The Woman in the Windowsill
Eight

~~~

It’s kind of late by the time I get home. David is passed out on the couch and the tv is left on HBO. I turn off the tv and throw a blanket over my friend. His eyes open up as I drape the cover over him.

“Thanks mom”, he says drowsily. He sits up and puts the cover aside.

I make a small laugh under my breath as I take off my watch and lay it down on the table. It appears I’ve awaken David as he now stands up, eager to socialize after being alone at the house. He yawns and joins me in the kitchen.

“How’d it go?”, he asks curiously.

“Well, surprisingly”.

“Dope”, he replies, scratching his chest and wiping dried drool off his face.

“How’d your day go?”, I ask.

David ignores the question. “She says yes”.

I raise my eyebrows.

“Jessica”, he elaborates. “She’s interested.” David hands me a crumpled up piece of paper with her number on it. “The ball’s in your park now bud.”

I take the piece of paper and analyze the number. “What does she like to do?”

“It’s not rocket science. She’s like any other girl. Just don’t be a creep.”

I put the number down on the table by my watch. Sam quickly hops up onto the table next to it. David swats the cat off the table, and then proceeds to forcibly pet Sam against his will. I shake my head and look at the pile of mail on the other side of the table. I notice there’s a letter from my company. I tear it open to find a brochure for a local therapist office accompanied with a formally typed letter. I throw my hands into my face.

“What’s that?”, David asks. His face is pressed up against Sam’s. The cat begins to attempt to squirm out of David’s grip, but David is determined to force his affection upon Sam.

I read through the letter. “I guess Ross is making me see a shrink. It’s required for me to qualify for the paid leave.” Sam now begins to scratch David’s face and he finally lets the feline go.

“Sam, I’ll eat you”. David redirects his attention back to me. “They’re sending you to some shrink?”

“That’s what it looks like.”

David’s attention spanned is challenged as he once again goes after Sam. I make my way to my room. I pull out the rhinestone bracelet from my jacket pocket. I gaze upon it. It was something of hers, and the last item in my apartment that has a tie to her. I place it delicately on the shelf in my closet.

Outside in the living room, I hear the grunt of pain from David, no doubt having been scratched by Sam again. I make my way back to the kitchen table and snatch the piece of paper with Jessica’s number.

I’m able to get her to laugh over the phone a bit as David eagerly watches me conversate as if he was cupid. She sounds just like she did in high school, and she states a couple of times how glad she was that I called. The call is cut short as she’s a nurse and has to return to work. I’m quickly able to schedule a date to go book shopping and see a movie with her tomorrow night before she has to go.

I turn to David who’s sitting on the couch and he grins at me. I give him a half smile back as I make my way to the kitchen to get some dinner going.

“I guess I’m some kind of guru aren’t I? Pretty soon I’ll be an uncle won’t I?”

I laugh out loud at David’s comment. “Thanks. Whether or not this works out, at least I’m getting back out there you know?”

“That’s the goal”, David agrees.

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