I needed to work. I had to stop moping in my apartment, and look for a job to move forward. And especially to avoid getting bored during the day and rethinking my past. An old and dull life.

I hoped to have enough courage to turn the page definitely, but I didn't feel ready to live happily. At least I was still alive and I didn't have suicidal thoughts...

I took a deep breath and looked at the newspaper in search of a simple job. Money wasn' the most urgent thing to have. With my savings, I had enough to hold a few years.

As I leafed through, I saw some places to be filled as a secretary. I was the ideal candidate. In fact, I only knew how to do that. This work had taken me all my years. I didn't, however, hate to encounter words, figures, symbols, but this time devoted to work had left me without any other leisure.

I continued to turn the pages without finding what I was looking for. After a sigh, I raised my head and admired the sky from the window. No cloud disturbed the clear blue of this infinite ceiling. The simple fact of seeing this immensity returned me to the image of his blue eyes. I was astonished to see the eyes of my unknown person through my memories. I had only crossed his path once, and I already think about him. Perhaps his resemblance to my former boss disturbed me deeply.

I sighed and threw the paper on the coffee table. Nothing interesting.

I stretched myself and decided to take a walk. Shop windows often contained posters of little work that I could possibly do. And fresh air was good to my morose state.

My legs carried me through the streets where commerce brought regulars. I looked at the papers on the windows one by one, hoping to find a secretary's post. I sighed when I found only jobs of housekeeper, tutoring or childcare.

I went into a little restaurant and ordered a coffee. At the table, I waited patiently. The owner received a phone call and immediately picked it up. His wife spoke to him as he burst out laughing. From what I understood, his wife couldn't handle all the paperwork.

I didn't know if I had to get up to announce that I was there. A secretary. It was very indiscreet on my part, but it was the luck I expected, and maybe the only chance I had. I got up and apologized to the man of about fifty years old. He apologized as he certified that the coffee would arrive.

"Wait, don't hang up please. I'm sorry, but I've listened parts of your conversation. And I'm looking for a job as a secretary. I even have a resume on me."

I rummaged through my purse and pulled out the sheet to hand it to her. He remained silent for a moment, which foreshadowed that he hadn't appreciated my indiscretion. With a sigh, I apologized again and left, but he surprised me by telling me to follow him.

Astonished, I went behind him into the backroom and heard him announce my qualifications to his wife. I swallowed and hoped that she would like me to help her. He nodded several times, then took a paper and a pen to write down an address and a phone number. He hung up and handed me the paper.

"This is the address my wife works. She is a nanny, but the children she was caring for have grown up now," he said while laughing. "One of the boys lives alone in the family home, and as they have grew attached to my wife, which doesn't surprise me, she continues to work as cleaner, cooker and whatever she can do. "

I listened carefully, and thanked him for accepting my request. I bust the coffee in better humor, and left the restaurant with a light heart. I went to the address to speak to the nanny. I didn't know if she was empowered to hire me, but she had told me through her husband that she would like to talk to me if possible.

With a smile, I stared at the family home with amazement. I rang and waited for the electric gate to open. I hastened to ascend the few stair steps which separated me from the front door. An old woman dressed in a spring dress with over a blue apron welcomed me with a big smile. I thanked her for receiving me, and she eagerly invited me to sit down at the kitchen table. She seemed to prepare a pie or a cake in view of the flour scattered on the table and the oven.

"My name is Elena, and I've been working here since, oh god, so many years. I know the children Alex and Max since they were little demons. One of them went to a big city and opened a business, and the other still lives here, and works in a garage at the end of the street. To be frank, he has trouble with the organization. And I'm too old to always remind him of things to this little potty. I've been telling him for years to hire a secretary to help him sort out the papers and classify his appointments. But he doesn't listen. I swear. Sometimes he's so stubborn!"

She shook her head, disapproving of his behavior as I stared at her with amusement. She was smiling so much and pretty expressive.

"Well, you're here! You're going to put all these papers in order. Actually, I would also like you to put away the old papers that are in the rooms. I know it's not part of your job as secretary, but-

- Of course, there's no worry... Is he in his garage?

- Oh no, Alex is upstairs sleeping."

I looked at the clock which indicated six pm. Elena followed my gaze and burst out laughing.

"He's been up all night to repair a customer's old car. He is like that; he prefers to work the night alone. I also think he's trying to avoid people. My little boy is not a very talkative person."

After the oven rang the end of the cooking, we shared a piece of cake while I was reading and signing the contract. I was relieved to get back to work, and I realized that being in the presence of this woman simply put me in a good mood. She was talking on her own, but I didn't feel excluded.

Exhausted on my way home, I ran a bath and stayed in the water thinking back to this work that could help me move on. During that day, I had never thought of David. Until now. As the minutes passed, I checked my cell phone before sleeping. No calls or messages. My solitary life was going to end tonight, tomorrow I'll see Elena and her contagious smile. And I was impatient to see her again.

The next day I woke up early to stand before the house. Like yesterday, Elena invited me in with a big smile. At first she showed me an office which was crumbling with paper to the ceiling. It was dusty and tidy. We couldn't even see the ground.

"I'll help you get the papers out of the room, so I could finally clean up that office. And really, it was time to clean it!"

I smiled and could only nod. During the whole morning we brought piles of papers into a room where only a bed and a cupboard were placed. It would seem that there were four rooms upstairs. Since there was no one left but the youngest of the family, the other rooms were no longer useful.

After a tiring morning, Elena went downstairs to prepare a hearty breakfast. I told her I would stay upstairs to look at the papers in the room. Many were old taxes. All I had to do was sort through it.

"Who are you?"

The voice of the man made me jump. Fortunately I was sitting on the floor, otherwise I would certainly have fallen. I turned my face to the door of the room to see the man who looked very much like my old boss. My unknown blue-eyed guy. With his arms folded, he stared at me with suspicion.

"You?" I announced in astonishment.

"We know each other?"

"No, no," I hastened to add. "I'm the secretary Elena hired."

I got up to present myself better, but by the time I was standing, he had already disappeared. I heard him shouting Elena's name, followed by a heated discussion about the fact that it wasn't necessary for me to be present. It was offensive to be rejected, and above all, to hear their conversation. A door slamming made me jump and then a heavy silence hovered.

Uncomfortable, I didn't know what to do. So I sat down and just continued my work. I heard Elena's footsteps on the stairs.

"Alicia..."

"Don't worry, I'll leave. Thank you so much for your hospitality," I announced as I stood, shamefully staring at the ground.

"What?! No! It's out of question that you leave me girl!" cried Elena.

"But..."

"No buts. He's a fool. You will not leave here until after these three months of work, it's me who tell you!"

I looked at the determined old woman and tried to smile at her kindness, but this story had frozen my emotions. I didn't know anymore if working here was finally a good idea.