We Meet Again

Chapter 1: Gone

"Hey! You've reached my cell! Leave a message and I'll try to call you back!"

*BEEP!*

"Hey, Sare- just...just call me." I hung the phone on the receiver and plopped into the oversized wing chair.

I put my head in my hands, running my fingers through my hair and sighed deeply.

*Ring! Ring!*

"Shit!" I say, nearly jumping out of my seat. I jerk the phone off the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hey, man."

"Hey, Eddie." I say, obviously disappointed.

"Sare back yet?" He asks casually. I could hear him searching through his fridge.

"Nope. I've called-"

"No? Well- where is she?"

"No clue."

"She must be pissed at you!"

I couldn't hear him eating over the line, with the T.V. on.

"This is freaking serious!" It came out crueler than I'd meant it to, and he stopped chewing.

"I get it, man. But the reason I'm not worried ain't 'cause I don't care, 'cause I do-" I heard him eating again. "-but because I know she'll come back. I mean it's Josh and Sarah we're talking about here!"

"You really think so?" I ask skeptically, but hopefully.

"Yeah! I mean, you two are, like, the perfect couple. This can't possibly bring you apart."

With that I heard noises over the line. "Sorry, man. Brother's here. See ya."

"Yeah." I said hanging up.

I tried to convince myself of what Eddie had said, but it still didn't make me feel any better. I was still worried, I'll admit it. So I just flicked on the T.V., not really knowing what else to do. I mean, it took my mind off this... situation. At least more than just sitting there- thinking.

.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:.

When I woke up, I was sprawled out on the couch.

I'd fallen asleep. The T.V. was still on and blaring.

I checked my watch: 3:41 pm. I scoffed and pushed up and off the couch, stretching my arms.

I shuffled into the bedroom and swung the door open. I went past my bed and into the back bathroom. I stopped at the mirror, put my palms on the counter, and leaned forward over the counter.

I stared at my reflection, and lifted a hand to run my fingers through my hair, just staring at myself. Not in a Narcissistic kind of way, but in an "I don't know why, but I'm trying to find answers about who I am in my reflection" kind of way. I heard a rattle at the front door, but it wan't the doorknob, more like... a key.

When it opened and slammed close, really jerked my head around to see who it was. I went into the entryway and saw a large box in the front door, but saw no one. I suddenly heard noises from the kitchen and saw Sarah come out with handfuls of her things, throwing them into the box.

"Hey," I said casually. She plainly walked past me into the bedroom to gather more things. I followed her, stopping to lean against the door frame.

"Hey!" I said a little more forcefully. She just ignored me again and tried to slide past me to her box, but I blocked her.

She tried again, and again, and again until she finally looked me in the eye coldly and said, "Can't you move?!"

I stepped back, shocked at her sudden outburst. Her eyes weren't warm and happy like the last time I saw them- wait, scratch that. The last time I saw her eyes had been at the bar. A look full of shock and pain and heartbreak that made me cringe just thinking about it. I felt the need to say something as she headed to her box with yet another handful of her things.

"Sare-"

"Don't." She said in a forceful tone, stopping me from continuing.

I tried again. "Sare?"

She turned to face me abruptly. "Ok, my name is 'Sarah', first off. Not 'Sare'. Two syllables." She said holding up two fingers, clearly annoyed.

"But I've always called you that." I protested.

"Yeah, well, only people close to me can call me that." She said with no emotion whatsoever.

She then picked up her box and headed for the, now, open door, when I kicked it closed.

She swung her head to face me, our eyes locking. "Open the door, Josh."

"Put the box down, Sare." I replied, mimicking her exact tone.

"I told you not to call me that-"

"Put the box down." I said in a stronger tone.

She did, and I walked forward and grabbed her wrists gently. "You can't leave, Sare."

She pulled away slightly at first, then I put my for-finger and thumb under her chin, tipping her face up to mine so our eyes met.

She stopped her pull now, and I saw a spark in her eyes. A twinkle- you might say her eyes were almost smiling. Almost. But in an instant it was completely gone without a trace and she yanked away.

"Why is that?" She said in a softer voice than before.

"Because I love you."

"Bull Shit!"

"I do!"

"Yeah, ok, Josh."

I sighted deeply and plopped down on the couch, sprawling my arms out across the top.

"We could just talk about this, ya know?"

She was silent at first, then crossed her arms.

"There's nothing to talk about." She said plainly. She opened the door and picked up her box again, heading out.

"Sare." I said coming to my feet.

She turned again with an impatient glare, as she waited for my response.

"I just want you know, that I am so sorry about what happened last week."

She just stood there as if she understood. As if she accepted my apology.

She then reached into her purse, slung it over her shoulder, and handed me an envelope.

"Me too." She said in a low whisper, as she exited the apartment closing the door behind her.

The room was completely silent now.

I was in a daze from this whole thing and sat down again to think. I suddenly realized the envelope still in my clutched hands, my knuckles white. I ripped it open.

Divorce Papers.

I knew them as soon as I saw them. Sarah's name was signed in all the right places. Several blanks were empty, obviously for my signature.I was in a haze and I felt dizzy all of a sudden. I couldn't really comprehend what was happening to me.

Us.

At first I couldn't bring myself to do it. But that's when I realized that all I ever really wanted was for Sarah to be happy, even if it meant being happy with someone else.

So I signed the papers.