Last Night I Dreamt
The washing machine door slams shut as I move my laundry over to the dryer. The hum of machines and muted 80s pop playing over the speakers comfort me in my effort to complete the chores. It was long past the end of the day but somehow the laundromat was still open. The door chime rings out interrupting my thoughts. I turned my head towards the person who entered. It was him. What was he doing here?
His kind face was smooth of the wrinkles that usually painted them. He smiled at me.
“Hey, Liza.”
“Hey”
“What are you doing here so late?”
I don’t know. What am I doing here so late? Usually, I would do laundry in the mornings before he woke up. What is he doing here? He dislikes the laundromat, says it's too stuffy.
DING!
The dryer sounds, letting us know it was done. He lets off a small chuckle. “I came here looking for you 'cause you weren’t at home. Do you want some help folding the clothes?”
My heart melts a bit. Even just the littlest thing, like asking if I wanted help, made me feel like a teenage girl given a bouquet of roses. “Of course dear.”
We began to fold our clothes together, singing along to the music and laughing when one of us would mess up. He looked like a complete and total doofus. God, I loved that doofus. He turns to look at me and smiles at me, opening his mouth to say-
I open my eyes. I’m back in my bedroom. Our bedroom. I slowly sit up and look over at the spot beside me. The empty spot. His spot. I hold back a sob. I want to go back to sleep but I know now. I know it’s fake. That it is only a dream. It never happened.
My phone buzzs. It is my mother checking in on me. I ignore her and head straight for the voicemail box on my phone. I haven’t deleted any of his voicemails in ten years. I can still hear him. I select the first one. It's him asking how to get to my house back in sophomore year. I go through them one by one. Tears begin to softly drip down my face. And then it gets to the last one. The last time I heard his voice. My finger slowly presses the play button. He was calling to just talk to me. I can hear the smile in his voice.
I begin sobbing. I just let it all out. Small footsteps come into the room and a slinky tortoiseshell cat hops onto the bed. She rubs her head onto my arm, purring. I smile through my tears and pet her. “Hey Zelda, how are you doing buddy?”The cat sits down, tail flicking a bit. She looks up at me expecting something. I let out a shaky laugh. “Alright, let's get this show on the road.” I give her a small kiss on the bed and climb out of bed, heading to the kitchen to get her food out. I have to continue.