeling well? You don't look that good.”
“No, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy.”
“Are you sure? You've been feeling that for a long time?”
“No, don't worry, it's really nothing.”
Strangely they fell in silence for a long time, both staring at their coffee mugs and drinking in silence.
John was always very straight and he was able to make the questions he wanted whenever it seemed inappropriate.
“Can I make you a really inappropriate question?”
“Sure. I won't promise to answer, but you can ask anyways.”
“In fact I have two: Why you came to see me today? I know it wasn't just a random thing.”
“And the second?”
“What do you feel for me?”
Maryann was surprised. John mentioned before he could do this, make THE question everyone is thinking about but no one says it.
“So I guess you're not the only one to be bad at hiding feelings.”
John was waiting for an answer but he couldn't stop feeling that he shouldn't have said a thing! “She seems upset. You should learn how to keep your mouth shut! But you have nothing to lose, do you?”
Maryann started to talk: “First let me congratulate you. It is amazing when people achieve what they dream. And the reason I'm here is also because I achieved the dream I've been running after and I'd like to know also what you feel for me. Not that it will change anything in my decisions, but everything was so strange and sudden that I'd like to know what I'm dealing with.”
“I was intending to tell you, but I asked first. But before that, what is the dream you achieved?”
“I volunteered to the UN to go to Africa for at least two years and they answered me yesterday.”
“You don't seem very happy. What's wrong?”
“Honestly, I don't know what to do. I really want to go, it's all I've been dreaming for the last months, but know I'm not sure it is the best for me.”
“If you're not sure, don't decide now. Give yourself some time and let things flow. You'll see things will happen naturally.”
“I already accepted. I leave in 2 weeks.”
John shivered. He was completely surprised not only with the words that Maryann just said but also with the consequence that those words had in himself. Was he feeling something more for her?
They both were speechless for a long time and Maryann decided to break the ice.
“I don't know what I feel for you, and I feel terribly for not having the chance to stay to find out. But I guess you won't stay much longer either. I guess it wasn't meant to be!”
“I'm staying a couple of months more than you, not a few days more!” John was sour.
“No need to be like that. You know exactly what I meant!” She harsh back.
“Sorry, I didn't mean it. I don't know either what I feel for you, but I would love to find out and there's no time. Guess you're right, it really wasn't meant to be. At least not now, not here.”
“You really think we'll have another chance to find out?”
“I'm pretty sure that if it has to happen it will happen. It may not be here, nor soon, but if it has to be...”
“It's really comforting to think like that. I wish life was that simple.”
“I know I seem a bit apart from reality, but life is much more simple to understand than we usually think. It's hard, no doubt about it, but it's not so complicated.”
And they continued discussing the way they faced life, and how they had different concepts of God and love.
John forgot completely the things he left in the lab and he invited Maryann for dinner. She felt two things in the invitation: “I'm gonna love this dinner, but I'm not gonna sleep home, and I will regret...”