Page 46 - The Houseguest

Leaning my pounding head under the flowing water, I managed to swallow a few painful sips. Afterwards, I began slowly venturing into different areas, feeling their presence all around me. However, I dare not enter the Inspiration Room...yet. I felt a strong sense of not wanting to disturb anything. Everything needed to be exactly as it was the last time we’d been here together. Every couch pillow, every dust covered decoration must remain suspended in time, just as I felt being there. Maybe this was a mistake. Perhaps my mere negative presence would affect the aura of joy that was the only thing this house had ever known. But I had no choice. I had to do this.
I slept in my bloody clothes on the floor of the living room. I couldn’t bear to lay my body down on the same bed we’d shared, and the area rug in the living room was the only place that wouldn’t disturb any objects in the house. Lying there, I felt more cold and alone than I had up to this point, for I was preparing to send them away forever to become “a part of everything” as Karina once wrote. I thought about the physical act of releasing them from my hands, as I had already been forced to release them from my life. How strong a man I was, when I needed to be, was surprising.
The Houseguest by Linda Ellis www.LindaEllis.life
46