The break up.

www.creativewritingprompts.com idea #313

I was standing in the rain waiting for him all night.
All night I waited and waited and waited.
And he never showed up.

He didn't want to see me anymore. I felt it in my gut
since our 3 year anniversary. I could see it in his eyes.
I could feel it in his kiss. But he never said anything.

On Tuesday night i was walking home drunk as fuck from
a party. None of my friends wanted to drive me home since they
were all pretty wasted too. But i had to work the next morning and need
to crash at my place, not Rick's. So like i said, i walked.

I walked past the co-op on the corner of Lincoln and Elm. That's where Chris works.
That's where we met.

I wanted to buy organic shampoo but at the regular grocery store it was over
$13.00. My friend Jill told me I could get it for about $4.50 at the co-op across
town. I had nothing better to do that day, so i went.

Chris was the first person I saw. I asked him where it was and he smiled. He had
a really nice smile. I thought about it the whole night I stood in the rain.

"Excuse me...Jason? Where's the shampoo?" That's what his name tag said. Jason.

"It's not Jason. 2 months now they've said they'd get me a name tag that
actually has my name on it and still nothing."

"Oh. Well, what's your named?"

"Chris Lucado." Lucado. What a funny last name.

"I'm Michelle." I hate my name.

"Aisle 3, behind the cereal."

"Thanks."

I went to find it. He followed me. I thought he liked me. He was just putting the cereal
away.

I watched him the whole time. He stacked all the lower and middle shelves first.
Then when i assumed he was going to do the top shelves, he stopped. For a long time.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"I have to put the top cereal away."

I didn't understand.

"Is that a problem?"

"I can't do it."

"Get the step ladder." I pointed to the utility closet which was left open. I could see it sticking out.

"No...I'm afraid of heights."

That's all I remember about the first day we met.
I wish i remembered more, but i don't.

I stopped in front on the co-op and started to cry.
I missed Chris. He used to call me Belle. Like the Beatles song.
I loved the Beatles. So did he. It was our song.

Chris came out of the back of the co-op.
He was whistling and jingling his keys.
I didn't notice him at first, but he noticed me.
I heard his keys drop.

He said "Belle?"

My heart slammed into the pavement.
He drove me home.
We got to the front of my apartment and i said,

"Are you still scared of heights?"

"Yes."

"Is that why you broke up with me? Did you not want to get any higher?"

I heard him sniff in the dark of the car and saw his hand wipe under his eye
and across his cheek in the glow of a street light.

"Bye Michelle."

"Bye Chris."