Chapter
19
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.
***
