Like We Never Loved At All…

Author's Note: Okay, just one last installment to wrap this up. Because I can't have no closure. Please let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Here we are again. Alone in the basement. You in your chair, me nervously on the couch. It's summer and we both know what television show is about to come on.

I hear the jingle of the music. And the announcer says, "Come on down!" And I make my eyes remain on the TV, I won't take the chance and look at you. But my skin has gone cold, I'm surrounded by the ghosts of us.

Sam is gone.

Fez and I are over.

And here we sit, alone again. With Michael off in Chicago, Eric and Donna away in Madison.

If I let it, it would all feel very familiar. But I am trying not to remember.

I hear you breathing. Even, soft. And if I would only allow myself I would think of all the times I fell asleep, nestled against you, the rhythm of your breathing lulling me to sleep.

But honestly, baby, I don't want to remember.

Because then it hurts. All over again.

And I am so tired of hurting, baby.

So I'm forgetting, little by little. I'm forgetting everything.


I know you are trying. I sneak a glance from behind my glasses and you've got that determined glint in your eye. You are trying to ignore the thick, heated air that is dancing between us. You are trying to ignore that we're alone; that The Price is Right is on; that we loved each other once, and lost ourselves in each other here.

I am trying to ignore it too, doll. Trying to pretend you don't look as beautiful as I've ever seen you, your hairfalling in curlsupon your tan shoulders, you summer dress showing off your gorgeous legs. I'm trying too.

And we're both failing.

Things should have gotten easier by now. The pain should have faded. I've played this just right, pushed you away as hard as I could.

But I still hurt. And I hate that I know you still hurt too.

The commercial break is a welcome reprieve, but as the sounds of the game show fill the basement once more, I hear you say the words and I feel like I'm living a memory.

"She can't even reach the wheel."

And then I lost my focus.

Trying. Pretending. Ignoring. Forgetting. All of it just stopped.

And the kissing started.

We did love. We do love.