by B. C. Sirrom
* * *
The next day, I awoke to beams of sunlight peeking through a crack in the drawn curtains. I lay curled up on my side. His naked body was pressed against my back and stretched around my buttocks like a hand to a smooth fitted glove. The smell of sex lingered in the air and my body hurt in a glorious way I’d almost forgotten.
The hunger pains in my empty stomach told me it was at least late morning. My eyes moved to the nightstand to confirm the time but the lamp, phone, and clock were missing. I craned my neck and peered to the floor where they had fallen. Shards from the glass lamp were broken in varying slivers. Closer to the door the contents of my purse were spewed out. And feathers from a torn pillow sporadically layered the entire area as if the icing on a cake.
My god, I thought mystified. I remembered it was a wild, almost animalistic night but this … I mentally laughed. It was almost too much.
My eyes trailed back and zeroed in on the area around my purse again. A picture of Jonathon and I with my big pregnancy belly stuck out like a beacon. It had been the last photo taken of us. Vomit lurked up to my throat. How could I have been so stupid? I cheated on Jonathon with a one night stand, to a guy whose name I couldn’t remember…assuming he’d told me at all.
I slithered out of bed, careful not to disturb this stranger. Every movement made my head pound but I managed to dress and gather up my purse contents. The guy remained asleep and breathed heavily. I stood with my hand on the door knob, glancing around the room one last time. Since the trip was unexpected, I didn’t have any other belongings. I exited into the bright sunny day and took the long five-hour drive home.