There was nothing extraordinary about the way we met. It was orientation and we were new loan processors. If this was a “how-it-started-versus-how-it’s-going” story, the look back would be boring compared to what happened today. But if I don’t start there, I can’t make sense of today.
It was a Monday morning. I’d just graduated the Saturday before. I thought I’d be on a high, but I was feeling insecure and inexperienced.
This was before I had Lasik, and my contacts had been too painful to wear that morning, so I wore my glasses. They were an old prescription, and they seemed to slide down the bridge of my nose every 20 seconds or so.
You were a loner – I could tell even then. But you channeled your nervousness into a façade of overconfidence. It was simultaneously attractive and annoying.
“Any questions before we take a break,” our trainer asked.
“Yeah,” you piped up. “What brand of coffee is brewing in the lobby?”
Girls in our group giggled.
Some guy cleared his throat.
I pushed my glasses back up and threw a glance at you over my shoulder.
You wore a freshly ironed button-up and a goofy grin. I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I swear to God, you winked at me.
“Gotta learn all of the important stuff up front, right,” you said.
I turned back to the trainer, who smiled and shook his head.
“There’s always one of you in every orientation,” he said.
At the time, I agreed. But he was wrong about you. I know that now. And so does every person who’s still alive because of what you did in that bank today. © 2021 Portia July
To Be Continued…
Portia July 