Say you'll stay - Channing Tatum

P.17

I barley know where I'm going, even less what time it is. By now I'm just following the sound of the water as I stare out in complete darkness.

We agreed to meet in the middle somewhere, where the bridge divides in half and where the water is most alive.

We never mentioned a time.

Looking down at the white stripes painted on the road I can't help but remember the time we were here, that night I stood on the railing barefoot wondering what it would feel like to jump. It doesn't seem like it was a long time ago, but tomorrow it's been three months.

It was in July, I remember so clearly because it was the day before my brother would come to visit mom and I. I counted the days, even the ones that more felt like a few hours, hoping every minute he would knock on the door and smile once it opened.

He's rarely home anymore. It used to be mom, he and I, but since he joined the army I haven't seen him more than twice since I was 17.

Something cold suddenly hit's my nose and I turn my head towards the sky. It's too dark to discern any clouds, but as the seconds pass, one after one drop of water hits my face.

"You've been waiting long?" A familiar voice calls out a short distance away. I turn my head away from the pouring rain, slowing my pace until I stand still on my side of the bridge.

"Yeah, for hours." I sigh, lifting my arms up from my sides only to let them fall back down.

I can see him smiling under the bare light. He's in a grey button up coat, his hands tucked in the pockets.

I put my own hands in the sides of my jacket. The rain together with the cold breezes has turned them almost white, begging for warmth.

With a smile I place my foot in front of the other to join him on his side. He makes a spin and we start walking the same way he came from.

"I like your choice of shoes." He says and gives a quick glance down at my soaked converse. I lightly push him in the side causing a light chuckle to leave his lips. "Thanks, at least they're not like your humor."

A second later and I get a push back.

The rain which has left the ground in two different colors suddenly starts falling heavier, turning the patchy road to a dark grey. I can feel my hair stick to the sides of my face and we start walking faster.

"We're almost there." He says and looks down at me.

I can't do other than smile. His hair is soaking wet and water runs down his face, some of it clinging on to his eyelashes.

He catches my eyes. "What?" He asks, a crooked smile shaping his lips.

I can't tell him what I'm thinking, so I just shake my head.

We continue our walk in the middle of the road as the rain keeps pouring down. Not a car has passed us since we started walking.

My eyes follow the broken white lines that are painted in the middle of the road. How many days has the human spent on creating these? They go around the globe and is followed every single day by millions of people.

I don't think too much on where I'm going. I'm just placing one foot in front of the other in hopes of taking myself to the place where I'm supposed to be.

Minutes later and he takes a sharp right. The road turns in to a smaller path that's build out of rounded stones and when I look up I immediately know where we are.

I quietly follow him down to the porch that belongs to the big white house in front of us. He unlocks the door and holds it open for me.

"Thank you" I smile, taking a step in.

The ceilings are high and the walls painted white. I'm stunned by the sight of the place they call home.

I lean down to untie my completely soaked shoes, my eyes still stuck on the things around me. "Aren't Cynthia home?" I ask. I don't know what I want to hear for an answer. I didn't get the feeling of her liking me the time we were introduced, if she even remembers me. I doubt it.

Channings footsteps disappear behind me. "No." He breathes. "I'm not even sure where she is to be honest."

He returns with a couple of blankets that he places on a chair.

I start to untie my other shoe, rethinking what I just asked. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

Two arms suddenly wraps around me, leaving my body covered in a thick blanket. "It's fine, Brooke. Don't think about it." He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.

I look down at my feet as I listen to his footstep disappear once again.

I can not not think about it even if he tells me to.

She's his home. And she's not here.