Chapter 5: Break into Two
With the first touch of Vanessa's hands on his shoulders, the floodgates of long-forgotten emotions opened. As she gently kneaded the tense muscles in his back, Joshua slowly released the pent-up stress that had been holding him hostage.
His cheeks began to warm with every passing moment. The thought of his past encounters with Vanessa flooded through his memory like an untamed river, and he struggled to stay focused on the present.
As if reading his mind, she asked with a playful grin, "So, should we get started, or are you going to continue reminiscing on old times?" Vanessa watches as he shifts in his seat, visibly uncomfortable from the question.
She quickly realizes her attempt to break the ice with humor had backfired. Pressing her lips together, she retreats to a more professional demeanor. "I apologize, Joshua. I sometimes forget my place. I am your masseuse today—it is my duty to make you feel at ease and nothing more.
With a slight nod, Vanessa resumes her position beside the massage table, placing her hands back on my shoulders.
Her fingers press and release gently, her thumb circling a knot that lingers in my upper back.
Vanessa’s presence becomes a familiar comfort as the tension melts within me.
I glance up at the mirrored wall, noticing my reflection, now draped in shadows, lost in thought.
My gaze falls upon the woman’s body behind me.
Her strong arms and shoulders intertwined with mine were familiar to me.
The way her fingers expertly identified each strained muscle conjured memories buried deep down. But as her hands glided soothingly across my muscles, releasing each tension, those memories floated to the surface—memories of us sharing secrets and laughter, leaning on each other as we faced the pressures of high school life.
As if sensing my distraction, Vanessa softly spoke, "Feeling good?”
The question was innocent, yet an air of curiosity hung in the air. I nodded, still facing the mirrored reflection.
"Yes, Vanessa. Your touch is very soothing. Thank you."
She continued working on my back, finding deep-rooted knots that hadn't been addressed in ages. With a gentle firmness, she undid them one by one. Her fingers seemed to speak my body's language, as if they had missed me and wanted to reconnect.
A pause in her movements caught my attention; she had sensed my tension returning and traced her thumbs delicately along my spine.
"What's on your mind, Joshua?" she asked softly.