September

Elsewhere
2017-09-20 06:24:43 (UTC)

Repeat.

<Over my Dead body by Drake> plays faintly in the room.
The laptop screen glows low. She's splayed across the bed looking up at the ceiling.
-Deep breaths.....- Her chest rises and holds... 1... 2 ... 3. Exhale.
Repeat.
-Where's my phone.- Her hands pat around the sheets a moment slight of irritation.
-Bingo.- She dials the number.
-Deep breaths..- In then out, her respirations closer to a hiccup.
Repeat.
The phone rings.
Once, twice... the third time lagged.. a fourth.. fifth...
-Hang up. Now.- She removes phone from her ear and stares longingly at its brightness. It continues to ring.
"Hello." His voice is deep; rough like this was his first word spoken of the day.
Panic quickens through her chest. Only one question plagues her mind.
"Don't lie. Did you answer because you missed me or because you're lonely?"
The line is quiet. His pause evident of consideration.
"I missed you." So gruff and wet. -Did his voice just shake?-
"Where are you?" She asks.
"Home." He answers.
"Oh."
"Why did you call?" He says. -I was lonely-
"Come over." She replies.
The dial tone moans into his ear. A moment later he's backing out from the driveway. When he arrives, she's still lonely. So badly she wanted to believe his lie, and I think he did too. Wrapped within a naked embrace; yet they're still alone.
-I can't do this anymore.- She counts his breaths while he sleeps. In then out; 1... 2... 3...
Frustration builds and she vows this will NEVER happen again. Morning spills from under the curtains, and he rises like clockwork. The day begins and ends the same as any other: stuck on repeat.




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