Warmth

Jeanne arrived home exhausted. Her apartment felt soothing, as soon as she saw all of her vintage movie prints. Terrence had liked those when he first was in her place. When they first realized there was something more to them than just being there for her sister–for Eliza right after her accident.

She spent a lot of time between both of their places now because they had not moved in with each other yet. Jeanne was not sure that she wanted to, even though she was pretty sure Terrence would ask her soon enough. He wanted to take care of her–he was already.

Jeanne threw her things down and picked up her phone to text him that she was home. Still walking around with her phone waiting for his text back, she put a kettle on with hot water so she could have tea to soothe her before bed. She would spent the better part of the next day writing.

His text was almost instant, and he texted her the print she was looking at. The Carole Lombard one.

Along with the hot tea was a hot bath. The warmth of the rose fragrant water was a compensation for Terrence, so she had to keep adding warm water as she lingered in the bath.

From the mirror in the bathroom was a reflection of the poster of Carole Lombard getting a kiss on her shoulder, and Jeanne became lachrymose. What if something happened to Terrence on his flight back? What if she never saw him again? Carole Lombard had died in a plane crash on her way to see her husband Clark Gable after a big fight. She and Terrence had not fought, but nothing could be taken for granted. She missed him so much it was unbearable. Jeanne felt his lips on her and she remembered being in the dark on the road moments ago and him being there for her as much as he could be from faraway.

Why did love have to be so faraway? Why couldn’t they be together now?

Full tears from frustration streamed down her face, as Jeanne added more hot water to the tub.

She needed warmth.

More Friday Flash here, more about Jeanne here.