(no subject)
He rings the bell, rather than just let himself in. We walk up the stairs in uncomfortable silence. His things are just inside the front door to my apartment. I hand over the box, and he balances it against the banister as he pulls my keys out of his pocket. I put my palm out blindly, unable to look up from the floor.
Rather than the cold metal of the keys, his fingertips brush against me. His fingers curl around mine, and squeeze gently, tugging me toward him. I sway for just a moment, but stay in place. His voice is barely a whisper. “I love you.”
I raise my eyes to his. “I love you, too.”
He sighs softly. “I fucked this up.”
I nod. I can’t speak around the knot of fear, rage, dread, and hope in my throat.
He looks down at the dartboard propped against his hip. He sighs again, and looks at me a last time.
The keys are pressed against my palm. He picks up the box, and walks away.
I retreat into my apartment, unable to stand the sound of his footsteps. I sit in the pink chair, my knees pulled up to my chest, and stare out the window opposite me.
And wait.
Rather than the cold metal of the keys, his fingertips brush against me. His fingers curl around mine, and squeeze gently, tugging me toward him. I sway for just a moment, but stay in place. His voice is barely a whisper. “I love you.”
I raise my eyes to his. “I love you, too.”
He sighs softly. “I fucked this up.”
I nod. I can’t speak around the knot of fear, rage, dread, and hope in my throat.
He looks down at the dartboard propped against his hip. He sighs again, and looks at me a last time.
The keys are pressed against my palm. He picks up the box, and walks away.
I retreat into my apartment, unable to stand the sound of his footsteps. I sit in the pink chair, my knees pulled up to my chest, and stare out the window opposite me.
And wait.