Free The Writer by Kim Dallmeier

Rosie for
it.”
    Before I realized it, our
time together was over. She had left and suddenly, I felt
incredibly depressed.
    Tears swelled into my
eyes, and I could not push them back.
    I walked back to the
office, and took one of Joy’s books into my hands. I opened it, and
closed it quickly, breathing in its scent, her scent. I shut my
eyes, holding it with both hands, leaning my head against it. I
loved her so much. What was I doing?
    “Are you okay?” asked
Rosie. I had not heard her come in.
    “Yeah” I said, looking up.
“I’m just tired.”

Chapter 32
    We moved into the
condominium on a Monday. It had just been raining. The air was
warm. Like every first of July, it had been a crazy day.
    I had called Joy’s parents
to let them know the keys to the apartment were in the mailbox, as
was my new address for Joy.
    My desire to keep in
contact with Joy had not been received well by her parents. I
sensed they disapproved of our friendship, as it hindered Joy’s
progress in moving forward.
    As much as they had taken
me into their family with open arms once, today Joy’s dad had asked
me to stop contacting them. They probably felt that I was keeping
Joy on the line, while being in a committed relationship with
Rosie; they were right, I was not being fair.
    “We should invite Joy over
some time,” I said to Rosie.
    As the words came out, I
regretted them instantly.
    “Sorry. Old habits die
hard.” I said.
    To my surprise, Rosie only
smiled. Moving into a place of our own had made her more secure,
confident, and happier.
    I still secretly wished
that Joy would come see the place. I hoped her parents had given
her my new address, regardless of how they felt about
me.
    I grabbed a box, and
headed for my new office.
    I embraced the privacy,
and sat at my new desk: new desk, new revolving chair, new table
lamp. Growing up, and growing old, holding on to a job did have a
few benefits, such as having the money to get precisely the
furniture I wanted.
    I slid my hand down the
cold oak, and smiled to myself. I would finally have the space to
write my very first novel.
    I put away books in
shelves, crayons in drawers. Time just flew by.
    As I sat back in the chair
and spun around a few times, I felt light. For the past year or so,
I had been carrying a heavy weight on my chest and a dark cloud
over my mind; the change of scenery was exactly what the doctor
ordered.
    The door creaked slowly,
and in came Alfred.
    “Hi Dog,” I said. “How do
you like your new place?”
    Alfred wagged his
tail.
    “Glad you approve. In case
you’re looking for your cushion, it’s right there in the
corner.”
    Alfred went to sniff at it
and seemed to find the spot acceptable. I agreed. Everything was
just fine.

Chapter 33
    I got up this morning, and
everything felt wrong again. It was raining, and I had to see Joy.
It was her birthday. September had crept on us, and I had not seen
Joy in months. Since I could not call at her parents place without
creating a fuss, and they apparently had made here change her cell
phone number, I had no other choice than go and see her face to
face.
    I stopped along the way to
get a bouquet of flowers. At least, I had a good excuse today of
all days. My heart beat faster with the anticipation of seeing her
dark brown eyes, her long auburn hair. I desperately needed a few
moments with her; it had been so long, so very long.
    I ached.
    As I sat on the metro,
watching the stations go by, my hands became moist. My chest felt
heavy. Everything felt wrong. What was wrong with me?
    Soon, I was standing
outside her parents’ place soaked. The rain had started even
stronger now. Everything was working against me.
    I needed to ring that
bell, but somehow something was preventing me from doing it. I
stood there; I am not sure for how long, just starring.
    I was about to turn back,
when the door opened. Joy’s dad stood at the top of the stairs.
“Come here, boy.” He said.
    I gave him the
flowers.
    Coming into