Before You Know It

18 Years Later

I am walking out of the airport as I pull the shades out of my bag that's slung around my shoulder and put them over my eyes. Dragging my suitcase behind me in my left hand I pull out the keys with my right. I scan the parking lot for my truck. As I spot it under the letter C section on the 3rd floor, I begin walking towards it. The small green pick up truck that is beginning to have rust on the side became clearer.

*I'll need to get that fixed.*

I unlock the truck and toss in my suitcase into the backseat. Hopping into the front seat my phone begins to ring. I quickly answer the phone as I turn the keys in the ignition.

"Hello?" I ask as I put the phone on my shoulder to hold it and put the truck in reverse.

"Hello?" The voice on the other side says.

"Oh hey! I just left the airport and I'm starting the truck. I'm on my way. I'll be there, just give me about 30 minutes." As I say this I put my hand behind the passenger seat and look around and begin backing the truck up. As I'm putting it in drive, the voice speaks back.

"Ok. I'll be here, waiting like every other time."

I laugh into the phone, "Alright. I'm pulling out. I'll see you." I say as I am leaving the parking garage and the sun comes beaming down onto the hood of the truck. *I'm thankful I put my sunglasses on.* As I pull onto the main road the voice speaks back.

The other side laughs before saying, "Ok, I love you."

"Love you too." I say as I hear the other side hangs up.

I grab the phone off of my shoulder and place into the center column then turn the radio station on. The station that pops up is the only one I've ever listened to, 82.6.

Listening to the music, I tap my fingers to the music on the steering wheel as they're scorching in the hot sun. The second the next song started I recognized it as my favorite song. I turn the sound up almost all of the way and begin singing as loudly as I can not caring about what others around me think.

I drive about 20 minutes before my phone begins ringing again. I turned the radio to nearly almost off and pick up the phone.

"Are you almost here?" The voice asks anxiously.

I laugh, "Yes. I'm almost there. Only about 5 minutes away."

"Oh okay." Said the voice before they hung up.

As I'm driving I look out my window and notice I am passing *David's Flower Shop*. The little sign out front has begun to fade away many years ago so there were many letters missing. The parking lot still was a wreck with weeds tearing up the concrete. The parking lines were barely visible from where I use to park this very truck every time mom came home. The windows are as clean as ever and it seems like business was still going strong. Josh still works there, but now he is married to a lovely woman named Sonya he met his freshman year of college. They now have two kids with a third on the way. Josh plans on turning the shop into a family business one day, or so I've heard.

A few more minutes pass when I recognize the little building on the side of the street. I pull into the familiar parking lot and park in my space. As I put the truck in park, I recognize the vehicle two spots down. It's a silver 2017 Ford F-150. I have many memories in that truck as well as in my own. It is beginning to be worn down but is still loved the same as when he first got it.

I look into my rear view mirror and lift the sunglasses to the top of my head. As I look in the mirror I look at my eyes for only a split second before I notice my collar is messed up. I quickly fix it and take one last glance into the mirror before I jump out of the truck. When I get out I stand next to the door for a second before patting it and walking to the entrance of the little diner.