Found

Chapter 5

By evenings end it was growing colder outside according to the weather on your computer. Winter is only a few weeks away and it is your least favorite season.
You haven't had a vacation in two years and you rarely get away.
So you are seriously considering a 2 month sabbatical.
All you have to do is find and train your temporary replacement. Sounds easy enough right? You say in a quiet voice as you leave the office for the night.

"Where is everyone?" You ask out loud to whomever is listening.

"Gone home Sir, it is rather late." says a voice that you don't recognize.

Slightly startled you spin around to find its presenter. Ah a janitor is standing off to the side of the room. He doesn't look up, appears to be running a vacuum. You've not been here this late before so you don't know him.

A lot has changed recently for you. Not much of a social life anymore so letting time get carried away is getting to be your new thing.

And the drive home every evening is so depressing. The single life is definitely not for you.
Having someone there next to you at night and not having to eat alone every night is almost maddening.

"I'll go out tonight" you say to yourself under your breath even though no one is in the car with you.

It has actually been since college that you've even been out without being in a group at least.

There's a small pub just across from your building that always seems to be busy. It doesn't appear to be swarming with drunks outside.

"I just have to go home and change" you thought as you rounded the corner from your building.

Almost inside your door, your phone rings. You're in a much better mood so you answer it.

"We need to talk" says the voice on the other end.
It's a familiar voice that you recognize immediately.

"I can't right now. I'm in the middle of something, can I call you back?" you reply with a little cockiness mixed with heartache in your voice as you hang up before she says more.

This is throwing everything you've tried to forget back in your face.
"I can't let this get to me." you say in a low voice that elevates at the end.

Feeling a little frustrated, you change your coat alone and head back down stairs determined to have a good time and clear your head.

You're almost hit by a car while crossing the street. It jars your senses a bit. She's got you off your axis and you need to take control back. Remember what your doctor said.

"Don't give them the power to control you, you control you."

And you grab a hand full of hair and scream aloud for only a moment. Looking around to be sure no one's paying attention and head inside.

Feeling frustrated and hurt you decide a drink may be exactly what you need. The place is crowded and there's not many places to sit but you find a place in the corner of the room.

You servey the room and thankfuly there's no one here that you recognize. You decide to have only a few drinks and relax before heading back to that cold, dark, empty apartment.

Before you know it time has gotten away from you and the pub is closing down. There's only yourself and maybe 2 or 3 others as you pay the server your balance.

Stumbling up the stairs you realize maybe you had more than a few. As you reach the top of the stairs in front of your door you can see a figure. A familiar figure, that makes you smile and cry at the same time.

"I tried to talk to you earlier but you cut me off so I came by hoping to get an opportunity to talk one on one, but I see you are in no shape to be serious right now." she says as she catches you from falling over.

"Trisha, what are you doing here really?" you ask as you start to fall again.

"Look I'm going to help you inside and then I'm going to go, I'll let myself out and call you tomorrow." she states as she helps you to the sofa and pulls your shoes off and helps you lie down.

"You're so good to me, don't leave" you mutter as you drift off watching her close the door behind her.