Don't Let Me Go

Remembering...

From his P.O.V.

I rolled over to feel a cold, empty spot next to me in my bed. I felt the familiar ache of emptiness begin to come back. Fighting tears, I pulled the pillow down into my arms. I hugged it and buried my face into it, breathing deeply, I let the lingering scent dissolve every emotion I'd been holding in for so long. My mind went to the same place it always did, "that day". The day my whole world fell apart...

.....
I could hear a rustling sound coming from the closet. I looked up from my pillow flying out of the closet towards the wall.
[dialogue]
H: Babe!
...
H: BABE!
...
H: EVIE!.. What are you doing?
She popped up from the floor of the closet. Half dressed, hair kinda messy from being buried in clothes, socks unmatched, and a questioning look in her eye. I couldn't help but smirk and bite my lip at the sight of her.

E: Stop looking at me like that. Where is my black sweatshirt?
H: You mean MY black sweatshirt? With the panda on the left shoulder?
E: Yea that one. Where is it?
I smirked again at the thought of teasing her, but changed my thoughts quickly because I remembered how much she hates being late for work.
H: It's on the chair in the living room.
As she ran out of the room to go get it, I laid back on the pillows, sitting up just enough to be able to watch her scramble around and get ready. The only thing on my mind was how happy I'd been the last year since she'd agreed to move in with me. It felt like complete euphoria whenever she completely spaced out and needed me to bring her back to reality.
E: Would you please stop staring at me like that? You're making me nervous and I need to focus.
I crawled over to where she was sitting in the edge of the bed bent over tying her shoes. As she sat up, I put my head on her shoulder and snaked my arms around her waist.
H: Play hooky today. Stay home with me. We can be lazy and throw snacks at the tv all day.
E: I have to work.
H: You don't HAVE to work.
E: I do. I have three new clients coming in today and they all want to pick my brain and see what they can sue out of other people.
I pulled her closer to me and buried my face in her neck to see if that would help change her mind.
E: By the way,.. I'm pregnant...
My eyes shot open and I turned her to look at me.
H: Huh? Say that again?..
E: You heard me. Now I have to go.
H: Wait! You can't just drop a bomb like that and then leave!
E: I can, and I just did.
She picked up her briefcase and turned back to me. As I sat there shocked, barely able to breathe, I could feel her kiss my forehead and call out that she loved me as she walked out the front door.
My mind was racing as fast as my heart was.

She can't be...
We didn't plan this...
Now what?..
But then, another thought came. Her smile, her laugh, her curious eyes. All that in a tiny person that looked like the perfect mixture of both is us.
My heart swelled at the thought. Shock turned into emotional excitement as my shaky hands picked up my phone to call my parents. The other end rang and rang. Damn, must be sleeping still...

[present]
I was brought back to reality when my phone rang. I picked it up and looked at the screen, "Dad", was brightly lit as I hit the decline button. I hate phone calls. It was a phone call that ended the only true happiness I'd ever felt. I turned my face back into the pillow and let myself disappear into my head again. Dreading what I knew was coming next.

[dialogue]
The day seemed to drag on and on. All I could think of was how much I wanted to share with her that the news she'd given me this morning was making me happy and excited. I'd texted her all day about it, and of course, she replied with silly emojis that kept me guessing all day about what she was actually saying.
Just when I thought that it was getting kind of late for her to still be at the office, my phone rang, puzzling me. She never calls...

"Mr. Jung?"
H: Yes?
"Mr. Jung, I'm calling from the hospital. I'm calling about an Evelyn Peterson."
H: What's wrong? Is she alright?
"Mr. Jung, I'm sorry to have to inform you in this manner. Evelyn passed away today due to injuries sustained in an attack at her office."

.....
Injuries sustained in an attack at her office...
.....
[present]
It was the only thing that had crossed my mind for the last 6 months. She'd given bad news to a client who couldn't provide sufficient evidence to pursue a case against his ex-wife. Evie didn't know he had a gun. And she also didn't know if his past instability and issues with rejection. He shot her twice that day.

He took away my present happiness, and my future forever, all because of some paperwork.
I pulled the pillow in tighter and felt more tears pour out.
Just then, a small whisper cane to my ear...
"Don't let me go..."