Just a little something. 984 Words.
My day had been going by so slowly. I had the day off from work, and so I was relaxing doing nothing in my apartment. I was checking the time constantly all afternoon, waiting for when you would get home so I could go and see you. I had never gone through a slower day in memory. I was sitting there on my couch, absently staring at the ceiling, when an idea struck me. I stood up and changed into jeans and a shirt and rushed out of the house. I walked quickly down the sidewalk, the mid-morning sun warm on face. I tried not to smile as I turned the idea over and over in my head, but of course it was no use. I walked for a few blocks, turning here and there, until I finally reached my destination. The car in the driveway was gone, but I knew it would be. I took the few strides up to the front door and turned the knob, hoping it would be unlocked. Sure enough, it was. I smiled again; you had always trusted people too easily.
I entered your empty home silently. I was grateful that you would not be home for quite sometime. I walked down the small hallway and turned right into your room, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply. I could still smell the handsome scent of your cologne in the air. I looked around your room, seeing that you had failed to straighten the sheets and blankets on your bed. I smiled, recalling the nights that we had spent together in that bed. I wandered over to your dresser and opened one of the drawers. I moved a few shirts around, trying to find my favorite one of yours. Just as I was thinking that perhaps you had worn it that day, I found it and pulled it out. I slipped off my own shirt, tossing it over onto the bed, and pulled on yours. It was a little bit too big for me, but I didn't care. I hugged it around myself, smelling your cologne once more. I walked to the bed and fell onto the soft mattress, wrapping the top blanket around my body. I could have stayed there all afternoon, but then I realized that maybe you were going to come home for lunch. I jumped up and hurried out of your room, shutting the door gently behind me. I should have left then, after coming into your house and putting on your shirt and lying in your bed. I didn't want to be there if you decided to come home. But then I glanced down the hallway into the bathroom, and I could see a bottle of bubbles for a bath sitting on the edge of the tub. I grinned and headed straight for it. You always hung your robe up on the back of the door, and sure enough there it was on the hook. I pulled off my jeans and your shirt and slipped my arms into your robe. I turned the knob on the bathtub and left to wait while the water grew warmer. I wandered back down the hallway. I had been in your house with you countless times before, but it somehow felt different now. The only sound was the water running into the tub, and my feet on the soft carpet. As I walked toward the den, I looked at the pictures that were hanging on the walls. You had hung several of you and your family. There was only one of the two of us, but that was alright. I smiled at our picture, reaching out to straighten it even though it was already perfect.
I continued to the den and walked up to your record player. No matter how much I had tried to persuade you, you were always so stubborn when it came to your vinyl records. You were never willing to part with them, even if you were paid for them. I smiled, rifling through your vast collection. I pulled out a record that I knew the both of us loved and put it on the track. The sounds of Johnny Cash quickly filled the house. I was heading back to the bathroom for my bath when something caught me eye in the spare room. I walked into the sparse room and looked at the desk against the wall. There was an envelope on it, and your named was scrawled elegantly across it. I smiled and picked it up, trying to remember when I would have left you a love note. I opened it up and pulled out the piece of paper inside, and saw that there were just a few lines written. I read them once through and frowned. I wasn't sure how many times I read them before it sank in. It wasn't in my handwriting. This simple, yet beautiful, love note was not written in my writing at all.
"Hello, love. I love you so, love. Meet me at midnight."
I felt my throat swell up as the tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I went back into the bathroom and turned the water off. I clawed at your stupid robe and threw it to the ground, pulling my jeans back on. I ran back into your bedroom, tossing what was my favorite shirt of yours onto the bed to grab my own. I slipped it on and walked back out. I stood there in the hallway for a few minutes. I closed my eyes and began to cry as my heart was slowly breaking. I made my way back to the front door and pulled it open. I turned back to look at your still empty house, tears flowing down my cheeks. I had a feeling that this would be the last time I would step across that threshold.