The lamplight shone like glass in the rain puddles on Waterloo bridge. The rain doubled in intensity as the cars sped through the night and crashed through the puddles.

I could see you breathing as the cold air clouded over each word. You were beautiful, but I didn’t dare to admit it. Our sturdy umbrellas did their jobs well as we walked and talked. I should say, she talked and I listened. It was a heartbreaking story, but I knew I had to hear it. 19:45, 2/10/2016, that moment was here and I had never felt so valuable. All of my life I had wanted to be useful. That was why I’m in this line of work, wasn’t it? Now, here I am, Emerald’s only life life. I had better step up and play the true hero that every office agent pretends to be.

She stopped and sealed her lips, so the sound of her high heeled shoes took centre stage. We must have just reached the middle of the bridge before Emerald stopped, turned and looked at me, directly. Her mascara had smudged under her eyelids. This was my clue. Had she been crying? I should say something.

“You know, you are a very strong person. Not anyone can do what we do and come out unscathed. That’s why they only hire the best, we’re not just anyone. We are the ones. You’re a credit to your country. They may never know the details, but I do and I’ll die knowing them.”

Her lips unfastened themselves from her, tight and unforgiving grip. She had been taught never to crack, never to reveal. What must that do to a person? The words that came next shocked me, but I knew I couldn’t look surprised. She was vulnerable, and had brought me into her zone of safe keeping. I had to be a reliable, unshakeable listener. Another pause, it was my turn again. I  felt my eyes unconsciously squint as I searched for the right thing to say. In the end I settled on changing the subject and we kept walking. Promptly we reached the end of the bridge.

Her story was told, and I was entrusted to keep it.

“My flight leaves at five, when you need me in Budapest, look up the name Lorna Ramsey.”  The information was given calmly and almost coldly. Was this the same girl that had opened her heart to me minutes earlier? Lorna Ramsey had already begun. Our time had ran out.

I took the brown envelope from the pocket and handed it to her, then, at last, she smiled.

Emerald needed to smile.