I Will Wait For You

“I know what you’re probably thinking…” Matt sighs, as I take in the scenery.

“You do, huh?” I laugh.

“You’re wondering why in the Hell I brought you here to this park.”

“A little,” I laugh, again. “But I also am glad you brought me here. I mean, I haven’t really ventured outside of my house or work, since moving here… This is great, Matt.”

“I think it is. I used to come here all of the time. It’s my place little escape from home, when I’m feeling overwhelmed. It’s just so calm and quiet, it’s soothing.”

“You don’t have to explain it to me.” I smile. “I get it. Sometimes life gets to be too much, and you just need an escape from reality, even if it’s something that seems so ordinary to others, it’s something amazing to you.” I stop, and he smiles at me. Staring at this beautiful man before me, I couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect, and I can’t fathom why I went and fucked things up like I did. It wasn’t completely my fault, I guess, but still.

“It’s a great place to think, huh?” Matt laughs, noticing my silence.

“Indeed.” I smile. “I’m really sorry, Matt. I want you to know that.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m moving past that, now.”

“I know, but I feel like I should.”

“I’ve forgiven you.” He captures my hand in his, and we walk slowly through the park, and back to the car.

He opens the door for me to get in, and then walks around to his side. “You know, you’re really sweet when you want to be.” I joke, once he’s in the car.

He starts it, and starts heading to Brian’s. “I try.” He smiles.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“What’s that?”

“Why did you want to show me that park?”

“I’ve never taken any girl of mine, there… It’s not like something I do to make you think I’m sentimental or some shit to get you in bed, if that’s what you’re thinking.” His face seems serious.

“I wasn’t thinking that…”

“It’s special to me, and I wanted to share that with you. If you ever need a place to escape, now you have the perfect place.”

“Thanks.” I smile at him. “I’m glad you wanted to show me.”

--

As we walk in Brian’s house, Jimmy’s yelling at us from the kitchen. “Where in the Hell have you two been?”

“Shit we thought you got lost.” Zach laughs.

“Hope you don’t mind, we ate without you.” Alexa says, coming in from outside.

“What?” Matt says.

“Of course, if you mention the foods gone, now you’ve got his attention.” Johnny laughs.

“I’m kidding.” Alexa laughs.

“We weren’t even gone that long, you assholes.” Matt laughs, playfully punching Jimmy in the shoulder.

“Long enough to…” Alexa starts to say something, and I can tell where she’s going with it.

“Shut up.” I say putting a hand over her mouth. “Ouch.” I retract my hand, when she bites it.

“That’s for telling me to shut up.” She spits her tongue out at me.

“You’re such a kid.” I laugh at her.

“Nope, but I’ll be having one soon.” She laughs.

“Soon? You still got like 8 months to go right?” Brian jokes, coming in with a plateful of food. Maybe we were gone for a while, if they’ve already had time to cook the food.

“Yes.” Alexa smiles at him, and kisses him, as he leans down next to her.”

“You two are just too much.” Jimmy jokes.

“Shut up, Jimmy.” Brian flips him off. “Are we eating this shit in here?”

“I’d rather not sweat, while I’m eating.” Johnny speaks up.

“You’re such a priss.” Zach laughs at him, and Johnny reaches over to slap him.

Brian lays the food on the table, and everyone starts digging in.

--

I’m standing on the diving board, arms outstretched, ready to dive in the pool, when I hear a loud sound. I must’ve been the only one to hear it, though, because everyone is acting normal. I start to feel a little weird, shaky even. I look down at my stomach, and there’s a large hole. I scream, when I notice it. That gets their attention. Alexa just looks straight at me, ignoring the huge hole in my stomach, that’s only getting bigger.

“This isn’t real.” She says, with a completely straight face. With a blink of an eye, she’s gone. One by one, everyone else disappears too. I’m alone, standing on the diving board, still. The hole continues to get bigger, and I’m starting to fade away, slowly. I fall into the pool, and sink to the bottom, closing my eyes.

I can see a light, in the distance, and I’m running toward it, screaming for someone, anyone to help me. I don’t know where I am, or how I got here. I’m terrified, and alone. I’ve almost reached the end of this dark tunnel, where the light reaches. I’m so close… and it disappears, I’ll never know what that was…

I come to, choking up water.

“What the fuck was that?! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!” Alexa yells, as she hovers over top of me. I’m lying on the patio, next to the pool. I look around, and everyone is staring at me.

“Is this real?” I ask, sounding like a complete idiot, I’m sure.

“What are you talking about, of course this is real!” Alexa stares at me, dumbfounded.

“Stay calm, Lex.” Brian lays his hands on her shoulders. “There’s no need to be mad, it’s not like she has any control over it.”

“How am I not supposed to be mad, when she’s been telling me for over a month now that she hasn’t felt herself, and I’ve been letting her just get by without seeing a doctor?”

“It’s okay.” I say, collecting myself, and sitting up. “I’m fine. It’s nothing.” I don’t want anyone to know what’s going on inside of my head right now, especially not a doctor, they’re liable to send me to a fucking asylum!

“Lakyn, you need to see a doctor.” Alexa states.

“I don’t. Please just believe me, I’m fine.”

“I just watched you stand on the diving board, your eyes roll back into your head, and then you fall in the pool. How is that fine again? It’s a wonder you didn’t hit your fucking head on something!”

“Why don’t you come over here and sit down for a while…” Brian leads Alexa away,
whispering to her about how she needs to stay calm for the sake of the baby.

Jimmy helps me to my feet, but I’m still a little shaky. “Woah” Jimmy says, putting an arm around my waist, to steady me. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine. Just tired, that’s all.”

“I’ll take you home.” Matt says. “I’ll take it from here, Jim.” He says, putting his arm around my waist, as Jimmy steps away. He starts to walk away, but I’m stumbling. “Alright, here’s how we’re gonna do this.” He says, picking me up in his arms.

“Hope you feel better!” Jimmy yells, as we walk away.

Matt carries me to the car, and sets me in the passenger seat, buckling me. He goes around to his side, and gets in. “Now should I take you home, or to a doctor’s office?”

“Home, please.”

“I really agree with Alexa on this, Lakyn. If this has been happening a lot lately, you should really get it checked out.”

“I don’t want to know what’s wrong with me.” I whisper to myself.

“What?” He asks, as he pulls out of the driveway.

“Nothing. I just said I’m tired. That’s all that’s wrong with me.” I force myself to smile and act natural, but inside, deep down, I know that isn’t all that’s wrong with me.

We get to my house, and he helps me in, and tucks me into bed.

“Thank you, Matt. You really didn’t have to do all that.”

“I did, unless you wanted to stay overnight at Brian’s.”

“You’re right.” I laugh, but I’m really terrified… of being alone. Once Matt leaves it’s just me, and the darkness of this little apartment.

“I better…” Matt starts to say.

“Matt?” I ask, cutting him off.

“Yes.”

“I know this is a lot to ask, but will you stay here with me?”

“Umm… I’m not sure that’s such a good idea…”

“I promise I don’t have any intentions of anything happening, I just don’t want to be alone right now. You don’t even have to stay all night, I guess, just until I fall asleep?” I sit up, staring at him, waiting for an answer.

“Okay.” He sits down on the bed, next to where I’m lying, and reaches over, turning out the lights. I feel the bed moving, as he fumbles around, and eventually lies back. Once my eyes adjust, I can see him, lying back, arms crossed behind his head.

I like having him here, but I still find myself terrified to fall asleep. I’m worried that I might end up in that tunnel again, running towards the light. And what’s worse, I’m terrified that I might actually find out what’s in the bright light at the end of the tunnel.

Notes