i.l.y...

Chapter 2: The Ring

I finally stopped running after what felt like hours. I put my hands in my pockets as I stop at a bus stop. I feel something. I pull out my hand and open it to see the wedding ring. I study it. It has our names engraved on it. Jason and Ann, California 2009. I stop in realization. California. She loved California, we went there to get married, all the way on the other side of the United States. She had a dream, and it started in California. She would do anything to be there. But we decided to live in New Jersey, where all our family lived. I look at my watch, 9:00. It’s been an hour since I left home. I knew, that if I knew Ann as well as I thought, that she would be in California. She would start a brand new life there.

I yawned, a whole day of work plus non-stop running gets a man tired. I saw a bus come, and I get on it. I was the only one on it. I ask the man to take me to the nearest hotel. I sit in the back and stare out the window, watching the oh so familiar town pass by my eyes. I was so tired, I couldn’t think straight anymore. My mind finally jumps to a different thought, a memory so long ago……

I walked the street, full of energy. What a great day! I got my very first job, Accountant at a medicine making company. I found a twenty dollar bill on the ground. I was wearing my favorite coat, comfortable and free, the only one without a single stain. As I was thinking, I run into someone. A woman. She had sparkling green eyes and short light brown hair. She smiled, and her smile was crooked, but she has brilliant white teeth. “Why, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.” her voice sounded like chimes. “No, no, it was my fault entirely, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” She smiled that crooked smile at me again, and I felt my stomach jump. What was going on? “My name is Jason” I stick out my hand for her to shake, and she shakes it too. I feel the warmth of her hand, and I don’t want to let go. But reluctantly, I do. “I’m Ann, pleasure to meet you” I looked at the time. “I’m sorry, but I have to go, It’s my first day of work and I can’t be late” She frowned, but nodded. “Yes, you shouldn’t, that would make a bad impression, here” She takes a napkin out of her pocket and a pen and writes something down and puts it in my hand, closing it. “I’ll see you around, Jason” She walks away, and I look down at my hand, to see ten digits scribbled down, and it was signed, Ann Haverd.

“Hey buddy! Snap out of it! We’re here!” I get off the bus, and see a nice looking hotel, named La Luxury. I step inside and get a room, and plop down on the bed. I get changed out of my nice work clothes and into the pair of pajamas that I had hurriedly packed, and lay down, trying to sleep. For some reason, I am wide awake. I look around the room, trying to sleep. Then I realize the one reason why for once I wasn’t falling asleep. I didn’t have Ann next to me.