Color of the Night

You both lay there, talking on the couch and end up falling asleep in each other’s arms. As the night passes and dawn hits you slowly wake up. Carefully you slip out of Gerry’s arms and cover him up with the afghan from the back of the couch. You look over and see the sock monkey laying on the floor. You slowly pick him up and set him on the end table. You look back at Gerry and head off to your bedroom. You throw on a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt and your boots. Carefully you pick up your helmet and walk out the door.

Hours later Gerry wakes up slowly realizing where he is and that he’s alone. He looks around the apartment and notices your helmet is missing. He quickly gets dressed and heads down to the garage.

“Joe! Joe!” He yells.

“Damn Gerry, you don’t have to yell. What is it?” He asks.

“It’s Sam. We um . . . ended up spending the night together and when I woke up this morning she was gone.” Gerry explained as he noticed it was pouring down rain.

Joe walked over to where Sam kept her bike and saw it was gone.

“Hop in my truck I think I know where she went.” Joe says grabbing his keys.

The cemetery was quiet except for the sound of the pouring rain. You were completely soaked to the bone but you knew what you had to do. You made your way to James’s grave and once there you knelt down on the wet ground.

“Well James, you’ve got to be thinking I have completely lost my mind this time and I don’t know maybe I have. I met someone. Heck he’s an actor, believe it or not. Sat and watched a movie last night with him. The movie actually made me think about how I’ve never really said goodbye to you. God James, I don’t want to do this but really there’s no other choice. I have to let you go.” You say as the tears begin to fall.

You lean your head up against the headstone and begin to cry uncontrollably. You then feel a hand on your shoulder. You slowly look behind you and see Gerry kneeling down beside you.

“Come on love. Let’s get you out of the rain before you catch yourself a nasty cold.” He states as he slowly helps you to your feet.

“Jeeze Sam you look like a pig that’s been wallowing in the mud. Are you trying to catch pneumonia? Seriously girl I don’t know what I’m gonna do with you.” Joe says in a scolding tone.

“Joe, I had to do this okay.” You reply beginning to realize just how cold you are.

“Sam, your lips are turning blue. Get in the truck. I’ll put your bike in the back.” Joe orders.

Gerry helps you into the truck and then goes back to help Joe lift the bike. They put your bike into the back of the truck and climb up into the cab. You all head back to the apartment.

“Sam, when we get back, I want you to go upstairs right away and take a hot shower. I’ll take care of your bike. One of these days missy I’m not going to be around. Dammit Sam, you need to start taking care of yourself. “ Joe states in an angry tone.

“Joe, I had to tell James goodbye okay. I let him go.” You say as you begin to shiver.

Gerry wraps his arm around you and pulls you closer to him. He runs his hand thru your soaked hair.

“Don’t worry Joe we get back to the apartment I’ll take care of her.” He says softly.