The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

As the car cruised forward, Anastasia opened her eyes and instinctively glanced out the window. Just her luck, the car turned a corner, and her view was blocked by a bustling crowd. All she caught was a fleeting silhouette.

Even that glimpse struck Anastasia like lightning. She murmured, "Herman, Herman... Tony, stop the car, stop the car."

Tony, the driver, sensed her urgency and pulled over. "Ma'am, everything okay?"

Henry, her ever-loyal assistant, echoed, "Ma'am, what's happening?"

"I saw Herman," Anastasia exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement. "I saw him."

Without hesitating, she flung open the car door and sprinted toward the spot

where she thought she'd seen Herman. The car had already traveled a few blocks in those precious seconds of hesitation, but Anastasia was determined not to miss this chance. She dashed forward.

Henry followed quickly, trying to keep up with her frantic pace.

When Anastasia reached the spot-a busy hot dog stand-Herman was nowhere in sight. She scanned the area, her heart pounding, and called out desperately, "Herman! Herman! Where are you? Come out, darling!"

Her cries echoed down the bustling street, catching the attention of curious passersby.

"Ma'am," Henry caught up, slightly out of breath. "Are you sure you saw Mr. Salstrom? Why would he be here?"noveldrama

"Henry, I swear, I saw him. Just his profile, but it was him," Anastasia insisted, her emotions swirling and nearly overwhelming her.

That brief glimpse had unleashed a flood of longing she'd kept buried deep, washing over her like a tidal wave.

Her eyes welled up, her voice breaking. "Henry, you have to believe me. Didn't you see him too? Right here, just moments ago."

She pointed to the hot dog stand, trying to convince Henry of what she was so sure she'd seen.

Henry looked around, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I don't see anyone like him. Maybe you're just tired, seeing things. If Mr. Salstrom were really in town, wouldn't he come home?"

Yes, why wouldn't he come back if he was indeed here? The thought made her heart ache. She and their child were waiting.

Anastasia's lashes glistened with unshed tears as she stood on the street that felt suddenly empty without him. She whispered to herself, "Did I really imagine it?"

"Ma'am, you probably just saw

someone who looked similar," Henry

tried to comfort her. "Let's head

back it's getting late. You need rest.

Leave the South Bay Project to Netson and me."

Henry didn't believe Herman had returned. He thought Anastasia was simply seeing what she wished to see. When you miss someone deeply, everyone starts to look like them.

As Henry gently guided Anastasia back to the car, she suddenly felt something underfoot. She stepped aside and looked down to find a single handmade cherry earring.

Memories flooded back, taking her

to the first time she and Herman had

set up a booth at a flea market.

There had been a pair of red cherry earrings, and Herman had

persuaded Flynn to buy them giving them a special meaning: cherries, because of you, signifying longing and a love for only one person.

Anastasia picked up the earring, trying to steady her emotions, and asked the hot dog vendor, "Did you lose this?"

"Nope," the vendor, a middle-aged man, replied. "I wouldn't carry something like that. Would you care for a hot dog, though?"

Anastasia forced a smile. "No, thank you."

Clutching the cherry earring tightly, she pressed him further, "Did Herman, I mean, was there a man here buying a hot dog earlier?"

"There were a few guys, but which one?" the vendor shrugged. "You looking for someone?"

Realizing she wouldn't get more information, Anastasia shook her head, letting the possibility slip away. With Henry, she started back toward the car.

Just as they left, Herman returned, asking the vendor, "Did you see a red cherry earring around here?"

He had realized one of the earrings was missing. Despite being a cheap trinket, it felt precious and familiar to him.

"Yeah, some lady picked it up," the

vendor told him. "She just left,

heading that way. I told her it's just I plastic earring. Plenty more where that came from down the street."