Robert crashed down onto his bed, on his back, alone. His head was swimming with a blur of laughter, connection, stories, revelations, flirtation and happiness cascading around in his mind.
It was just after 1 A.M. and Robert had just got back to his tiny flat after dropping Erin home. The night couldn’t have gone better for Robert. They talked for hours about everything; family, growing up, friends, work, TV shows, films. And for the first time in his life Robert had spoken to another person about the depression he had felt for most of his life, although he missed out the most recent addition to that story of the sudden appearance of Iablo after Robert tried to kill himself. But he felt that may be a bit too much on a first date.
They had barely stopped to eat, and in the end the conversation was so engaging Robert let his steak and chips go cold. And what did he care! He was making a beautiful girl laugh, she was touching his hand and they were connecting on a level that Robert had never felt before. He was happy.
***
Four dates later and Robert and Erin lay naked on their backs breathing heavily. Robert could barely contain his glee. It was the best he had ever had and he felt that it truly meant something, that it was truly special to them both. As he lay panting he could feel Erin cuddle into his chest and lay her left hand on his right peck whilst she rested her check on the left one.
“I can feel your heart beating” Erin whispered to him.
“Same,” then realising he was whispering along with her, he laughed and added; “Why are we whispering?”
“Because if we talk normally again this moment will be over and you’ll want to leave.” She started tracing a swirl on his chest parting the hair with her index finger as she went.
“Erin, look at me.” She twisted her head round and placed her hands under her chin so she could rest comfortably. “You have made me the happiest that I have ever been in my life, I’m not quite sure how but you have taken all the depression away from me and I feel great because of it. I never want to leave this spot or be away from you again.” He gave her a gentle smile and she returned it but could not meet his eyes as she did.
“You’re very sweet Robert,” she leant up and kissed his lips once, then his chin and finally his chest before nestling down and falling asleep with his arm around her.
Robert lay smiling with the beautiful girl sleeping on his chest. He stared up at the ceiling trying to make shapes and pictures out of the artex. How his life had changed so dramatically for the better in just a month. He was happy, something he didn’t think to be possible and more than that he was in love. He knew it was far too soon to say anything but he knew in his heart that it was love. It had been something Robert felt the instant they had touched hands on their first date, a burning desire to be with Erin for the rest of his life, something deep down inside him told him that it had to be, that something bigger than both of them had drawn them together. Robert knew that it was meant to be perfect.
And deeper down than that still Robert knew that Iablo had been more than just a man, he was the reason for Robert being like this, he was the one who made him happy and then gave him Erin. In his heart of hearts Robert knew that he owed his life to Iablo and would never repay the debt he owed to him.
***
Erin wasn’t asleep. She held tears back behind tightly clenched eyelids although she wasn’t exactly sure as to why they were there. Erin tried her best to make her breath seem as sleep like as possible, a trick she hadn’t used for nearly 14 years when she used to pretend to be a sleep when her parents came up to check she wasn’t watching T.V. late at night although she always was. She really liked Robert, she had wanted to do this, and the sex had been amazing to say the least. But something wasn’t right. Erin felt... sad. She knew that everything in her life should be fine, great job, new boyfriend, no real money issues but there was something and it was growing.
She hated to admit it but Erin realised it was only when she was with Robert that she felt like this. And now, as she lay on his chest, holding back the tears the sadness was growing. Maybe they weren’t so perfect if this was happening to her. And why had it only started since she had been going out with Robert? Maybe she was just imagining it, that she was just having a bit of a hard time recently and just happened to coincide with her dating Robert? Hmmmm.
When she was sure that Robert was asleep she got dressed silently, kissed his forehead gently and wrote out a short note feeding him some rubbish that she had to go to the dentist early in the morning but thanked him for a lovely time. She signed the note with ‘love from’ and two kisses. Erin then left his tiny flat, closing the door softly behind her. She needed some air. She needed some time to think.
***
Harry, this is really good.
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