An Ocean Apart

The most important person in my life.

Everything, from the moment I awoke the next morning, seemed to go amiss and running behind schedule. 

I eased from my sleep lazily, fluttering my eyes and adjusting their pupils to the brightness of the room. Only ten or so minutes later when I was bothered enough to turn my head toward my nightstand did I check the clock. The red numbers 11:15 didn’t registered until about thirty seconds after I’d laid eyes upon them. 

I shot up from bed, alarmed at the fact that I’d allowed myself to sleep in so late. I debated for a lingering second whether I should bother a shower or throw on some clothes by snapping my head back and forth between the floor and the bathroom. Ultimately, knowing I only had fifteen minutes to spare, I grabbed the first clean pair of jeans I could find in the pillow of clothes next to my closet. 

Rushing into the bathroom while yanking a Hollister sweatshirt over my tangled hair, I tried to steady my breath. Harry was supposed to be picking me up from my flat at 11:30. We agreed on lunch before I needed to head back and prepare for my night out with Pia. Lunch wasn’t a large deal but one of my biggest pet peeves is tardiness. And it’s even more infuriating when I’m the one who’s tardy. 

I twisted the strands of my long dark hair into a messy braid down my back and began to access my face. My eyes seized in horror when I noticed a pea sized inflamed section of skin on my cheek. I pressed it tentatively, the bump throbbing with pain. Groaning in frustration I dug through my makeup bag for my concealer, hoping to God I could manage to hide the monstrosity growing on my face. The last time I’d had a zit of his caliber was months ago. Why on earth one decided to show up at this inopportune time was beyond me. 

Sixteen minutes later I flung myself out of my bedroom breathlessly, ready as best I could be for an afternoon with Harry. I checked my face in the mirror quickly to make sure the bump was indeed hidden before I slumped against one of the kitchen chairs to catch my breath and wait for him. Not even two seconds later a light tap came from the other side of the front door. 

I pushed my body up and answered the door. Harry stood before me looking as flawless as ever with an easy smile on his face. His curls were let loose and dangling around the lines of his cheeks. His fingers were shoved into the front pockets of his dark wash jeans, the only substance holding them up a dark tan belt looped through the holes. The upper half of his body uncased in a form fitting brown leather jacket and plain black t shirt. I’d nearly forgotten he was standing awkwardly outside the door I was so distracted with his physical appearance. 

His eyebrows rose, questionably, as he chuckled, “You gonna let me in?” 

“Oh!” I shook my head, zoning back into reality, “Yeah, sorry.” I stepped aside to let him through the door. 

“Distracted?” he asked cheekily, taking in his surroundings as he made his way through the door’s thrush hold into the hall. 

I chortled darkly and walked past him to grab my coat and purse, “Yeah, late morning.” 

He merely nodded in understanding, waiting patiently for me to grab my belongings. His brows furrowed for a moment, “Is Pia here?” 

“Pia?” I inquired, suddenly realizing I hadn’t noticed her into my rush to get out of the door, “Oh, I guess not. I haven’t seen her but she might be in her room.” I walked over toward her door, “Give me second.”

I rotated her door handle and poked my head around to look inside the room, “Pia?” She was nowhere to be found. Her bed was left unmade and yesterday’s clothes scattered across the floor. I couldn’t hear a shower running from the bathroom or her usual humming as she prepped herself for the day.