Part 1
I looked over at the alarm clock and saw the amber digits glowing brightly in the darkness: 1:58 AM. I suddenly realized that I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I had that excited tingly feeling in my gut. Jesus, was I really going to go through with this? I was still staring at the clock, and I saw the digital number change: 1:59. I didn't have to get up; I could just stay in bed and forget about the whole thing. Suddenly I became aware of my wife's breathing. I couldn't see her in the darkness, but she was obviously in a deep sleep. I pulled the sheets away and sat up in bed. She didn't stir. I moved to the side of the bed and put my feet on the floor. She didn't move. I climbed out of the bed and stood. She didn't wake up. I could see her alarm clock now; it was showing 2:00, but mine still had 1:59. I heard the ceiling fan whirling away above me. When my clock changed to 2:00 too, I started going towards the door. I made no conscious decision, I simply started to walk.
Our bedroom was absolutely dark. Besides the red glow of our alarm clocks, the only other thing I could see was the little green light on the fire detector, which was right above the door. I walked towards that light and then reached out to find the knob. I opened the door and listened carefully once more. I could still hear her steady breathing. I shut the door behind me and stood in the hall for a few moments. The street light was shining in thorough the window and lighting up the hallway. Jesus, was I really going to go through with this? I walked down the stairs.
At the front door, I looked out of the window. All the houses were completely dark. I unlocked the door and quietly slipped out onto the porch. It was a cool summer night, and very quiet. I shut the door behind me and started walking up the street. What the hell was I doing? It's a strange feeling, to walk around in the small hours of the morning in nothing but boxers and a T-shirt. Then I saw him. He was walking down the sidewalk towards me. I slowed. So did he. When he was close enough so that I could see his face, I saw that he was smirking. I blinked at him and we stopped, looking at each other for a few seconds. I had to call it off. But I didn't say anything. We simply passed each other without saying a word. I walked on without looking back.
I looked over at the alarm clock and saw the amber digits glowing brightly in the darkness: 1:58 AM. I suddenly realized that I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and I had that excited tingly feeling in my gut. Jesus, was I really going to go through with this? I was still staring at the clock, and I saw the digital number change: 1:59. I didn't have to get up; I could just stay in bed and forget about the whole thing. Suddenly I became aware of my wife's breathing. I couldn't see her in the darkness, but she was obviously in a deep sleep. I pulled the sheets away and sat up in bed. She didn't stir. I moved to the side of the bed and put my feet on the floor. She didn't move. I climbed out of the bed and stood. She didn't wake up. I could see her alarm clock now; it was showing 2:00, but mine still had 1:59. I heard the ceiling fan whirling away above me. When my clock changed to 2:00 too, I started going towards the door. I made no conscious decision, I simply started to walk.
Our bedroom was absolutely dark. Besides the red glow of our alarm clocks, the only other thing I could see was the little green light on the fire detector, which was right above the door. I walked towards that light and then reached out to find the knob. I opened the door and listened carefully once more. I could still hear her steady breathing. I shut the door behind me and stood in the hall for a few moments. The street light was shining in thorough the window and lighting up the hallway. Jesus, was I really going to go through with this? I walked down the stairs.
At the front door, I looked out of the window. All the houses were completely dark. I unlocked the door and quietly slipped out onto the porch. It was a cool summer night, and very quiet. I shut the door behind me and started walking up the street. What the hell was I doing? It's a strange feeling, to walk around in the small hours of the morning in nothing but boxers and a T-shirt. Then I saw him. He was walking down the sidewalk towards me. I slowed. So did he. When he was close enough so that I could see his face, I saw that he was smirking. I blinked at him and we stopped, looking at each other for a few seconds. I had to call it off. But I didn't say anything. We simply passed each other without saying a word. I walked on without looking back.