Ghost Of You (Michael Berzatto X Black!OC X Eventual Richie Jerimovich)

30. Everything They Said I Would Be

2022-Chicago, Illinois

The chill of the late winter breeze crept into the room and sent a shock through Angie's body, waking her up instantly. She reached over to lean into her husband's warm embrace, but was only met with a cold sheet.

"Mikey?" She sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. She found herself alone in the cold empty bed. She got up and made her way out to the kitchen. "What're you doing up so early?"

"It's nine."

"It's also Sunday."

He was standing by the open window with a blanket draped around him to keep the chill off. "I couldn't sleep." He took a long drag from his cigarette.

"When did you wake up?"

"Five."

"Baby, you've been up for four hours?"

"It's fine."

She walked over to him and pulled half of his blanket around her. "You look like shit."

"I feel like shit."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I probably just need to go back to bed."

"Is it because of what today is?"

Michael sighed and brought his cigarette to his lips. "He would've been five."

Angie hugged him and softly rubbed his back. "You wanna talk about it?"

"No, I'm good."

"I can cancel lunch with Sugar. We can just spend the day together."

"No, honey, go to lunch. It's alright."

"Promise?"

"I promise." He bent down to kiss her softly. "I'm good."

"Okay. I love you so much."

Even though the pain in his heart was heavy, he couldn't help but smile.

"I love you too."

🤍

"I'm just worried about him, Nat." Angie picked at her food.

"Aren't you always?"

"I can't help it."

"Maybe you guys should do something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Take a trip? Did you ever have a honeymoon?"

"No. We didn't have the money. We still don't have the money."

"It doesn't have to be anything big. Why don't you go camping, or something?"

"Even though sleeping on the ground while swatting off bugs sounds super romantic, I think I'm gonna pass."

"I'm just saying, it might be nice for you guys to do something different. I mean, you've been married for almost fifteen years."

"Maybe you're right."

"Hey, you could always have another kid."

"Absolutely not."

"It would get Mom off my back. Ever since I got married, she's been begging for another grandchild."