The attic is in shadows, the sunlight restricted to only a small window. I don’t dare come up here at night, but in the day, I summon the courage to. It’s been a long time coming. Dave is gone. I should move on.
The box of old gifts stares back at me, and my heart breaks all over again when I see a coupon. An old coupon from his favorite coffee shop. Dave loved coffee. I woke him up each morning with one and he’d always kiss me before taking a sip,
“A taste of my two favorite things. It’s good to be alive.” He would wink each time. I thought it would get old but it never did. Ten years of knowing each other; two years as friends, four dating and four married. He was my soul mate.
Fresh tears soak the piece of paper. I quickly wipe them off and focus on the task. Putting the box on the floor, I’m immediately thrown off-balance when the house begins to quake, sending the paper flying.
“Oh no!” Panic grips me by the neck as I recognize the signs of an earthquake. I quickly sit on the floor, the box beside me. The coupon is not far off and I try to reach for it. As soon as I grab it the quake stops. My relief is short lived as I find myself falling, through my attic floor!
I scream, certain I would be falling to my death but then I find myself floating. Gravity seems to disintegrate, forming into a dark space and I hear laughter in the distance.
“What the hell?” I mutter, still suspended by a supernatural force. I flail my hands but nothing happens until I start dropping at rapid speed. My scream is loud enough to rip a cord.
I brace myself for impact when I catch sight of grass but to my surprise it’s a green sheet on a bed.
I land with no harm, my nerves in shock. The bed is warm, like someone just left it. I see my reflection in the mirror, my hair is a mess and my face is pale. No doubt. My stomach churns as I stand to my feet, legs wobble and I have to grab onto the chair tucked by the table facing a window. The vanity is almost empty save for a hair spray and… cologne?
I hear humming coming from the wide open door and force my legs to move. The door leads to a hallway that goes in two opposite directions. The hum is prominent on the left and with each step closer I can tell it’s from a man.
“We can make it if we try…hmmm! Just the two of us!”
A man is swaying his half naked butt and singing in what looks to be the kitchen. In just briefs, he throws his head back and screeches the lyrics of my favorite songs to a spoon. The sound of running water in the background.
“Ugh! Please stop!” I yell, he flinches, turns around and the world stops.
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“Dave?” I can’t even hear my own voice.
“Oh. Dee! When did you get in?” He walks up to me, all smiles and places a kiss on my forehead, “Is that my shirt?”
It feels unreal. My hands move on their own, my brain trying to catch up. I palm his face, staying his eyes on mine. A strand of hair falls over his face in typical Dave fashion.
“Whoa whoa!! What’s wrong?” His fingers swipe tears from my face. They are warm. Not cold.
“Dave?” I whisper
“Yes Honey. Hey. Had a nightmare again?” His hands go around my waist. I nod, bringing my face to his naked chest. Warmth. He’s alive. Alive! The past six months was all a horrible dream. My husband is alive.
“Here. Come sit. I’ll get you some morning goodness.”
I chuckle. That’s what he calls coffee. I sit reluctantly. I watch him paddle to get the mug and then pour liquid into it. My eyes are fixed on him.
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He returns, “Here. This should help.” I’m still looking at him as I bring the cup to my mouth. It’s tasteless. I look into the cup to find water. I laugh.
“You forgot to mix the coffee.” He gives me a look,
“Huh?”
“This is water babe.”
“Yeah. We take it every morning.”
“Uh. No. We drink coffee every morning.”
“Coffee is shit. What are you talking about?”
“What?” I am in pure disbelief, “Coffee? Shit?”
“Did you hit your head? We use coffee to do dishes, clean, bath-”
“What?!” And I’m off the chair. He gives me a wary look.
“Funny.” He chuckles, “Stop playing.”
“I’m not-” My eyes dart to the sink and then back to him. To see for myself, I walk to the running tap and quite alright, coffee is coming out of it.
“Oh hell no!” Leaves my mouth before I realize what I’m saying. My heart bangs against my rib cage at the realization. I’m hallucinating. I’m going crazy. First Dave and now this…
“I have to go!” I say and run back in the direction of the bedroom. He comes after me.
“Dee. What the heck? Wait! Stop running.” I don’t listen and find my way back to the bedroom. The bed is no longer a bed but a deep black hole.
“Don’t! Dee please. Stay with me.”
I shake my head, turning to look at him one last time. I should have kissed him. I should kiss him. But I’d only hurt more.
“I’ll see you, Dave.” And I fall into the hole. I open my eyes. I’m lying in the floor of the attic. Alone. Coupon in one hand. Once again, my heart breaks into a thousand pieces.
