1:56 PM

The message came from someone he hadn't seen in almost a year.

Coffee sometime? I realised we haven't properly caught up forever.

He smiled.

They had known each other since university.

Before either of them had assistants.

Before calendars required negotiation.

Before catching up needed a purpose.

He opened his diary.

Tomorrow was impossible.

Thursday was worse.

Next week had two overseas visitors and a board meeting.

The week after that he was in Jakarta.

He found a Wednesday afternoon three weeks away.

How about the 14th? 4 PM?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

A minute later:

Can't that day. Don't worry. When things calm down.

He stared at the message.

Then his assistant called.

"Can I move your four-thirty forward? Something opened up."

He looked at the calendar.

"Sure."

The empty space disappeared.