Chapter Text
It was 4:30 am on a Tuesday, the sun not yet rising, when the gentle yet annoying chiming of an alarm interrupted the deep slumber of the former soccer played turned wellness community leader, Charlotte Matthews.
A barely audible groan escaped the woman as she buried her face into her silk pillow, blindly reaching for the button that would put an end to the disruption and allow her to continue to rest for at least another five minutes.
It was a daily occurrence for her to awake this early, enjoying a head start in completing her long list of duties that were the very reason she was so successful at her job. The week was only just getting started and she still had plenty of activities to prepare for the members of her community. If she didn’t, who else would?
After exactly five minutes had passed, Charlotte pushed herself up into a seated position, her back leaning against the headboard of her bed as she pushed her long black hair away from her face.
Today will be a great day. You are needed. You are loved. You are worthy.
Every morning was started with a few affirmations, whether spoken aloud or kept tucked away inside her head. It all depended on how she was feeling, but a morning of affirmations was never skipped. It was important that she began with positivity. A positive mind would lead to a positive day. That’s what she liked to believe.
Outstretching her arms, she began to roll her head slowly, once clockwise and then counterclockwise before switching to her shoulders. Slowly backwards and then forward. Eyes closed. Deep breath in, slow breath out. Again. One last time. Until finally, she was ready to remove herself from the comfort of her covers.
Within an hour she was ready, stepping out of her residence as if she were about to take on the world. She definitely looked the part.
It wasn’t long until others began to join her, removing themselves from their rooms and heading to their respective areas, each and every one of them greeting Charlotte with a smile and a cheery ‘Good morning!’ The same sentiment was given in return, the warmth they all gave to her causing a feeling of pride and joy that she hadn’t experienced in the years before creating and opening her own wellness center. It was the best decision she had ever made. The ability to help others was a gift she had been blessed with and she took every chance she could to utilize it.
———
Only a few hours had passed, the sun now shining brightly down on the wellness center and as usual, things were going well. Each therapy activity planned for the day had been a success, several members of Charlotte’s community thanking her as she passed for her selflessness in ensuring they received the best possible care they could get.
Charlotte had been in the middle of a conversation with one of her younger members, a woman in her early twenties by the name of Lisa that quickly become one of her favorites with how willing she had been to assist, when she was abruptly interrupted.
“Charlotte!” Her head whipped around quickly to search for the owner of the panicked voice that called out her name, worry quickly settling in and leaving a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Oh, how she hated when something went wrong.
“What is it? Is everything okay?” Usually, she would get annoyed by an interruption, as she prioritized that every member respected one another and their space within the community. That included waiting their turn to engage in a conversation, but she allowed it to slide this time, as whatever the reason sounded important.
“Yes, sorry.” The older man let out a deep breath, his left hand lifting apologetically. “Sorry Lisa. I didn’t see you.” The younger woman simply smiled in response, letting him know that it was forgiven.
“You told me to tell you if you received another email from . . .” His voice dropped to a whisper, that same hand lifted now being brought to the side of his mouth to shield his next few words as if they were some big secret. “You know who.”
Charlotte sighed, that intense worry that filled her only mere seconds ago fading away.
“Thank you, John. I’ll be there in a minute.” And with a gentle pat to his shoulder he was on his way, leaving Charlotte to wrap up her conversation with Lisa before she headed towards the small shack that housed the only computer within the entire community.
It was an old Mac computer that took up at least half of the desk that is sat on, the vents on the side blowing alarmingly loud, giving one of many signs that it was on its last legs. Still, it worked well enough and being that only barely two people used it, Charlotte being one of them, she didn’t see the reason in getting another.
Taking a seat in the leather office chair, Charlotte squinted as she searched for the email that John had full on sprinted to tell her about. At least she knew he took it seriously when she informed him about the importance of receiving something.
After a few seconds of scrolling through spam emails that she had no idea how ended up invading her account, she finally found the one that she was looking for.
In big, bold letters read the name of one of her former teammates: Taissa Turner.
Lottie,
I’m not sure if you’ll see this, as I know you aren’t big on technology and you never responded to my last email, but I thought it was worth a shot.
I got elected for state senator. I promised you I’d let you know if I ever won. Well, I did.
We’re celebrating the big win. Van suggested that I invite you. I told them you wouldn’t come. We haven’t seen each other in years, but you know how they are. They told me to do it anyway. If you happen to see this and decide you want to come, we’d be happy to have you. Hope you’re doing well.
Tai
An invisible string wrapped around Charlotte’s heart and pulled tightly. That promise was made twenty-five years ago, senior year after winning yet another game and celebrating with a team sleepover that ended with a late night discussion about the plans for their future with the only two members that managed to stay awake past midnight.
Charlotte always believed that Taissa would make it big, but she never expected her to remember the promise they made that night. The fact that she did had Charlotte considering taking her up on the offer of celebrating together, but she hadn’t seen her or any of her other former teammates in five years. Not since the divorce from the one and only, Natalie Scatorccio.