More of You

Part I

     "Okay, everyone, let's take fifteen." A deep voice emanates from inside the theater as you push the door open. Everyone inside is shuffling, making their way off the stage as you walk in.

     "There you are! Thank you" Charlie meets you halfway down the aisle to grab the coffee from you, giving you a kiss on the cheek. "It's been such a long morning, and it's not even 10:00 am."

     "How's it going so far?" you took a sip of your coffee and looked around the theater.

      "Not so bad, there's potential, but I still think it could use some work" he ran his hands through his hair before scooting into one of the rows, gesturing you to sit with him.

     "You're here all day today?"

      "Seems like it" the circles under his eyes seemed to have darkened since the last time you saw him. Dealing with his separation from Nicole in recent months must have been taking its toll. Bringing him coffee in the mornings before work was the only way to spend any real time with him. You and Charlie had been close your entire lives, that is until he married Nicole.

     Although he made it very clear to her that you were a permanent part of his life, she always seemed to have a problem, creating unwanted distance between you and Charlie. All in all, your relationship with her was rocky, to say the least, but it didn't matter. You would do anything for Charlie, and that included putting up with her.

    "How's everything with Nicole?" You didn't want to bring it up first, but you knew he never would.

    "Not getting any better if that's what you're wondering" he took a sip of his coffee, leaning back into the chair, taking a deep breath. "I just hope everything goes smoothly, you know? For Henry's sake." Per their agreement, Nicole was moving to California, and they would alternate time and holidays with Henry. This. All of it was killing Charlie inside. Having to be so far from Henry for so long, but he was willing to do anything he could to make it work. You turned to him, placed your hand on his, and gave it a gentle squeeze. Charlie's eyes met yours with a smile, squeezing your hand back.

    "You're doing the best you can. Everything will be fine." You reassured him. "I'm here if you anything, you know that"

   "I know." He pulled his hand away, looking down at his watch, "don't you have to go to work?"

     "Shit. I'm late. Talk soon?" He nodded as you leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek goodbye and ran out the door.

3 months later (Around Thanksgiving)

     Knock, you were startled by the sudden noise, making you jolt in your sleep. You reached over for your phone to see it was 2:30 am, wondering who it could be pounding your door at this hour. You got up and put on your sleeping shorts to answer the door to see Charlie standing there, his face flushed, eyes twitching while chewing on the inside of his cheek like he did so often when he was upset.

    "Hey." His voice cracked, barely keeping it together. You stepped to the side as he made his way into your apartment. He went straight to sit on the couch, his elbows on his knees, hands rubbing his face incessantly.

    You made your way to the kitchen and poured some tea you had made earlier for the both of you. Nicole was in town "visiting," and you could tell he had just come from one of their fights. This was a regular occurrence for Charlie before the divorce was finalized. Showing up at your doorstep two to three nights a week after an explosive fight with her. But every time she came to visit, Charlie found himself repeating this cycle. At times, you wondered how much more of this either of you could take.