Chim - Traffic

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

A few mornings after, I wake before Kimberley, which is unusual. I slip out of bed and down the stairs quietly, not wanting to disturb her, before making coffee for meself. As I'm drinking, I think about calling me mother, who I haven't spoken to much since she returned home. The thought passes through me mind quickly before I remember that I don't really have me own phone right now. I know it's probably still in the bag from the day I went missing, but I haven't used it since being back. Thinking about the bag and its contents, I wash me dirty cup before approaching the cupboard under the stairs where I know the item now is. I open the door and grab it quickly, partly due to me fear of lurking spiders and partly because I don't want to change me mind. Once I'm sat on the sofa I open it slowly, me heart hammering, and lift out me purse. I count the money inside, twelve pounds and seventy three pence exactly, before studying the photo of Kimberley and I, taken on our first Christmas together as a couple, that I kept in there. I place in on the coffee table in front of us before delving into the bag again, withdrawing me iPhone this time, which is turned off, the battery dead. I reach for Kimberley's phone charger, attached to the wall and plug it in, watching the empty battery bar appear. Knowing it will be a few minutes before it turns back on, I turn my attention back to the designer item, retrieving a small lip balm, chewing gum and three tampons. While waiting for the electronic device to display me lock screen I pick up the purse again, pulling out me credit and national insurance cards, hoping that the police haven't done this before us and ruined the surprise. Luckily, I find the receipt for the engagement ring I had spent the best part of last year designing for Kimberley still folded around the bottom of me credit card, exactly where I had left it hidden. I breathe a sigh of relief and unfold the piece of paper, knowing that the ring was probably still in the jewellery shop. I had planned on picking it up the afternoon that our life had turned on its axis completely and now I wonder if I'll even be able to do that. It wasn't because I no longer wanted to, but the complete opposite, I wanted to so much, I loved her so much, but I couldn't even contemplate going past the front gate without Kimberley with us. The sudden buzzing of me mobile distracts us from me thoughts, and I pick it up to see hundreds of missed calls, texts, emails and voicemails waiting for us. Opening me emails first, I delete the spam and tap on one coincidentally from the jeweller, dated shortly after the New Year, advising us that the ring was still waiting. Deciding not to chance it with them keeping hold of the item indefinitely without contact from us, I call the number provided, telling them that I still wanted it, advising them not to sell it. They agree and I hang up, replacing the receipt while trying to think of a way to get the ring without Kimberley knowing. Coming up with no ideas for now, I turn back to me emails, finding one from me boss, who is kindly wishing us well and telling us that I still have a position waiting when I'm ready to return. Next I consult me missed calls, not finding many, as I expect people stopped trying to reach us when they realised me phone wasn't with us. I listen to a few voicemails, tears filling me eyes when I hear the panicked tones of me loved ones, asking us to respond. Finally I open me texts, clicking on Kimberley's name, and I begin to cry. She had text us every day, multiple times a day, while I was gone. One of the first ones I read tells us she knew I wouldn't receive the message, but that she had to get some of what she was feeling out. The thought of her typing these out, waiting for news, waiting for me, breaks my heart. Soon me vision is too blurred to take in the letters on the screen and I let the device drop onto the sofa, laying me head on me knees as I cry. Within seconds, Kimberley is next to us, holding us to her as the pain pours out of us.

       "You text us?" I manage to ask, taking her hand. I see her nod and I pull her close, kissing her, needing to show her exactly how much she means to me. It starts off soft but soon me tongue slips into her mouth, and I had almost forgotten how good she tastes, even when mixed with salty tears. Minutes later I have to pull away, shaking slightly, and she runs her fingers through me hair, massaging me scalp gently.