That night after the show we all, as was our custom, went out to get a late dinner. We found ourselves the patrons of a diner which was almost empty save for some poor souls who were sitting alone at a bar. We came and sat, me, Amber, Saphrin, and Raven our lively selves, Kitten and Mark both silent, both looking away from each other and acting like neither of them were there. We all noticed their behavior and, not understanding it, left it alone.
We talked about Saphrin's pregnancy. Raven was planning on wrapping up one or two more shows so that he could leave properly and not disrupt storylines. So by perhaps the week after it would be like before they had arrived again. Just me, Amber, and Mark. Or course Jake and Claudette were there, too…but whatever. I'm sure you understand what I mean.
We left the diner in three different cars, Mark bolting out the door the first chance he got and speeding off, peeling out of the parking lot. All of us, including Jake and except for Kitten, watched as his car drove away in question, wondering what had him this way. I had the feeling that it was Kitten, but even though I knew that much, I couldn't possibly fathom what was going on between the two of them and their gifted minds. Some chemistry that went unsaid to the rest of us.
That night, we shared our room with Kitten, me and Amber sharing one bed while Kitten, Claudette, and Jake shared the other, quite cutely I might add. We stayed up for a while talking and watching TV, going to bed early enough to catch the plane in the morning.
When I woke up Amber was still sleeping. I just barely caught dawn coming through the cracks of the curtains. Kitten was awake, standing next to the window. She was dressed and I could see the light slightly luminating her face. She seemed sad.
"What are you doing?" I asked quietly. I didn't want to wake up Amber. Kitten wasn't startled, she had probably known that I was awake.
"I can't be here," she said, her expression unchanged, eyes still locked on something outside. She didn't move at all when she spoke, only her mouth, which barely opened.
"What?"
She turned now, slowly, her hand lightly pulling the curtain closed. I couldn't see her now, only make out her shape against the window, and just barely see the gleam of the digital clock in her eyes. "I can't be here, with you. I can't stand it any longer," she paused. I didn't have anything to say and so didn't respond. Finally she went on. "I'm leaving, Kane. Bye…"
I couldn't argue with her. I wanted to, but I was just so tired…especially just then. So tired…weighing down my mind. I wondered if she could spellbind as well, and I considered the fact that perhaps that's what she was doing to me just then. Everything warm and comfortable planted itself in my conscience, the pillows beneath my head, the mattress under me. And Amber, her arm over my stomach, head resting on my chest…it was all heavenly. My Perfection.
"Kitten," I mumbled, trying to form words but failing. I felt myself falling into slumber before I could help it. I heard her leaving as I drifted in my sleep. I wondered if I'd ever see her again.
Amber woke me up a few hours later. Not on purpose, but only because she woke up and began to stretch and it woke me as well. It took a moment to register what had happened, and not knowing if I'd imagined it or not my head turned to see that Kitten was gone, as were her things. There was a note on the night table. I reached for it quickly, almost knocking Amber off the bed. She laughed at my desperation.
The note was scribbled, as if she hadn't been able to see in the dark. It was etched on the hotel stationary. "I'm sorry…but I just couldn't stand to see it."
I didn't know what it meant. Amber didn't know, either. I decided that I'd leave it as an enigma, that I'd rather not know. And I vowed to myself that no matter how much it bothered me I wouldn't show it to Mark, because as tempting as it was, I knew that he would know what it meant.
But I didn't want to upset him. I didn't really care to touch the subject of what went on between their heads. It was something I was curious about but was probably better off not understanding.
I decided not to tell Amber about the conversation I'd had the night before. No disrespect or dishonesty meant to be projected toward her, toward my wife, but the exact opposite, my effort to keep her from the confusion that I felt.
So…as planned, a week later, Raven faked his own quitting so that he could actually take a break and go home with Saphrin. It was sad to have them leave but also interesting. It was a step aside from the norm. We were so used to having them around that now we actually found ourselves bored occasionally. Even Mark, who hadn't been around for the duration of our relationship fitted right in with us and missed them as well.
Claudette learned how to walk and she began to talk more. Mark actually had a girlfriend. In time we forgot about Kitten…well not really forgot but stopped thinking and being confused all the time. And then came November. I got a phone call from Raven.