I dream about her often during the day. I imagine her holding me tightly, her soft hand caressing my neck. I can hear her whispering, ‘I Love you, Ricky. You’re just the best. I couldn’t bear to be without you’. And my heart would skip a beat when I hear those words.
I often wonder if we’ll ever meet. But it seems unlikely as she’s in a completely different world to me. Every work day morning I see her and it’s usually at about the same time – a little before 7.45. She rounds the corner and passes by my window and that’s when I get my first glimpse of her. She’s always immaculately dressed and I often play a game with myself and try to guess what outfit she’ll be wearing. I do have a favourite one – it’s the charcoal grey pant suit with a crisp white shirt. She looks so professional. I’d love to know what she does for a job. She must work in an office. She looks really intelligent – must be something to do with the glasses – so I think she’s a lawyer or an accountant.
I know her name’s Caroline. I only know this because I heard the man she’s often with call her that one day when the window was open. I’m not sure it suits her. I knew someone years ago called Caroline and she was loud, raucous and quite unpleasant. My Caroline, on the other hand is serene, the light in my day and my soul mate. I think she’d suit a better name – something more elegant. Francesca maybe? Or Alexandra perhaps.
I’ve heard her speak and she sounds really different to my house mates. Gill’s a nurse from Brisbane and has a deep, booming voice that can be heard throughout the house. That woman has no idea how to talk quietly. Kate, on the other hand, is quiet as a mouse and her voice is all breathy and husky. Caroline’s voice is soft and lilting and she sounds like Kate’s Mum who’s from Ireland. So to me she’s my Celtic Caroline.
Her hair is the darkest brown – almost black. Over the years she’s had a number of styles. These days, it’s shoulder length but she often wears it in a ponytail and it really suits her. Her eyes, though, are her best feature. They’re the deepest green and bewitching. I imagine staring into those eyes and basking in their warmth.
My window is right next to the tram stop and she often has to wait few minutes for the tram, especially when the traffic is busy. Waiting doesn’t seem to bother her. She’ll stand in front of the window and, if she’s on her own, she’ll often be listening to music. I imagine she’s got good taste – not the rubbish that Kate and Gill listen to. I love it when that happens as it gives me longer to stare at her. Sometimes she’ll turn round and she’ll smile at me. And my heart just soars. But eventually the tram will come and then, as quickly as she appeared, she fades from view.
I look out for her at the end of the day too. But she doesn’t always come home at the same time. I imagine in her important job she’s really busy so sometimes needs to work late. I hope the company she works for let her get a cab home so she doesn’t need to bother with public transport late at night. I’d hate for something to happen to her. When I do see her at night it’s such a bonus and I’m disappointed if I don’t.
Sometimes I go weeks without seeing her and I expect she’s on holiday, travelling somewhere exotic with the man she’s with. They probably have great fun – going to exotic overseas locations. Maybe they go to Europe and spend a couple of weeks driving through France. Or maybe they prefer the hustle and bustle of cities and head to New York or Tokyo absorbing all the culture those cities have to offer. She’s recently back from holiday as she’s now sporting a glowing tan. I wonder where she went? Bali maybe? If she did, I’m sure she wouldn’t have stayed in Kuta where Gill and Kate stayed last year. She’ll have stayed somewhere far classier – Nusa Dua or maybe Ubud.
I’d never have the courage to introduce myself to her. I wouldn’t even know how to go about it. So I’ll just need to be content with sitting on the window sill staring at her as I purr…
Stories by Mrs Mac 