Picture Perfect

t w o

When Rachel arrives at the apartment she puts her car in park and stares up at the building. She sighs, knowing what she has in front of her. Looking down at the LCD screen its nine o'clock. The outside temperature shocks her too. It's thirty-five degrees. It is February but she thought that it might be a bit warmer down south. She zips up her sweatshirt a little farther as she pulls the keys from the ignition and climbs out of the car.

The cool air feels good on her face. She takes a deep breath. The fresh air rushes into her nose. It's cold as it reaches her lungs. It fills them as she closes her eyes. They snap open again as she is brought back to her surroundings as a dog lets out a loud sharp bark. Rachel remembers the talk her dad gave her about being alone at night, especially somewhere she is not familiar. She opens the car door and reaches for her purse, knowing what is inside will protect her. She slings it over her shoulder.

After carrying two boxes of what she knew were sheets and bathroom items into the apartment, she threw her duffel bag over her shoulder and locked the car. The lights flashed against the front of the building. Rachel climbed the stairs for the last time that night. She had made what she felt was a lot of noise while fumbling for the apartment key. The office has mailed it to her a few weeks ago and she threw the envelope in her purse before setting out on the road not thinking that she would need it on her key ring when she got there. Once inside she was again swept into the love she has for this place. Everything was just as she had remembered. Only this time the furniture she has chosen was in the living room, set up just as she had requested.

Without thinking, Rachel went and stood behind the sink. Standing just where she had when she decided that this was going to be her new home. She looked out over the island. She pictured the chairs she found online and was having sent here in the next few days. She looked over at her new couch, longing to grab her favorite throw blanket and watch TV on it. She smiled, content. Then she remembered she was alone. Troy wasn't here to fight over the remote with. Her mom couldn't pop some popcorn on the stove while they waited for this week's heart retching episode of Grey's Anatomy. She had given all of that up for this new life. She shook her head. Stop, she told herself. You wanted out of hick town. You got it. You have this new space. Rachel told herself that over and over as she made her bed and collapsed into it. She was too tired for anything else. The journey was hard but so was the mental preparation for what was to come.

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The headlights flashed on the side of the house as Bradley turned the truck into his drive way. He pulled around back and pulled the airbrakes, letting out a hiss. He lifted his hat to scratch his head. Finally home after a long week. He looked forward to going inside and sleeping in a bed that wasn't attached to his office. He smiled to himself. This is his office. He grabbed the paperwork next to him on the passenger seat. He'd finish his logbook tomorrow. He turned the key and the truck rattled to nothing. The gauges he stared at all week went dark. The work week was done and so was he. He tucked the paperwork under his arm and grabbed his phone from its holder and headed inside for the night.

When he woke the next morning, Bradley rolled over, the sheets tangling around him. He kicked them off, suddenly hot. He clicked the center button on his phone. It was almost ten. He wondered how he had slept that long. Sun streamed through the blinds in his barren bedroom. A text from his sister and one from a buddy waited for him.

Hey baby bro, call me when you're up. Miss you! Xo

Dude, campfire tonight. Bring beer.

Brad dialed his sisters number as he stumbled to the bathroom, kicking off his boxers in the hallway. He turned the shower knob as she answered.