6. Travis
SIX
TRAVIS
I woke mid-morning, the sun blazing in a clear, blue sky, the storm just a memory. Stretching, I looked for Jasper, but all I saw was what looked like a pile of clean clothes. I sat up, realising that my towel was long gone, but I was draped in the blanket that still smelt like Jasper’s aftershave.
Standing, I wrapped it around me so I wouldn’t flash poor Jas and went in search of him, but he was nowhere to be found. Wondering if he’d gone back home, and that was where the clothes came from, I began to put them on. By the time I found the note and the bunch of keys left at the bottom of the pile, I was fully dressed, shoes and all.
I picked up the keys, my gaze falling to the Little Mermaid keyring I’d bought Jas years ago that he kept on his house keys. My hand covered my mouth as a terrible thought crossed my mind, but he wouldn’t do that to me.
He couldn’t.
Our friendship was too important.
I didn’t want to unfold the note, tears pricking my eyes as I stared at the paper. It had the power to wreck my life. I silently begged it to rewrite itself... to be a shopping list or a note to say he’d gone out on the boat without me... the boat I could clearly see out of the corner of my eye.
I put the keys down and lifted the note like it might explode, walking outside to sit on the dock. