The Walls and Halls

She was bored stiff. Bored with people, with things, ideas, tv, books…you name it she was bored with it. She could be a bit of a misanthrope at times but she also hated everything at times, including herself. But at other times she could light up a room and fill it with laughter and even hope. He was rarely on the ends and he was steady; day in and day out you could set your watch by him. Even keeled, balanced, centered he was. Until the world turned him upside down and made east west.

He was working at a new construction site when she called his cell. “I’m leaving” she said. He figured for a second she was going shopping or something and was just kindly letting him know. “Ok, what do you want to do for dinner?” “I’m leaving for good and never coming back” she said. Then she hung up and he listened to the dial tone…till the beeping of the excavator oriented him. “Hey Fitz, we need you over here” a hardhat yelled. But Fitz walked off the site, got into his truck and drove off.

When he got home all of her stuff was gone. No note no nothing. Gone. All of her stuff. All of her. The pictures of happier times stared at him from the walls and halls. Italy, Lake Champlain, Christmas, parties…He rumbled out the door and got back in his truck. He called her on her cell but it went straight to voicemail. “Honey, where are you? I’m in my truck I can come meet you, just tell me where you are. I don’t understand what’s happening. Please call me and tell me where you are. I can get there wherever it is…” He realized he didn’t know where he was driving or where he should go. He pulled over and realized he was shaking. He twitched and his eyes darted everywhere and nowhere. He tried to think of where she might go but he couldn’t corral his thoughts. A driver shouted from the road “turn on your flashers!” He startled to and put the truck back into drive and drove to Wegman’s. He sat in the parking lot till the construction crew called.