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Behind the Door
The door creaks as it is pulled open. A silent step inside, then another. And then another set of steps. The door closes. The sound of the silence fills the air. Pat walks ahead, straight to the door. Her footsteps are fragile, barely making a sound. Her breath is warm in the cool atmosphere of the house.
He follows behind. His footsteps as careful as he can manage in his state. He waltzes his way to the door, right behind her. She opens the door and steps inside the room, then turns around and pulls him in. She lets out a sigh.
On the other room, Marina has heard everything. It doesn’t matter how hard Pat tries to hide it, she knows she has brought a man into her room. She doesn’t know who it might be, or if he has been there before, but she can feel the tension in the air. She shifts uncomfortably and is fast asleep.
Pat pulls the comforter off the bed. He can barely keep his balance as he stands in the middle of the room. She pulls him and sits him on the edge of the bed. She looks directly into his eyes. They are gleaming as he tries to look away. She can sense his need. He lies down and she pulls the comforter all the way to his shoulders.
It’s as if they’ve known each other since the day they were born. Her eyes travel around the curves of his face, the softness of his lips, his lashes, and his hair. He is as beautiful as ever, she thinks, and her heart breaks at the sight laying in front of her.
She turns out the lights and changes into a silky gray robe. She is sitting at the other edge of the bed, she turns to take a look at him. He smells of alcohol, rain and loneliness. Pat makes her way to the pillow and pulls the comforter. Her back rests against his. Is it wrong if they touch? She can sense his warmth, but thinks of Liz. She doesn’t understand their relationship, but fears that she could cause a conflict. Also, Liz is her close friend. Would she be considered untrustworthy? He shifts in his sleep and lets out a sigh. He is also a friend. One that Pat feels she has only just begun to understand. She’s afraid of loneliness, but too tough to admit it.
He is as lost as her. Maybe even more. He is just as lonely. He hides behind the face of social alcohol drinking. When he is out of the bar, he walks home alone. He’s got no one to help him when he trips and falls in the middle of the street. He gets lucky when some familiar voice approaches him and helps him to his feet. He can feel her back against his. He turns around and they’re spooning. He wonders, half conscious, is it wrong if he holds her? Does she need someone as much as he does?
Pat feels his breath behind her neck. His arm lingers on her side. Is it wrong to try not to feel alone? Would it be wrong it they were alone but together? She was just trying to help him. She didn’t want him to be alone. When she found him in the street, she wasn’t sure if she should take him to a hospital. He grunted and said he just needed someplace to sleep. Maybe she’s trying to help him while also helping herself.
In a moment, she is now weak. She pulls his arm towards her. He is almost asleep, but feels the tug. He stretches his arm over her and holds her. She holds her arm. He pulls her closer. Their legs are intertwined. She stops thinking about Liz. They are just two broken people needing company, and it’s fine. His hand looks for hers, and he holds it. He squeezes it lightly. He whispers in her ear. Thank you, he says, for not leaving me alone.
They are closer than ever, but nothing else happens. They are two friends helping each other out of their loneliness. They hug and cuddle, with no other intentions. In the morning, there are two texts from Liz. She asks Pat if she’s seen Joey. Then, she says she’s coming over. She has keys to Pat’s house.
Marina hears the door creaking as it opens. Some people just can’t bear being alone.
