I pulled down my sleeve, covering the bandage but warming the rest of my cold arm. It didn't help with the constant chill in my chest yet it was better than nothing at all. Might as well stay comfortable for how much this cost.

Suddenly a loud clacking sound bounced from one wall to another through the door that led from the hallway to where I was. Sitting on the stiffed raised dark blue bed, staring off at the see through glass cabinet in front of me.

A deep stinging stuck within the bottom of my chest where the cold still stayed. My eyes felt hot yet stale all at once. I thought I had gotten used to it by now. Used to how it felt. Suffering like this, with answers but no solution in sight. No way out. Leaving with just dull responses when I had wanted to anguish in my pain. Talk about this elephant in the room which should have  been talked about from the get go. Yet we both had avoided it like the plague. For different reasons I'm sure. Really though, the same.

We didn't want it be.

Was there no end? But I have hope, isn't that enough!

I clenched my fists tight for just a second as I suddenly walked out. Ignoring the clanking of more feet at my door. More coming for me.

Instead I continued to walk out in the distance. Towards the slow tapping of a single set of footsteps. I was so tired of living like this. That tiredness slowly took over as I got closer and closer. To the night or the morning I don't yet know.

Suddenly I heard my phone ring. I continued my brisk pace as I picked it up.

My words came fast, "Hey, yeah--yeah good news, I'll be able to make it to work today. Sorry for suddenly calling out like that--" static filled the other line-it was then I realized what was going on-. Tears poured from my eyes. Yet the weight on my chest was lifted.

Before me fingers were outstretched.  Waiting for me to take hold. It turns out living like this was never really that long in the scheme of things.

I laughed.

Another moment passed and I finally answered slow to static still buzzing in my ear.

"It won't happen again."

Gasps echoed in the distance.

And a moment passed once more.