Delilah - Present

After giving a peck on Joseph’s cheek, Delilah leaves Heaven’s bar.

With both hands behind her head, she raises her hair to cool off with the summer breeze against her neck. In the street several people are talking and drinking. The smell of a cigarette makes her want to smoke one. Taking a deep breath, she feels happy that the tobacconists are closed at that hour. Sometimes she feels like smoking but buying a pack is a waste for her because as soon as the cigarette is half smoked, she puts it out. "Why don't they sell cigarettes individually to people like me?" She wondered as soon as she turned the corner on her way home.

The bar, which is almost a corner away from her home, makes her feel being part of Joseph and his sister Anna’s family.

Over the years, that neighbourhood has had several modernizations that have improved the lives of its residents. Electricity, basic sanitation, paved streets that were once filled with mud on rainy days... Delilah followed all these changes that made her happy as they made her life easier. The red brick facades have remained, only the decorations, which she can see through the illuminated windows when walking the streets at night, vary. People are different too, not only because they grow old and die, but also because new people have a different way of dressing and living. Most buildings have shops on the ground floor. Nowadays, several have their windows shut due to the end of trade, others have adapted to the times and changed the business, only a few have kept their type of commerce. It is still possible to shop without going to the modern supermarkets, which for Dalila have an impersonal service. She found herself smiling several times to the emptiness of the shop assistant who just wants to attend the next client. She started shopping weekly at different grocery stores and supermarkets to not to arouse suspicion about her permanent appearance. This is the advantage of living in a big city, people forget your face.

At the beginning of her street, one of the old shops has the light on and in front of the open door, construction material is unloaded from a parked van. Her mobile phone beeps an SMS and spoils the possibility of peeking inside the store before the renovation without being noticed. She hopes the new owners will keep some of the original design of the neighbourhood’s old haberdashery that had shelves full of colourful fabrics and threads. Eidel's hands created wonders with a lot of love. Delilah still has the delicate shawl that she bought her and that she doesn't have the courage to wear to keep it from spoiling.

When she got in her flat, she looked in the closet for her "dark as the night shawl", that was how Eidel named it. It was so big that it covered her to the feet, she wrapped it around and hugged herself, leaning the head on her shoulder. She closed her eyes while feeling the soft texture of the knitting.

The big message is from Thomas asking if she is well and scheduling lunch for the next day without a chance to refuse. Joe had once again messed up and he was annoying him as punishment. Everything will be told while cooking her comfy food. She answered him with a happy devil followed by a heart emoji before going to bed. When would those two be an item?