Alone With His Thoughts

Outside the thunder crashed, shaking the room in rolling waves much like an earthquake. Lightning flashes lit the room like a million flashbulbs casting eerie shadows and painting a stark picture. Even the rain sensed the mood with windblown sheets of desperation in a tortured mind. How long had he been there? It could have been seconds or days, he could not tell. When she left, time did too. Frozen in that moment the door closed behind her. Even the dog lay facing the door she walked through, sensing she was not coming back, watching in case she did.

Gone were the morning kisses. Gone too were the walks holding hands. Gone was the woman he lived for. Sitting there with the storm pounding his senses, he remembered the good times again. The first time they met, their first date, kiss, and laugh, their first everything. Like the lightning, his memories flashed vivid and often, striking a sensitive nerve. His mind drifted back to another first; when they made love. Cramped in his little sports car, it was as funny as it was passionate. But when they finished they both knew a relationship had just been sealed. How simple things were then. The thought makes him want to go back and recapture that excitement. God, how things had changed.

As sadness again overtook him, he saw headlights moving up the driveway. Heads raised in hope, both he and the dog just watched in anticipation. The last lightning flashes of the ending storm showed her the way to the door. Newspaper held over her head against the still falling rain, he saw her running toward the house. He ran to the door to open it for her. The dog sensed his changed mood and ran to the door to see who was there. With a smile she burst into the house. Picking up the barking, tail wagging dog, she turned and asked, “What have you been doing?” Holding her tightly in his arms he replied “Just sitting here missing you and remembering how good it is to have you here with me.” She held him tighter than he held her and gave him a long loving kiss. Arm in arm they turned toward the bedroom as he said, “Good to have you home again. How were the grandchildren?”