Brian looked over at Mariah while she slept with her head leaning
on the car door. She couldn't keep her eyes opened. Everytime she tried, it
would just make her more tired. Brian couldn't help but feel a sense of deja
vu.
'Why do I feel like this has happened before?' he thought. Then it
hit him. 'Oh yeah, I drove her home last night.' He chuckled to himself.
Mariah's breathing could be heard in the silence present in the
car. Brian didn't want to put on music just in case it would wake her and that
was the last thing that she needed.
Brian pulled up into her driveway.
"Hey, wake up sleepy head," called Brian softly.
Mariah stirred a little, then her eyes fluttered open.
"That's right, birthday girl, you're home. Come on, wake
up."
Mariah looked at Brian. Then she yawned an enormous yawn.
"Whoa," said Brian. "I haven't seen a mouth that
big since--"
Mariah looked at him. "Don't finish that sentence if you know
what's good for you."
Brian closed his mouth. "Yes, ma'am," Then he said,
"Well, you're home, don't you want to get out of the car?"
"You know, Brian, I don't. I know I'm really tired and all,
but, the thing is, I don't want to go home. I feel like if I step on foot
inside the house, this wonderful day will be over."
"Mariah, this day is over."
"I know, I mean, then it will be official. This has been the
most wonderful day, and I don't want it to end."
"I'm sorry to say this, but all great things must come to an
end, my dear."
Mariah looked at Brian with a sad smile. "I know," she
said softly.
They both sat in a comfortable silence for a while. Neither wanted
to move, afraid that one would spoil the moment for the other.
Finally, Brian spoke.
"Well, tomorrow's always another day. We're going out with
the guys tomorrow, and we'll try to make tomorrow better than today,"
Brian said, sounding optimistic.
Mariah smiled and said, "If that's possible."
"Anything's possible," said Brian smiling.
"Okay, so I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow."
"Of course."
"Alright then, good night."
"Good night, Mariah."
Mariah got out of the car and closed it gently behind her. She
smiled and waved at Brian, who waved back. She got out her keys and opened her
door. Just then, she heard a honk from Brian's car.
"Hey, do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?" he asked,
with his head sticking out of the window.
"Sure," replied Mariah. "What time?"
"Well, how about 10?" asked Brian.
"Okay, see you then! Bye!"
"Bye!" Brian yelled back.
With that, Mariah walked into her house. She looked out the window
and saw Brian back out of her driveway and drive off. Mariah smiled and
couldn't remember a time when she had such a wonderful day. She tried to think
of one, but nothing came up in her mind.
She quietly walked up the stairs, thinking about what would happen
the next day. She hoped and prayed that it would be as great as it was today.
As Mariah stepped into her shower, she felt the hot water on her.
She thought of how everything in her life had turned sour on her, nothing ever
turned out right. Even her love life.
Mariah thought of Jake, but the weird thing was, the more she
tried to see him, the less of him she could see. His face was blurry to her in
her mind, his features distorted. Someone else's face, shadow, was showing
through, but she couldn't tell who. Puzzled, she stepped out of her shower and
dried off. While she got into bed, she still couldn't see who the face belonged
to. She fell asleep thinking of this stranger.
During her sleep, Mariah still could see this man in her dreams.
She could tell that this person was warm and caring, but the more she tried to
reach for him, the more he faded away. She tried to reach out for him one more
time, but something else was pulling him away. Mariah tossed and turned, then
finally, she saw this person pulled from her, and she knew that he was never
coming back. Mariah woke up in a sweat. She knew who this person was. This face
that she had been seeing all night. It belonged to Brian's.