The Laundry Mat

by LookingforKayla

Dr. Horrible tries to get over what he did to Penny. He tries to continue his life, even go to the laundry mat. But how can you visit the one place you shared without feeling guilty? He can't and he tries to face it. SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN OR FINISHED

He wandered down the sidewalk. Almost reaching the building. It was laundry day, once again, and this time, he had to go without seeing his beloved. He remembered her death, and could only blame himself. He could only blame himself for killing her. Dr. Horrible could only blame himself for taking away his everything.

He stopped outside the door that led to the laundry mat. The place was more empty than usual. Good; this way, no one would see him cry.

He grabbed the handle, a cold shock being sent through him. She had touched this handle so many times before, only a few days before in fact. He could feel her, through the metal. She had been here, many times, doing the same laundry as the Dr. He was now touching the same handle, but she never would again.

He finally gained the nerve to open the door, suddenly overwhelmed with the sight of the room. Penny had always used the washing machine that was 1 away from him. She had always used the dryer that was 6 away. Now, thanks to him, he never would again. It killed him, deep inside. He took a few more paces, holding his white laundry basket on his hip.

He set it on his washer. Dr. Horrible opened the lid, allowing a few tears to spill out in the process. He threw his clothes in, balancing them, then add soap. Afterwards, he shut the lid, and began to bawl. He sat on top of her washer, dropping the bag of food he had brought for her. She would never be able to take part in his sharing again. He knew it... and it continued to break his heart.

After awhile of sobbing, Dr. Horrible threw his clothes into the dryer. He watched them spin, round and round and round. His world was turning into that mind- numbing rotation; every time things seemed to be okay, they flipped right back over.

His clothes finished. The buzzer went off. He yanked them, drying his final tears. Once they were inside the basket, he ran for the door. He touched the metal again, feeling a jolt of her. His freeze- ray had killed her. And the handle he just touched was the last remnant of the life they shared.

Standing in the dark, he turned to face the laundry mat once more. She would forever be trapped inside there, his only good memories of Penny. He could never go inside again without feeling all this pain. He sighed. Some times, it's not better to have loved and lost. Not when it means you feel guilt for eternity.