meet me halfway | temple&bette | blitz

The night drew longer and as the clock behind the bar grew closer to eleven my chest grew tighter. If I had to be completely honest, I'd been avoiding her. I know I shouldn't feel the guilt in my gut, but it is swirling around there all the same.

She looks... beautiful. She's here in the same room and I can't figure out how I feel about it. It's been a year since I last saw her, and the whole year felt like ten. I kept thinking about what I wanted to say to her, not over a phone Mace procured for her or a letter smuggled through fences, but with my own tongue.

I had so many words and now they've vanished.

I swig a whole glass of wine, the sugary white wine going down easily after three other glasses.

The rat on my shoulder had been hiding behind my hair for most of the night, snuggling close to my neck for comfort. However, at that moment he decided to bite down on my earlobe.

"Ow! Fuck!" I twist around, my neck bent over and ready to snatch the little guy but he's already scrambling down my dress and into my pocket.

I rub at my ear, there's no blood but it hurts like hell. I look up and she's there.

She's right there.

I stand up straight, my hands wavering unsure if they should slip into my pockets or clasp behind my back. I slide them down the fabric of my dress, fiddling with the tulle of the skirt.

"Hi."

Obviously, "Hi" was not what I was dreaming about saying.