The Distance Between
Copyright© 2025 by Art Samms
Chapter 5
ELIAS
The phone buzzed once on the counter beside my laptop, then again. I grabbed it mid-buzz, not expecting anyone I knew — not really. Masoud’s name lit up the screen.
I answered immediately. “Hey.”
“She’s here,” he said in his usual accented English, a conspiratorial tone in his voice.
“Who—?” I started, but I already knew.
“The girl. Leila. She’s here right now. If you want to talk to her, you better hurry.”
I shot up from the stool so fast it scraped across the tile. My brain kicked into high gear even as my body fumbled — should I change shirts? Brush my hair? Shave? No time. She might be gone in minutes. But I couldn’t just bolt downstairs like some lovesick puppy either.
I forced myself to slow down, ran a hand through my hair, and took a breath. Cool. Just cool enough not to look desperate.
By the time I pushed through the bakery’s glass door, the bell overhead chiming, my heart was thudding against my ribs like it thought it had a chance to escape.
And there she was.
Leila stood near the counter, one hand resting lightly on a white pastry box, her profile soft in the amber glow of the shop lights. She looked up as the door opened, and for half a second — maybe less — her expression brightened. Just a little. Maybe I imagined it. Maybe I didn’t.
“Hi,” I said, a little out of breath.
“Hi,” she replied, eyebrows lifting. “I didn’t know you came here.”
I tried to sound casual. “Actually ... I live upstairs.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “Really?”
“Yeah. Right above. My place is small, but it came with a view of this place, so I figured that made up for it.”
She smiled — not just polite, but warm. She gestured toward the counter. “Well, you’ve picked a good spot. Masoud is kind of a local legend.”
“I’m beginning to understand that.”
There was a pause, the kind that wasn’t awkward, just tentative. Then she said, “So ... how’s teaching?”
“Good. I like it so far. Still settling in, but the students are sharp. Some more motivated than others, of course, but that’s universal.”
She nodded. “I told you that I do translation work — mostly Farsi to English, sometimes the other way. I can hold my own, but I keep running into moments where I think, if only I had more confidence with it. You know?”
I smiled. “Actually ... yeah. I do know. I’ve been there with other languages. And if you ever wanted to practice or improve — we’ve got some great programs at the institute. And I’d be happy to help, personally. You wouldn’t have to join a full course unless you wanted to.”
She looked at me for a moment, as if weighing something. “I might be interested in that.”
Just then, Masoud reemerged from the back, wiping his hands. “We’re closing in five minutes,” he said apologetically, glancing at the clock behind the counter.
I turned back to her. “Maybe we can talk more about it tomorrow? If you’re free.”
“I could stop by the institute after work,” she said. “What time do you finish work?”
We agreed on a time and place. Suddenly, I felt as though I was floating.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” I said.
“You will,” she replied, tucking the pastry box under her arm.
We said goodnight — soft, a little shy — and she disappeared into the cool twilight.
I turned and walked slowly back up the stairs, heart buzzing, a warm feeling throughout me. I hadn’t even eaten dinner, but I felt full. Full of energy. Of something I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Hope, maybe.
Or maybe it was just the beginning of a story.
LEILA
The sweets had helped, a little.
My parents weren’t exactly won over, but the sight of a cream-filled shirini box on the kitchen table last night had softened their mood. Even Baba’s voice, usually sharp when I came home late, had been neutral — almost amused — as he reached for a honey-drenched zolbia.
But of course, goodwill never lasted long in our house without a price.
That morning, while I stood at the sink rinsing a coffee mug, Maman brought it up again.
“You remember your cousin Nasrin said he’s a very good dentist,” she said, her tone casual, but firm. “He has his own clinic now. And his mother is very religious.”
I didn’t bother turning around. “I’m sure he’s very accomplished.”
Maman sighed — that particular sigh that always meant I’m being patient now, but not for long. “He’s only asking for tea, Leila. Just one meeting. Two weeks from Thursday. You’ve avoided this long enough.”
I closed my eyes briefly, then dried the mug and set it in the cupboard. “Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll meet him. Just tea.”
“You’ll see, he’s very polite. And good-looking. Nasrin says he reminds her a little of...”
I slipped away before she could build a full case study. The decision sat like a stone in my stomach as I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.
The day at work was ordinary, which was both a relief and a disappointment. No sudden fire to put out, no dramatic change in assignments, just the usual documents, the usual back-and-forth over translations. I found myself glancing at the clock more than once — not because I was eager to leave, but because I couldn’t stop thinking about the message I’d promised to send.
But when the text came, it wasn’t from Elias. It was Darya.
Darya:
Food stand? Usual time?
I stared at it for a second. Then I pressed the call button instead.
She picked up after two rings. “Leila jan? What’s up?”
“I can’t meet tonight,” I said.
A pause. “Why not? You’re not still mad at me about that shampoo comment, are you?”
I laughed, despite myself. “No, nothing like that. I just ... have some things to figure out. About this dentist.”
“Oh.” Her voice flattened. “That again.”
“I can’t avoid it anymore. Two weeks from Thursday. I told them I’d go.”
Darya made a low groaning sound. “You poor thing. Does he at least have a neck? Not another headshot cropped at the jawline?”
“I seem to remember him possibly having a neck. At least, I think so.”
“Well, if he’s a dentist, at least his teeth should be decent.”
I snorted. “That’s not helping.”
Then came a moment of silence, and I could feel her waiting. I hesitated.
“Also...” I said slowly. “I’m going over to the institute. To see Elias.”
Dead silence on the line for a full second.
“WHAT?!”
“Darya—”
“No, no, no, you don’t get to just drop that and breeze past it! You’re going where to see who?”