Auz Burger

Love Like You’ve Never Been Left Chapter Two It was shortly after six in the morning, and the eager sun was climbing the tall trees like steps on a ladder. Malachi was at least a solid ten yards ahead of Todd. His once slight jog turned into a flat-out sprint as he progressed up the steep mountainside. He was fully determined to beat Todd so much so that he’d already decided on what his victory meal was going to be. Todd trudged behind, he tried his best to gain lost ground though it didn't seem likely he refused to succumb to defeat, not even if it was to his best friend of the last twenty years. "I'm on your tail, bro!” Todd yelled out at the top of his burning lungs. He desperately hoped the banter would somehow slow down his friend's incredible pace as they neared the top. However, it did the complete opposite and kicked Malachi into high gear; less than two minutes later, he was at the top of the mountain, pumping both of his fists in the air. "Let's go brodie; that’s how you finish strong! Good job!" He shouted with a highfive once Todd joined him at the top. Malachi stood just about an inch taller than Todd. His complexion was brown like the crisp autumn leaves. His bald head had a gentle glow and his thick black beard was always trimmed neatly. Both were now drenched in sweat and covered in fresh dew from their calves down. As they walked closer to the edge, they were left speechless by the fascinating view. Before their eyes lay the entire city of Tylerton, from its tall buildings jutting into the sky to the white waves crashing the coastline. While still trying to catch his breath, Todd sputtered, "You finally beat me. It's about time.” "It took long enough," Malachi huffed in return. "It was close, as usual, until about halfway. Everything good?” "Yeah, all good. You just got lucky this time. The crown will be mine again next week.” Todd jabbed. Love Like You’ve Never Been Left "We'll see about that. Molasses." Malachi started running in place in slow motion while making a ridiculous dramatic face. They immediately burst into laughter, which only tightened their aching sides even more. Shortly after collecting themselves, they began stretching underneath the vast blue sky which only seemed a mere fingertip away every time they reached above their heads. Since the age of ten, Todd and Malachi had always challenged one another; now, at the prime age of thirty, the two pushed each other to keep their hearts strong and their stomachs from creeping over their belt buckles. "Damn, I feel good!" Malachi hollered to the open sky. “If you’re feeling that good, let me get my rematch now then," Todd quipped. Malachi looked like he was considering the challenge for a moment. "I’m just messing with you,” Todd laughed. “I’m hungry too, let's get out of here and go eat, bro." Once they entered Sheila’s Diner, the aroma from the sizzling hash browns on the greased-up flat top filled their nostrils and raced down to their rumbling stomachs. Malachi spotted an empty booth near the television and the two slid right in. "Good morning guys,” Summer said in high spirits as she approached the table. “What can I get you to drink today?” “Good morning, Summer. Just a pitcher of water for me please,” Todd responded. "Absolutely." "I’ll have a tall glass of tomato juice." Todd scrunched his face. He never understood what Malachi enjoyed about the bitter drink. "Certainly. Would you like to place your food order as well guys?" "Just the usual for me,” Malachi said with a huge smile. “All right, so one salmon and avocado omelet and a bowl of blueberries." Malachi nodded in agreement. "Wonderful, and for you Todd?" "Those hash browns smell so good.” “They sure do, and I just pulled a pan of biscuits out of the oven.” Summer knew how much Todd loved Ms. Sheila's blueberry biscuits. They were so good that he’d recalled eating them with his eyes closed on numerous occasions. Formatted: Font: Italic Love Like You’ve Never Been Left Todd shook his head as he fought off the temptation. “I really shouldn’t though. I’ll have a bowl of maple brown sugar oatmeal with a handful of walnuts on top, and a couple of fried eggs please." "Perfect. I'll be right back with your drinks fellas." “You know what Summer,” Todd called out just as she started to walk away. “One biscuit won’t hurt.” Summer winked. “It sure won’t,” she said then took off to the kitchen. “Are you going to Chi’s soccer game later?" Malachi asked while they waited for their order. Todd’s eyes widened. "Dammit, that's right he does play today. What time does it start?” “Two o’clock.” “I have a noon session at Grub & Ponder; I may not be able to make it to the park in time.” Todd sucked his teeth and shook his head. “Dammit, man. I told him that I was going to be there too.” Lately, Todd has been juggling a full plate. Ever since the Tylerton Buzz published a headlining article on their website about his innovative approach to teaching children how to read, his