Stuck In Quarantine

25.

      It was early in the morning, and James was out on the balcony. He had been writing since before the sun peaked over the horizon. He had basically finished his book, except for the last chapter. And he didn't know how to finish it. And for the last few minutes, it was driving him crazy.  He placed the laptop down, and took a break.
      He stood up, and yawned. Stretching out his arms, and cracking his neck. He rested his arms atop the railing, and watched the sun rise. He had never watched a sun rise before. He never realized, how something so simple, could be so beautiful. He was the only one awake at this time. The apartment across was as dead quiet. Not a single soul was out on their balconies.
      It was day fifteen of the quarantine. And James hoped things would go back to normal. He never kept track of the virus, and it's numbers. And he dared never put on the news. Hating everything the news stood for. But his hopes were heightened suddenly.
      Down on the street below. Street cleaners started to emerge. Going up and down the street, cleaning the garbage, and sweeping the sidewalks. He watched them like a hawk. They weren't staying six feet apart, they weren't wearing masks. It looked like a normal day for them.

      "Hey!" James yelled out.

One of the street cleaners looked around in confusion. Before looking up to James.

      "Yeah!" Shouted the street cleaner.

      "Is the quarantine over?!" James shouted.

      "Yes it is! There haven't been any new cases in fourteen days. And they finally have a vaccine for it! Don't you watch the news?!"

A smile exploded over James face, to the news. He could barely contain his excitement. He turned to run back inside. But stopped, and went back to the railing.

      "Thank you! I'm sorry for disturbing you! And no I don't! Fuck the news!" He shouted down to the cleaner.

      "You're welcome!" The cleaner yelled. As he waved goodbye to James.

     James ran down the hallway, and entered the bedroom. Celeste was sound asleep, curled in a ball of blankets. He jumped on the bed, waking, and scaring Celeste, all in one. She shot up with a scream. Her hair was in a mess. And dried drool was on the right side of her cheek.

      "What the hell, baby?!" She shouted. Breathing fast, as her heart tried to jump out of her chest.

      "The quarantine is over!" James shouted. At the top of his lungs.

      "What?!" Celeste yelled. Hardly believing what James just said.

Celeste rubbed her eyes awake, and wiped the dried drool from her cheek.

      "The quarantine is over!"

      "How can you be sure?!" She asked.

      "I asked some workers down on the street! No new cases have popped up, and they have a cure!" James exclaimed.

Celeste could hardly believe it. Her look was utter shock. She didn't know what to say. She just sat there dumbfounded.

      "Quickly! Pack a bag! We're making like a bad cheque, and bouncing!" James shouted. As he jumped off the bed, and ran down the hallway.

      "I have to go to my apartment and pack! I have nothing here!" She shouted.

James ran back, and leaned into the bedroom.

      "Then go! Hurry!" He exclaimed.

      James ran down the hallway, and entered the living room. He quickly dove for the La-Z-Boy. Digging inbetween the cushions. After a few seconds, his hand emerged with a set of keys. He quickly ran back down the hall, running past Celeste. As he entered his bedroom. He went into his closest, and grabbed a bag. And packed it full of clothes, as fast as he could.
      James quickly got dressed, throwing on his usual. Jeans and a shirt. His jeans were blue, and his shirt was navy blue, in colour. With his bag over his shoulder, he entered the bathroom. He quickly styled his hair, and brushed his teeth. Leaving the bathroom, he entered the living room. And dropped his bag on the floor. And waited for Celeste.
      An hour later, Celeste showed up, yawning and still trying to wake up. But she had a bag in her hand, and was ready to go. She was wearing a pink sundress, it had a low neck line, and was just long enough, to cover her bottom. Her air was up in a bun, with a couple of stray-thick strands, dancing beside her eyes.  And she was wearing a pair of white-flats, to finish her attire.