Author's Notes:
I got my inspiration for this short story from Moby's "If things were perfect".
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broken darkness my cold end i look for places i've never
seen nothing moves but the quiet on the street now I
open my eyes to this isolated walking long hard hours
winter cold just brings me winter showers it's so brutal
with the cold sky wrapped in cold late at night
She walked slowly, her head dipped down, feet trudging in the sludge. The wind whistled in her ear and she pulled her coat tighter around her neck. She didn't usually like the cold but today it seemed fitting.
She had left her car at the park, where she had stopped momentarily to watch a few children gallop around with their pup, and had decided to go for a walk. It was probably not one of her best ideas.
She rounded the corner and found herself in a familiar area. He would probably be home, sitting on his couch, aimlessly flipping through general cable stations. She smiled to herself, letting her body guide her towards him.
come clean, there's no sun yet the only lights here are made
i can't speak, i can't hear, but i know i'm real
there's no warm here anyway the darkest lights before
the dawn you remember the sun but it sank in the water
that eats the light wrapped in cold late at night
She knocked on the door, her nose burning from the heat inside the apartment complex. He opened the door and ushered her in, a look of concern splaying across his scruffy face.
She had been out there too long. Her lungs were like deflated balloons and her teeth chattered uncontrollably. He asked her questions but all she could do was nod.
He made her a cup of hot tea and watched her sip it. She smiled thankfully over the steaming cup, letting her insides defrost. It wasn't much warmer in his apartment. He liked the cold. He was in his pajamas, a simple white shirt and boxers. She felt a twinge of guilt for interrupting him. She knew that sleep was hard to obtain. She knew it was harder for him.
He asked her to stay the night. She agreed, too tired to think rationally.
i open my eyes, it's cold the only souls go by
lift the bridge out of the water the stone black light
living is easy when it's night the cold has covered the
rain i can see forever, to the deep wrapped in cold,
late at night
He gave her the bed and she willed him to share it with her. She didn't want him to be cold and alone on the couch. He agreed and laid next to her.
She fell asleep quickly, the scent of his skin and the warmth of his body lulling her into a sweet dream.
She awoke alone. It was still so dark and empty outside. Just like the bed. Just like the room. Just like her heart.
If only he knew. If only he could give her summer.