Undelivered News

It was one o'clock on the dot. The mail gets here at this time everyday. I began tapping my foot on the floor and twiddling my thumbs. Where is it? I ask myself. I am waiting in the living room, sitting by my desk. I hear Leona fiddle with the plates in the kitchen. I watch her lather the sponge with soap, scrubbing each plate clean. Her dark brown hair was tied in a bun, and she was wearing an old shirt of mine. Her hips swayed to the beat of her "dishes playlist". Now and again she picks up her scrub brush as a microphone. She's so lovely, I thought to myself as I turned my chair back around to my desk. I tapped my pencil's end on the desk. Leona dried her hands with the dish towel under the sink. She filled up her water bottle with her 'fancy' fruit water, I smiled at her as she made her way to the living room. I heard the clank of the mail slot in our front door, and watched the mail fall to the floor. Oh no.

"I got it babe," she said, walking over to the stack of mail. "Anything good?" My face dropped as she began to cycle through the mail. I got up, and stood in the hallway with her. I was motionless. I leaned back onto the wall as I felt my face heating up, and this morning's breakfast churning in my stomach. I began to unwind myself.

I watched her eyes scan each letter. Sorting the bills and spam mail from one another. As she read along one in the middle, in a mustard yellow envelope, her eyes grew wide. The other letters fell to the floor as she stared at this letter. I watched a handful of tears roll down her cheek. She looked up to me, and I couldn't look back at her. I put my head in my hands as I began to tear up. She walked towards me, though I couldn't see anything but her sock covered feet. She pulled my hands away from my face, and looked at me in the eyes. She wiped my tears with the pads of her thumbs.

"Oh, Adam..." She whispered, as she held my hands in hers, "You should have told me."

"Don't cry Leona... don't worry..." I sobbed, shaking my head, "I should have told you the truth.. I've known for a while... But I didn't want to be who you know isn't going to make it... I mean god, I have cancer! But I still love you, I wanted to marry you! I wanted you to love me for as long as I had and have it be okay.. I just wanted it all okay Leona..." I couldn't take a breath. I felt like jello, I felt my body giving out on me.

"...Hey...hey..  just let it out baby." She said as I began to droop myself into her arms.