It Starts

The first time I laid eyes on him was off 59th Avenue, after a drug bust in a major warehouse. He watched from the back of his Lincoln, parked 5 yards from the fence line, puffing on a cigar with a condescending smile on his face.

I was once a happy cop. I survived 4 world tours on a specialized team. After 5 years I decided to get out and live a normal life. I had an amazing wife that I met when I was in the Core. We lived an ideal life together.

I've been on the police force for 15 years now. All was well until I ran across a known drug ring out of Mexico. The leader's name is Frost. Very few people have seen his face. He bought his property from a corrupt politician that has a "secret" account in the Cayman Islands.

I remember waking up to the sun, glistening through the blinds. Shining against your skin as it glows with warmth as you lay in my arms with your head on my chest. I slowly run my fingertip up and down your spine, lightly, careful not to wake you. As I lay here on my back, I think about the previous day, where it all starts.....

It's a typically early Saturday morning. I step out of the shower and start to make my normal early morning phone calls. As usual, my partner calls to fill me in on what supplies have been moved from one warehouse to another. I get dressed and load up my truck. As I pull out to f the driveway, I see you passing. I think nothing of it as I continue to pull out of my driveway.

As the day goes on, I have completed 5 deliveries. I head to Jimmy John's for my favorite sandwich. As I sit down to eat I receive a text message saying "How's your day going daddy?" I respond "Good, by the way who is this?" As I take the first bite of my sandwich I think "Uhh, wrong number".

As I finish my lunch my alarm goes off reminding me I have a meeting in 45 minutes. I pack up my trash and throw it away. As I start out the door, I hear "Sir, you forgot your key." and he walks over to hand them to me I look down and see my keys in my hand. I smile and say" Sorry, I have my keys right here". As I look up at the keys in his hand, I notice something familiar about the key. This is the key I had made for her.....I take the key as a tear runs down my face.

I get back in my truck and put the key in my cup holder. I sit and stare in the rear view mirror as memories come flashing back to me. I am quickly interrupted by a text saying "You'll find out tonight". I convince myself it is still the wrong number and don't think anything of it. Onto my meeting.....

When the meeting is over I head home. Pulling into the garage I notice a single rose petal with shades of white and pink. As I round my truck an alarm goes off in my head. I don't have a rose bush, niether do my neighbors. Standing at the end of the driveway, with the petal in my hand, I notice an approaching car. I think of how strange this day is becoming. The wind blows as I raise my hand and let the petal float away in the breeze.

I unlock the door and walk into the house. I walk into my bedroom, turn the shower on and get undressed. I step in and think about the last time I saw you. Think about how you smiled at me and walked out of my life, taking that new job offer. Getting out of the shower I dry off, thinking about what I should wear tonight...it's a nice night for black, I think to myself.

I pull up to the bar. There is music blasting as I walk in. I shake hands with security as everyone greets me. One face sticks out of the crowd more than the others. I look into her eyes. As she gets closer I can smell the sweet smell of her perfume. Time stops and the music dampens.

Flash backs start to play in my head. I remember your soft skin and the feel of your lips. I pull you from the bar stool, holding you in my arms with a warm embrace. We whisper "I missed you so much" in each other's ears.

We leave the bar and head to the beach. Hand in hand we walk under the night sky together, for hours. Who knows how much time has passed by? As the night gets late we head to my place. I think "Oh my God, I can't wait". We pull into the driveway and I open your door, remembering the last time your clothes hit my floor. As time ticks on you lay closer to me, resting your head on my chest. I kiss your forehead and tell you "I love you". Holding you through the night, wishing this moment would never end. The sun is rising,glistening through the blinds, shining against your skin as it glows with warmth. You lay in my arms with your head on my chest, as I slowly run my fingertip up and down your spine. Ever so gently so as not to wake you.

As I lay here on my back, I think back over that night. Where it starts and how it ended. A love so deep came to an end. I lost my lover and my best friend. In the end, you came home to rest until our souls meet again.

Years later, I ran into an old friend. We talked with each other for months. Then we got married, my life was whole again. I returned to work. Frost fell off the map, no longer a threat. Things were returning to normal.

Well, at least, I thought so.....