schedule had been filling up fast. People from all over the city were calling to book a session for their children. Todd’s passion for reading inspired him to resign from the elementary school five years ago, so he could focus strictly on teaching children how to read, so they could discover the power of story. After five long years, his program was finally beginning to gain traction. "It’s all good,” Malachi said. “You’ll catch the next one; he's four, he'll understand. I'll record it and send it to you tonight." "Thanks, man, I appreciate it. Malachi ran his hand over his head. "She's been better,” he said after a deep sigh. “You know her mother has been sick for some time now. Things aren’t looking too good; it's beginning to take a toll on Aureole. I guess reality is starting to settle in." Todd sighed deeply. "No matter how much time is given, we can never truly prepare for the inevitable," he paused and hung his head. "I can only imagine how she's feeling. I know they’re super close. Let her know that I’m here for her man." “She asked about you last night, wondering when you were coming by for dinner." "It has been a few weeks huh? I’m slacking." Commented [AB3]: This is another spot that I don't think the entire exchange is necessary and makes things lag a little. I'd condense it a little to: Malachi and Todd came to Sheila's so often, they were on a first-name basis with the staff. When Summer, the cheery waitress approached their table, Malachi ordered his usual, a glass of tomato juice — which made Todd cringe — a salmon and avocado omelet and a bowl of blueberries. Todd struggled with his order, wanting those hash browns, but giving in to his diet and getting the healthy choice of oatmeal and eggs; though he gave into temptation little with a blueberry biscuit, one of his favorite treats at Sheila's. Love Like You’ve Never Been Left "Don’t be too hard on yourself bro you’ve been busy,” Malachi said to his aid. “Just to let you know though, Chi’s been asking her to make some spinach lasagna, but Aureole said we got to wait for you. So, the sooner you come, the better.” “Her four-cheese spinach lasagna?” Todd’s mouth watered instantly. “I’ll be there tomorrow!” Their food arrived. Todd's oatmeal was perfect, it was on the thin side, just how he liked it. Malachi's omelet looked divine. This was his fourth week in a row ordering it. Evidently, it tasted as good as it appeared. Without any hesitation, they both dived right in. “ Todd’s face heated up as soon as he heard Violet's name. His mouth etched into a smile without him even noticing. "She’s doing good. I miss her like crazy.” “When is she coming back?" "I was supposed to pick her up from the airport yesterday, but her boss told her to stick around a little longer at the last minute. She said it'll probably be another week or so now." "Cool, cool.” Malachi emptied his drink. “I know it’s only been a few months bro, but what do you think? Is she the one? Before answering, Todd ate the last spoonful of his oatmeal, then reached for his glass, and downed it in two seconds. “I’m happy for you man. What did she say when you told her about Leah?" Todd’s wide smile vanished. His eyes shifted across the diner. He looked down at the empty bowl in front of him. “I haven’t told her yet.” "Bro, are you serious? Look at me,” Malachi insisted. “The longer you wait, the harder it may be for her to understand. Hell, she may feel like it was something you were trying to hide all along. Listen, man, if Violet is as special as you say she is then you need to tell her. ASAP." Todd frowned. "You’re right." "I’d love to meet her. We should all go out to dinner or something.” Todd instantly brightened up at the topic change. “Everyone’s been talking about the new restaurant over by the waterfront. I have a few connections; we should check it out." “Sounds good. I’ll let Aureole know "Yeah, yeah. Next week you’ll be taking care of the check again, as usual." Love Like You’ve Never Been Left "I hear you, Molasses," Malachi stood and rubbed his stomach. "I'm heading to the bathroom." "Cool. I'll be in the car by the time you're done." Love Like You’ve Never Been Left Chapter Fourteen If you were to ask anyone how the weather in Sol City was during autumn, they’d be quick to tell you that the season is simply summer on repeat. Hot today and hot again tomorrow. Violet closed her eyes for a brief second as she sipped on the frozen blueberry-lemonade she’d grabbed on her way in from one of the food trucks parked in the office lot. Currently, she and fourteen other colleagues were now tucked away in a chilled conference room with everyone’s attention on the 3D Hologram Projector. Their boss, the Chief Fashion Director, was revealing the upcoming winter collection that was set to release to over three hundred stores in just eight days. Violet smiled as she recognized a handful of pieces from a young local designer. She remembered how she was marveled by his passion and