Esmeralda and Tatti sat across from one another, the distance between them growing with each passing moment. The table, once a mere piece of furniture, now seemed an insurmountable barrier. Around them, the muted chatter of restaurant patrons swelled, threatening to overwhelm their senses.
“What are you—”
“Stop.”
“No, I just mean—”
“It’s not worth it. Just stop.”
A waiter materialized beside them, his youthful face a mask of practiced indifference. “How is everything tonight?” he asked, his gaze fixed on some point beyond their table.
“Oh, yeah, great. Thank you,” Esmeralda replied, her eyes never leaving Tatti’s face. Her untouched plate sat before her, a testament to the tension in the air. The waiter, uninterested, drifted away.
Tatti leaned forward, her eyes brimming with a desperate hope that seemed to shut out the rest of the world. “Esme, come on. We need to figure out a way around this.” Her gaze pulled Esmeralda in, as it always had.
Esmeralda sighed, her resolve wavering. “I guess maybe I can just ask for a new advisor? Or switch to a different program? Whatever I can do to get away from her I guess. Right?”
In a sudden, passionate gesture, Tatti reached across the table, clasped Esmeralda’s hands, pulled her in, and kissed her. “You don’t need to be asking me! It’s whatever you want to do!” Her voice softened, a hint of excitement creeping in. “But since you are asking… I think you should be thinking bigger. Bolder.”
“What do you mean?”
A mischievous smirk played across Tatti’s lips, her eyes flashing with a fiery determination. “I have an idea,” she said, her voice low and filled with promise.
“This past Friday, on the 1300th block of W. Broad Street, the detached garage of Lincoln University Professor Louisa Peters was set ablaze. The fire did not extend to the primary residence and there were no injuries. Officials believe that the fire was started in the garbage cans adjacent to the structure. There are no suspects at this time.”