What We Once Were | ✔

11 | Vincent

My house was small, almost too small for two people but now that the other is gone it's just me. Me alone.

I parked my car in the garage, darkness swelled the car as the garage door closed down. For a few brief seconds I was in the dark staring ahead like something would happen, the lights flickered on, it lit up revealing a garage full of junk. I wonder if I'll ever take the time to get rid of it.

I climbed out, slamming my car door I unlocked my house, no one yelled who it was when I shut the door or when I said 'I'm home.'

I sighed, no one ever would.

I set my bag down by the door, it was filled with papers on what people did over summer, it was for grade but I didn't exactly want to grade anything right now. Instead I pulled mint tea from my cabinet, I filled my teapot up, and set the stove on high. Today was exhausting, the seniors were anxious and the juniors weren't exactly happy for school. It couldn't be anymore annoying but I wanted to be a teacher, I knew I would have to deal with it. Sitting myself in an armchair, I stretched out my legs relaxing after more than just seven hours of school.

The day wasn't horrible, just long, sometimes I regret becoming a teacher but other times it's the best decision I could even make. I looked over to my phone, it was blinking red showing a message was sent. I sat up reaching for the machine pressing the button.

"You have one new message. Tuesday, August 19th, 1:30 PM." The male robotic voice slowly read the date and time, it beeped.

"Vincent! Pick up your phone!" A voice snapped, I recognized that voice immediately and regret soon suck in.

I haven't called Sarah, my girlfriend, not even once in the two weeks since Mom died. I stared at the phone waiting for the message to finish.

"I understand why you don't want to call but this ridiculous! I'm your girlfriend! Talk to me!" Her voice sounded like it was begging. ".....okay, fine? You don't wanna talk? FINE! But don't call me because I'm done with you!"

I stared up at the ceiling wondering if I should be happy or sad that she's breaking up with me over a voice mail.

"I don't even like your type! And you wanna know what else? I've also cheated on you! Ha! Now we're over completely! Don't call me! Like you would you idiot!"

My thoughts swirled, my type? What was it anyway? I rubbed my temple, how long was this message anyway? Sarah really liked to talk, too much.

"Ugh! We seriously could of had a future! A nice one! We could've lived in Chicago or New York but no! You want to live in some smelly tourist town! Your so pathetic!" Her attempt to insult me wasn't working very well, she tried.

I got up walking back to the kitchen, the teapot hissed loudly until I pulled it off. Sitting a Mint Tea Bag in my cup I poured the water in.

"You barely ever talk! You never want to drink or party! Your 25 and you're wasting it teaching snotty high schoolers! Seriously? The only time we could've even seen one another is on Sunday's! Because you're too busy going to some church on Sundays! Its like you didn't even care!"

I sipped my tea looking out the window to town, my house sat right on the edge of town and overlooked it and the ocean. I looked my wristwatch, her message has been going on for almost five minutes now.

"I'm done with you! I'm not going to waste my fun years like you! Okay? Your a complete loser! Bye!"

My ears perked, was it done? I turned around looking at the phone, it wasn't blinking red anymore signaling the end of the message.

"End of message one, no more new messages, goodbye." The robotic voice finished it off, I sighed, a breakup isn't exactly news to me. I'm not exactly Dr.Phil when it comes to relationships.

Sit in my tea aside, I walked back to the front door grabbing my satchel, I could grade these to take my mind off a relationship that wasn't exactly gold to me. Who am I kidding? I knew I was disappointed with myself not even being capable to hold one and wasting my fun years? I pulled out the papers from first and second hour, also fifth and sixth because that's the rest of the juniors and seniors, I was also in charge of the drama club but those don't start until next week.

I'm not wasting my fun years, I'm having the best fun year I could ever have!

"Whatever." I mumbled pulling out the first paper, "it's in the past as of 2 minutes ago."

Five minutes later, I was marking A's and B's on most of what I read, it's like these kids spent their summers all together with how much they sound alike. Writing an A on Heather's paper, like the others but with a annoying perspective on the town, well, she's always been blunt like that. I picked up the next, August was written up at the top, one of the new students.

My summer sucked but I don't care.

Well then kid, you have a different perspective on it.

I thought I was having fun but I wasn't, I was just bored, this summer wasn't exactly the beat one I've had for some reason.

I set aside my cup, there wasn't much written on her paper but it didn't necessarily give off a pleasant vibe. My eye skimmed to the end where just a few words caught my attention.

I'll miss him.

Who's him? I stared at the paper for just a few more moments before I grabbed my pen marking an A on it, its different tone caught me off guard and ending words didn't make me think good things. I shouldn't be thinking about it, its probably just a break up or something. I rubbed my face hard trying to wake myself up, such a long day and I come home to a break up that I can't bring myself to care about it. I decided I would finish grading later tonight, I pulled off my shoes I stepped outside onto my porch. Salt filled my nostrils and I couldn't help but smile at it, I couldn't understand why Sara thought it was smelly.

I smiled, I loved this town, I couldn't bring myself to leave. The wind, the ocean, what's not to love? I felt pulled here, it was cheesy to say but I felt like something told me to move here. I did and so far I don't regret it, the wind gently blew through my hair, this place felt peaceful.

I sat myself in the chair on my porch, looking up to the sky I watched the clouds part with rays of thought shooting out.

This place felt magical.

I closed my eyes listening to the ocean and wind argue, it was music to my ears almost.