commitment while he explained each sketch and design when she reviewed his portfolio during a work luncheon about a year ago. Violet scribbled a reminder down to congratulate him on his success. After fifty-seven articles of clothing later the five-hour-long presentation was now complete. Everyone exited the room in cheers and was ready to celebrate at the nearby tavern a couple of blocks away. Violet considered joining them but opted out and promised to catch up with them next time; she was beyond exhausted. After being in the office since sunrise, at this point, all she wanted to do was get back to her hotel. She gathered a few things from her office and headed out to wait for her car service. After twenty minutes of cool water trickling down her body, Violet stepped out of the rainfall shower feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for a bite to eat. She slipped on a pink halter top and her favorite pair of ripped blue jeans and made her way down to the hotel restaurant. It was nine o’clock and the dinner rush was still in full effect. Love Like You’ve Never Been Left After debating carryout, Violet took the hostess’ suggestion and was seated at a lovely table on the patio overlooking the lazy river. The temperature had simmered down from unbearable to enjoyable, thanks to a consistent breeze. The full moon cast a soft white glow onto the river. Violet watched a passing whistling steamboat in delight as she sipped on a glass of bubbly and treated herself to a dozen chargrilled oysters. Eventually, her mind wandered to the dilemma waiting for her back at home. Since their meet-up at the restaurant, she couldn’t help but admire Kosi’s continuous effort. Last week he insisted on taking her to the airport. He was the first person who checked to see if she landed safely and every day since he’d been checking on her, making sure that she wasn’t prioritizing work over meals. He was doing everything that Todd normally did. Violet pushed her plate away. Her appetite for the remaining four oysters vanished instantly at the thought of Todd. It pained her that she hadn’t heard from him since that night. She’d called him several times and sent multiple messages but got nothing in return. After four days she decided to drive to his house so they could talk before she left for Sol City, however, he wasn’t home. Violet returned to the hotel room, wrapped a satin scarf around her head, and slipped into her silky red robe. She sat down at the oversized cherrywood desk in the corner of the suite and began to review her notes. Just she began skimming through her notepad, her phone began to rattle on top of the desk. She glanced down at the photo of her sister, niece, and nephew bouncing across the screen and smiled. “What a surprise; I didn’t expect you to be awake still Iris,” Violet greeted as she wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear. Iris chuckled. “Oh, I wasn’t, but a little someone had an accident in bed. Had to get up and get him situated then back to sleep. I figured you’d still be up. How are you doing?” “I’m okay. Business is great, love life sucks. That’s the sum of everything.” “Still no word from Todd?” Iris asked, concerned. “Not a peep,” Violet said, followed by a deep sigh. “Almost two weeks now. At this point, I don’t know if I should keep trying or just leave him be.” “Well, what do you want? Or should I say who?” Love Like You’ve Never Been Left “Don’t be cute Iris,” Violet rolled her eyes. “Am I wrong? Have you spoken to Kosi?” “Yeah, we spoke for a little bit earlier before he went into his meeting.” “I know it must feel good to see him sober now.” “It does.” Violet’s voice lingered as memories of Kosi surfed through her mind. “So, what is your heart telling you? Can you hear you it?” Violet let out a long groan, feeling the combined physical and emotional exhaustion that came with it. “Kosi is in the past for a reason, but it’s been hard to keep him there lately. I love Todd, Iris, I really do, but sometimes I wonder if he has enough love for me. There are times when we’re together and not even the air around us exists, and then there are other times when I feel like I’m the furthest thing from his heart and the last thing on his mind.” “I can relate. You know part of the reason love feels so good is not because of how precious it is once we find it, it’s because of everything we overcome to sustain it. Love is not the answer Violet, it’s a part of the question. With you knowing all that you know now about Todd, do you still love him?” “I do.” “And Kosi too?” Violet massaged her temples and let out a deep breath. “I need to get some rest, Iris. I have an early flight home tomorrow.” As Violet sat at the departure gate and waited for her boarding group letter to be announced, she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the peeking sun rising slowly just beyond the green hills. The beautiful tangerine and marigold rays sparkled and glimmered off the idle sitting planes. After a restless night of tossing and turning, she was hoping to get some decent sleep during the five-hour flight. When she woke up this morning, Todd was on her mind heavily. How could he just ignore her like a stranger on the sidewalk? Violet pulled out her phone and called him, hoping he would answer this time. After four long rings, it went to voicemail. She texted him: ‘Hey… call me. Please.’ Violet reached for her mint tea and continued watching the sunrise. Her phone began to ring, and she quickly answered the call. “Good morning, gorgeous.” Love Like You’ve Never Been Left “Morning Kosi,” Violet replied flatly. “You’re coming home today, where’s the joy in your voice?” “I got a lot on my mind.” “Let me ease it for you. What time are you landing?” “At nine.” “Okay, cool. I’m going to have some banana bread French toast waiting for you when you land.” “That’s nice of you, but you don’t have to Kosi,” annoyance was creeping into Violet’s voice. The announcer called Violet’s group letter over the intercom. Violet began to gather her carry-on and tossed the rest of her tea in the trash bin. “Alright, I’m about to board now.” “Have a safe flight, Baeboo. See you soon.” “Thanks, Kosi.” Chapter Fifteen ‘Grey skies crushing my heart, Teardrops in exchange for raindrops, No sign of the sun, They say every loss is followed by a gain, But since losing you, I’ve been having a hard time believing that balance is still the true meaning of everything, And even though you’re heavens away, I can still hear you whispering softly in my ear, Reminding me that God has a plan as long as I have faith’ Aureole dropped the pen and slammed her journal shut. She jumped up from the dining room table and made a quick dash to the bathroom. Unlike the last time, she made it just in time. The scrambled eggs she had for breakfast were staring back at her as she hovered over the cold toilet seat. For the past week, she’d Love Like You’ve Never Been Left been feeling terribly nauseous and whatever she ate found its way back up. After a few minutes, Aureole collected herself and got back up on her feet. At the sink, she splashed cool water on her warm face and gargled mouthwash. Before leaving the bathroom, she lingered in front of the mirror. Aureole stared at herself and began to feel disgusted. Her once gorgeous long, black hair was tangled and in need of a good wash. The dark circles underneath her eyes had her looking exhausted. The royal blue nightgown that hung down her body didn’t hug it like it did a few months ago. Stress, grief, and only God knows what else, had her losing weight by the day. Aureole shook her head as she scanned her reflection in the mirror and concluded that she looked exactly the way she felt, drained. She no longer had the urge to keep writing in her journal, so she stored it in her desk and headed downstairs to the basement. Before making it over to the pile of boxes stacked in the corner full of mother’s belongings, Aureole stopped in front of her and Malachi’s large wedding photo. She thought back to when they were first introduced to love fifteen years ago. Tears began to well up in her eyes. After everything they’ve been through together, it was hard to accept how ugly things had gotten between them. Aureole dragged her fingertips slowly across the frame of the photo. She moved on to the photo hanging beside it and did the same. It was a picture of her and Malachi looking over Chi in his bassinet; his first day home from the hospital. Tears hurried down her cheeks. Her heart was aching. She missed her family. Most of all, she missed who she used to be. Aureole lingered in front of the photos for a few more minutes before venturing over to the pile of boxes waiting for her. Aureole was still down in the basement rummaging through everything two hours later. Things were scattered all over the floor. Aureole decided that it’d be healthy for her to part ways with some of the items. The idea of a yard sale sprang to mind. She immediately sent Gracye a text. After a short break, she began sorting the clutter. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the wooden jewelry box sitting on the couch. She opened it and pulled out the letter her mother wrote her. Aureole’s SUV rolled slowly over the gravel road. She nodded and waved to the cemetery caretaker as she passed by him. She parked and waited a couple of minutes before getting out of the car. The sun beamed down on her as she walked to her Love Like You’ve Never Been Left mother’s grave. She carried a dozen red and white roses in her arms. The fall breeze swayed her hair as she sat down in the lush, manicured grass. This was her third visit and she desperately hoped they would get a little easier each time. “I miss you more so much,” she said as she stared at the photo of her mother on the tombstone. Aureole pulled the letter out of her pocket. “I couldn’t read this on my own, so I figured I’d come to you for some help, Momma.”