Hear Me

Chapter Ten

Sophie sat there poised in her seat. She had waited for him at the diner, a hoodie around her shoulders that was zipped and hood up. Her headphones were in and she looked tired. What could be eating away at somebody’s soul to the point of making them waste away? Death, that was evident in both of their lives. But what was really going on with Sophie? Luke sat across from her, a dark cola in front of her and a notebook on her lap. She was writing for quite some time, only glancing up at him to acknowledge the fact he had sat down. The waitress came over, hands dug into apron pockets.

“Can I get you anything?”

Was that even really a question? Many people would answer with coffee or a food item of some sort but he just wanted her attention, her words.

“Nothing. I’m fine, thanks.”

She nodded and walked away. Sophie kept scribbling out her words, obviously frustrated from a lack of being able to describe something. Something very important to her…what was it? Why was Luke here? These questions were answered as she passed him the notebook.

(Lately, things haven’t made much sense. Everything went from fighting shoe laces to fighting back tears and I don’t understand where things went wrong. At one point in my life, I was happy and now I’m not and I don’t know why that could possibly be. At first, I called myself tired and then I called myself a cynic but the truth is staring me in the face, shouting at me to recognize the problem. It’s evident, this black cloud following me everywhere. I wish there was some way to just sleep all of this off, to just eat it away, to forget all of it when I simply write words but words are never enough and none of this is ever enough. I’ve got hopelessness and helplessness and when you put the two together, bad things happen. I just want you to know that I’ve been alright, that I’m going to be alright. I just need to explain it to somebody…and this all seems like pointless ramble but I promise it isn’t and will all make sense if you keep reading. You’re an English professor, you read a lot. I was sick, throwing up my own blood…as you know…and I was lost for a while. I was confused and alone when I wasn’t really even alone. It stopped all making sense, my life doesn’t make sense. This isn’t a plea or a suicide note but I’m done. And now that you’re done, please look at me because I have something for you.)

He did so and she kissed him. There was so much passion, so much feverous emotion within that kiss that he couldn’t do anything but move his lips in rhythm with hers, feeling her fingers tangle in his hair. They had gone back to his apartment upon that one moment, not wanting to go back to hers for fear of being caught in an act they both knew was morally wrong. They didn’t care, they couldn’t help it, and for a while in time, these two lonely souls felt loved.

“Luke?” A female called

Sophie’s eyes opened to the sunlight hitting them. The warm body that was underneath her was no longer there. She stood and stretched, looking for her discarded clothes only to find them neatly folded on the edge of the bed. She smiled as they smelled like fresh laundry. She took her clothes and went into the bathroom, turning on the hot water. She would shower, scrub up, get dressed, and leave. The hot water felt good on her muscles as she began to wash her hair with coconut shampoo.

“Luke? The sink is leaking.” A female said as she came into the bathroom.

“Luke. Are you in here?”

Sophie swallowed nervously. She wished she could reply but should couldn’t and just as a hand ghosted over the curtain, she heard his rough yet gentle voice speak.

“I’m in the kitchen as we speak, Flo.”

Flo? Who was Flo? She heard the footsteps fade out of the tile-floor room. Sophie chewed the inside of her cheek as she dried off. Luke wouldn’t cheat on a girlfriend…would he? No. He seemed nobler than that. Sophie was dressed, hair brushed and pulled back into a messy bun, before going out to tell Luke goodbye. The bubbling of laughter escaped the kitchen and she felt her heart sink. She walked in and leaned against the wall in silence, observing as she always did.