Early AM Flight
Posted on Monday, December 26th, 2005 at 9:19.
She lit a second cigarette within 5 minutes of the airport. The airport wasn’t that far away from her apartment. Maniacal red lights, depressingly slow speed limits that reflected the pace of this place’s society, and my anxiety to see my love just made the journey seem longer. We didn’t talk much.
She got two hours of sleep before my first attempt to wake her. Her alarm went off and kept going off, like a certain adult relative with a history of holiday temper tantrums. She ignored the alarm like we ignore this relative. I tried lights, shaking, whispering her name. Fifteen minutes later, she yelled at me to get out of the room with the promising threat that she would get up. I contemplated just calling a taxi, though I’m not sure if there even are taxis in Lynchburg. I think I saw one once, but it might have just been a hipster trying to be cool in a place where nothing cool penetrates. While I fell asleep around midnight, I didn’t sleep well. The fleas in my sister’s apartment were partying harder than my sister last night. Fleas apparently like B+ blood. I’m not sure how fleas can survive with the ever present plume of cigarette smoke in her apartment.
My morning shower relaxed me. I read somewhere that cigarette particles are pushed down in bathroom fog. I breathed more easily regardless. The fleas hopefully drowned a slow painful death. I scrubbed extra hard while acknowledging that it’s been awhile since I manscaped. Such is life.
I couldn’t help but think of how awkward it is being an adult with her as I grabbed my bags from the back seat. She flicked some ash and told me that I loved her. There wasn’t a tone of affirmation in her voice. She knew it’s always been true. It always will be.
Beautiful
I wished you would’ve stayed with me. You know I never use an alarm clock. You tell me what time I need to be up and I get up 15 min b/4. I don’t smoke either. We loved having you and it was so good seeing Arthur and meeting his Dad. Love you
I second what your Dad said. It was so good to see everyone gathered around the table, laughing and having a good time. I just wish Arthur could have stayed longer. I also wish we would’ve been able to get to know Arthur’s dad better. Please stay with us the next time both of you come to town. Love you, Sharon
It was great to see you again. Enjoy Nicaragua and repelling.