The Impeccable Infinity

Chapter 29

Sometimes people can take you by surprise. Like, you think that they see you one way when the reality is they see you a whole different way. This morning when I went downstairs, Ruth turned out to be one of those people.

I walked into the kitchen to get a glass of water and start my day before everyone else did, so I could have some time to myself without hearing screaming and doors slamming.

I took my water over to the window in the living room and sat down with the glass in my hand. I watched as the water rippled with each small movement, and how small droplets formed at the sides. I took a sip and felt the refreshing water replenish my thirst.

The cold wood pressed against my skin as I sat on the hardwood ground. I left Mute back in the woods, as bad as that sounds, but I knew he wouldn't wake up anytime soon and the last thing he would want is to get up this early in the morning. I'll go back and check on him later, but for now, I need some time to gather my thoughts.

I stared out the window to the other side of the street. Every morning, an old couple sits on their porch on a small swing. The woman hums quietly to herself while she knits or reads a book; and her husband sits by her side and reads the newspaper, sprinting his eyes and readjusting his glasses to refocus every few seconds.

I studied how they interacted with each other. Usually, the man would laugh at a part of the newspapers, which would cause the old lady to stop her knitting to smile and start talking to him about something. They both looked at each other with sure pure and sincere expressions, ones which clearly show they enjoy and appreciate each others company.

I wonder if I'll be that way then I'm older. I hope I'm still with Mute, but if I'm not, what would my life be like? Would I live every day embracing life and enjoying all it has to offer? Or would I be spending every waking moment thinking about what life would be like with Mute in it?

I quickly put the thought of not spending the rest of my life with Mute out of my head, and smiled when I imagined growing old with him and sitting next to him every morning on the swing just like the old couple. But then I remembered how he's leaving in just a few days. When he's gone, it may be just like if we didn't grow old. It's not as bad as not growing old together, but it's enough for me to miss him not being right next door.

A tear escaped my eye and brought me back to reality when I felt the cold droplet run down my face. I sniffed and rubbed it away, along with the other tears that are now forming in the corner of my eyes.

"Haley?"

I spun around on the floor to see Ruth standing behind me, a look of concern and sympathy on her face.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yea I'm fine. Just thinking," I said, trying to smile and make my face look as excited as possible.

"Are you sure? You were just crying." She sat on the ground next to me and moved her legs to get comfortable on the hard wooden floor.

"I was just thinking about Mute leaving. It's going to be a bit hard, just because I feel like I was just getting to know him and all."

"You know, the same thing happened with me and my husband."

I widened my eyes, and she nodded. I've never heard much about Ruth's husband, besides the fact that he died years ago. Other than that, his existed never really occurred to me. I always forget that Ruth was once married.

"He was separated from you?" I asked while taking another sip of my water.

"Yeah. After high school we chose to go to different colleges. We broke up because we thought it would be too hard to keep a long distance relationship going."