A/N: I forgot to mention that I got the idea for this story from the song 'You Can Close Your Eyes.' Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. C:
Temperance wasn't usually one to cry.
She'd thought her reserve of tears was dry by now, with all the crying she'd done last night. But now as more tears welled up in her eyes, she found it hard to hold them back.
The small piece of paper was still in her hands and she read it over and over. She could picture Booth searching her kitchen for the pen and could see him taping it against his chin, trying to think up something meaningful to write.
A guttural choke escaped her lips, the result of attempting to prolong the inevitable.
She swiped at her eyes. She was not going to cry. Not again.
She stumbled towards the bathroom. If she was going to get to work on time, she would have to hurry.
As rivulets of water coursed over her body, she cursed Booth for leaving. She cursed him for coming over and for holding her when she cried. She cursed him for seeing her so weak and for how gentle he'd been when he kissed her.
She scrubbed ferociously at her skin, leaving angry red lines with the loofah. She tried to wash away everything that had happened the previous night, but the memories were still clear in her mind. She couldn't seem to make them swirl together and disappear like the bubbles escaping down the drain. If anything, they strengthened, becoming unmistakable from dream or fantasy. And they were impossible to get rid of.
As the water grew colder, Temperance found herself pulling back into them. She shivered and remembered how she'd done the same thing last night. Booth had thrown the covers over them and pressed closer to her, whispering in her ear, telling her she was beautiful.
She cursed his voice and the way it made her feel safe, but her heart wasn't in it. She wasn't really mad.
Disappointed? Yes.
Frustrated? Yes.
Confused? Very.
The water was now unbearably cold, like icy pellets hitting her back. Teeth chattering, she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her naked frame.
She toweled her hair dry, still thinking up reasons to hate Booth and still not believing any of them. When she flipped her head back up, she found herself face to face with the foggy mirror. With her hand she cleared a circle the size of her face.
Her eyes held a vulnerability she'd never seen in herself before. Normally she could hold back her emotions, hide them from the rest of the world. But now even she could see every little thing she felt. It was all displayed right there in her blue-gray eyes.
The circle on the mirror was growing larger as the air in the bathroom cooled. Knowing it would do more hurt than good, she dropped the towel.
Her body was toned, the reward for all the hours she spent at the gym. Her breasts were firm and not at all saggy, her nipples taut. She tilted her head, searching for what Booth had seen that made him say the three words she never expected to hear from anyone.
She couldn't find it.
-OoOoOoOo-
Makeup finished, teeth brushed, and hair swept up in a loose bun, Temperance thought she looked almost normal.
She confidently entered her bedroom, telling herself that she would make it through this, when she stopped dead in her tracks. Her clothes were still scattered across the floor. The sheets were still rumpled from their passionate lovemaking and there was still an outline in the pillow where Booth's head had lain.
I am a strong, independent, intelligent, motivated, rational woman.
She walked straight past the bed, determinedly not looking at it. Her foot snagged on her bra and she quickly shook it off. When she reached the closet she grabbed things out, not bothering to see if it matched. She just wanted to get out of that room.
I am a strong, independent, intelligent, motivated, rational woman.
She hurried past the bed and when she got back to the bathroom, shut the door and locked it behind her. She sunk down onto the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and taking deep breaths.
After a few moments she squared her shoulders and stood. She'd gotten along fine without Booth before, and she could get along fine without him now.
She dressed and strode back into the kitchen and was just throwing her keys into her purse when the little yellow notepad caught her eye. She picked it up and read the three words one more time, trying to figure out his logic behind writing it.
Without knowing why, she tore off the paper, folded it in half twice, and tucked it in her pocket.
A/N: Please, please, please let me know if her emotions are coming through okay.
