I had just finished my last shift at IBM. After clocking out, Deja was still in the building. I handed her the letter and of course, she was confused. No one saw it coming. I didn't really till recently. Today was hard emotionally. I also took Violet and Grandma to the airport early this morning before going to work. It was a whirlwind of emotions all day.

Going back to IBM, Deja was sad but understood. I managed to clear everything out between my breaks and lunch. 

I took a sigh of relief as I sat in my car knowing I didn't have a 4:45 wake-up call.

I did my goodbye to the office as I drove home to my Andy and Sam.

As I drove up, Andy was waiting on the porch.

I got out and had to shout to him. I had a bunch of crap in my car that I needed to take in.

"I have stuff from my desk," I called out.

He walked down the steps and joined me at my car trunk.

"So it's official?" he asked.

"Yes I'm officially unemployed for the next two weeks," I told him.

"I'm excited for us darling. Especially going to Florida," he commented as he grabbed one of the boxes.

"Me too. I hope the humidity isn't too hard to handle," I told him as we walked up the driveway.

"You've never been far from home?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"Nope, I'm the only kid of my parents who stayed in Califorina. I went to Berkeley while my sister went to the University of Pennsylvania and my brother went straight to the army. Besides when we went to New York," I commented as I walked to the garage to put my crap in there temporarily. 

"Well I hope this new job lets you have more leeway and stuff 'cause I think it'll be more fun if you learn to live a little," he told me.

"Why do you think I booked us that sailing tour in Croatia? I know you love water and I want to go places I've never been to before I turn 30," I told him as we walked back to my car.

I had a few plants to bring in.

"I get it darling. I think I did too much too fast at a young age. I wonder how different things would be if I had not been projected into the spotlight," he analyzed.

"I mean things happen for a reason and who knows really what the pen has to write next for us," I commented.

"So you are telling me you never did anything wild?" he asked as we walked into the house after I locked my car up for the night.

I sighed.

"No. I did drink but only a few sips in college. I only smoked marijuana once and fell asleep for 17 hours in my dorm and never did that again. As for smoking, I was only doing it when I was stressed as you know and I wasn't a constant smoker," I commented as I put water in my plants.

"Goodness I cannot fathom how anyone could pass out for 17 hours just from smoking marijuana," Andy commented.

I busted out in laughter. Hearing him say "marijuana" was just not something I expected.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked.

"Just the way you calmly said "marijuana." Just didn't expect it I guess," I told him.

He rolled his eyes.

"It's my accent again right?" he asked.

"No no it's not the accent it's just you are so charming and calm and it's like when I cuss you freak out," I told him.

He chuckled.

"Oh now I see," he told me as he took one of the plants from me to the living room.

It was a succulent I kept on my desk at work. It's so weird looking at the clock and not getting anxious about my schedule.

Andy joined me back in the kitchen but he wrapped me in a hug from behind.

"It's nice knowing I get to wake up to your face and not have to worry about how late you are going to be," he told me.

I sighed.

"I do agree on that one. I mean we will officially be living together here in a few weeks and I couldn't be more excited," I told him.

"Technically we've been living with each other but this is the official move," he commented as we stayed in the embrace.

"Right right," I remarked.

"I did get Sam a babysitter for the week we are gonna be away. My parents are also flying out to Florida so they have a family friend who check on Sam. I'm going to keep him at my house. And then when we get back, I'll figure out the moving plan. Well in between the shows at the Fairmont and stuff," he told me.

"When are you going to get your pilot's license?"  I asked curiously.

"Well, I filed the paperwork a few weeks back. I just got to start my classes and hours," he told me.

"So basically by the end of the year, you'll be a licensed pilot?" I asked him.

"Yeah actually if things keep going well which I am most certain they will," he remarked before kissing the top of my head.

It was funny cause we were almost the same height but that little inch or two difference gave me security.

The evening winded down and slowly but surely we were sitting in the big recliner like we always did when we were together.

"We cannot forget about my AA meeting tomorrow," Andy reminded me.

"How could I forget tomorrow's Thursday?" I asked him.

"I know you wouldn't darling but because the weeks are gonna feel weird with you being home," he told me as I flipped the channel.

For a Wednesday night, we would sometimes watch "Growing Pains." 

"I cannot remember the last time we were sitting in this chair at this time on a Wednesday," I told him.

"You've been overworking yourself darling," Andy told me.

"The money's been nice I mean I've been able to put away and invest in things like our Croatia trip," I told him as I stifled a yawn.

I was the most relaxed I had been in weeks. My body felt like it was out of the danger zone of stress temporarily. 

"I know but you got to take care of your health too. Whether it be your mental health or physical darling," he reminded me.

"Right, I know. I'll learn I'm just beginning to live life now as old as I am," I told him.

"You aren't old darling. Maybe we both discovered things a little later in life than most and that's okay," he reassured me.

It was nice being comforted by his words.

"True I just feel so behind in life compared to everyone around me. I mean not like relationship wise let me rephrase that," I told him.

"I knew what you meant darling. I thought 10 years ago I'd be settled down by my 30s. I had just never touched drugs who knows where my life would be," he told me.

He was right. It's sad how one little thing can change your entire life path.

"Well if it had never happened, we probably would have never met," I told him.

"That's true," he remarked as I rested my eyes.

That was probably a bad decision cause I could easily fall asleep right there in the recliner.

The time ticked closer to 9 and I was almost out in the chair.

"Darling maybe we should go to bed," Andy told me quietly.

"I suppose so," I told him mumbled.

He chuckled.

"Come on darling," he remarked as he tried to sit up.

I was leaning on his chest while he wiggled up.

"I guess we should," I remarked stifling a yawn as he held his hand out to me.

I went to turn the TV off while he took our mugs from earlier in the evening to the kitchen.

We both were in bed soon after.

"No alarms to worry about," I commented as I adjusted the covers over myself.

"Amen darling," he told me as he fixed his pillows.

"I didn't think I was that tired," I remarked yawning again.

"Listen to your body darling," Andy commented as he scooted down in the bed.

"I will," I told him.

To another night in love.