The Thoughts of a Scared Man

William sits down on the dark couch. Poof. The air streams out until the cushions sit flat and lifeless like slices of burnt toast.  He wiggles uncomfortably making the leather squeak as he moves. Then comes the silence. Tori sits next to him, her heart beating, afraid of what he might say. “So…how are you?” “Oh, I’m…I’m fine. Just fine” she replies, lying right through her teeth.” What  is he supposed to say now? She just sits there, sitting as still as ever, making him grow more uncomfortable by the minute. This is horrible. How could he look into her deep brown eyes, her soft and gentle face and tell her? It would be like hitting a puppy. Her eyes would well up with tears, her brow would furrow into wrinkled lines on her forehead, aging her instantaneously like she were shriveling up and dying.

            He takes long, slow, deep breaths, filling up his lungs until they hold too much air and he can’t take in any more. He is killing the time, trying to avoid the emanating despair that will soon wash over the woman sitting next to him. She begins to shake uncontrollably: small little shivers. Adrenaline is now pumping through her, she can’t just sit there; she has to do something. “Just tell me already! Tell me you don’t care! Tell me you’re leaving! Just go! GO!” Tori is now standing, her chest heaving with sobs. She collapses onto the floor.

            William slides off the couch and lifts up her head. He puts both of his hands on either side of her face and kisses her softly on the cheek. She glances at him, unable to make full eye contact and wipes her face. She sits up, leaning against the couch. He copies her motions and after a minute he gets up. Brushing off his pants, he turns to walk away. He takes three steps forward and stops. This is it. This is the last of it all. He looks back at her, just a bundle on the floor. Turning back around, he takes those final steps to the door, turns the knob and pushes. He steps over the threshold and feels light as air. The sun is shining and there is a cool breeze running across his face, waking up his senses. He smiles to himself.