A convenient surprise

Sasha had been sitting in Atlantic Coffee for only half an hour but he had already drunk three lattes. The hot comforting coffee was helping him keep calm. He had made up his mind that morning that he was not going to put off the evil deed any more. He simply had to tell Rose the truth.

Slowly Sasha put down the coffee cup he had been holding for the past five minutes. He stood up, walked over to the newspaper rack in the corner and put back the magazine he'd picked up when he arrived. Then he ordered another coffee.

He sat down again and put his wallet back into his backpack. He put the backpack down on the floor, but didn't bother to pick up his cup of coffee. He was dreading the moment the door opened and Rose walked into Atlantic Coffee. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her in any way at all.

Sasha put his head down on the table and didn't move for a couple of minutes. Why was life so difficult? He had been going out with Rose for almost three years and until a couple of weeks ago he really had thought she was the girl for him.

But two weeks ago, Vivian had moved into the flat next door and Sasha's world had turned upside down. Now he had to tell Rose that everything was over between the two of them because a new girl had entered his life. She was going to be heart-broken.

Suddenly Sasha jumped as a voice spoke behind him. He hadn't seen Rose come into the coffee shop and he sat bolt-upright on his chair. Rose put down her bag and sat on the seat next to him.

'Sasha, I have something to tell you. I can't put it off any longer. Everything between you and me is over. I have met someone else. I'm so sorry. Please try and understand.'