A Long Way From Home

The Black Robe Part I

I observed the rain falling today, just outside that window. A window of four square panes, scuffed, and embroided with lose vines; acting so much so as a gateway to the neighborhood that never called me a neighbor. I heard a howling in the wind, like a screaming lady, the pitch was so high. I closed my eyes in reflection.Pictured the howling, envisioned the woman. She's clothed in a black tafetta dress that is adorned with lose pearls. I opened my eyes. The screaming had halted.
I unclasp the locking mechanism on my window and let the air rush by me. It blew my curly hair strewn and the smell of decaying leafs filled my nostrils. I reflected on the outside world that was windswept and water painted with dancing pine trees. An indigo-pinkish cloud in the shape of Texas hovered over the horizon. To me, it was some sort of godly like beacon. I knew the storm was soon to worsen.The door behind me creaked open. And standing in the threshold was Lila, holding a book tightly in her hands, a long piece of brown hair fell across her eye.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "Have you slept at all?"
I didn't respond immediately. I suppose I was to taken back by how beautiful she was. I had bought her a black robe several months ago. That was when everything went on sale in the stores. We was catching deals all the way around Pinnacle Square. Truthful, my investment in her robe had only now payed off. I squinted my face at her silhouette. The left side of her robe ruffled and had slid down to reveal the upper portion of her breast.
"Come in. I haven't slept at all."

"It's 4 AM," she muttered as she stepped into the darkness of my room, "everything okay?"
"I'm in one of those moods where I think about stuff." I said. Lila's face became puzzled. A tan skinned, black robed, arched brow, twinkling eyed puzzle.
"Yeah. Well. I think that's what storms generally do. Causes us to think. She took a seat on the edge of the bed. She reminded me of a slumped, fuzzy monstrosity in the corner of my eye.
I signed and arched my body towards her. "I don't know Lila. I don't know who I am anymore. Everything in my life up until now has generally been for a good reason. "
"Give me an example," she intrigued.   
"All I ever wanted was a place to call mine. Now I have this house. Before that, I wanted a car. Now I have the nicest car in Watertown."
"I see."
"I've always wanted a pretty woman. Now I have you..."
"Shut up. You sentimentality challenged dumb dick."
With that we both laughed. I snarled ugly at her through big white teeth. And she did the same, though cloaked in only a silvery beam of moonlight, her smile prevailed.
"I... Love you, Lila."
"I love you Aaron Christopher."
Through impulse I raised up from my antique wooden chair and took a seat next to her. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, fiddled with the soft fabric of the robe. My eyes were growing heavy. I wiped them with the back of my cold hand. Lila's phone started sounding a high pitched tune. She intrigued, pulled it from the outer pocket, and read aloud.

Severe Storm Alert for Water Town
Flash Floods Imminent

"The good thing is... You'll have plenty of time to figure out what you'll need to be happy," Lila said with a throw of her hair.
I cocked my head towards her. I could see my faint reflection in her reading glasses. I was a blurred, hopeless looking figure.    "I'd say that's true."
Lila grinned. No matter how hopelessly lost I felt, she grinned. As if she knew somewhere deep inside of her black, tattered soul everything would be okay with me.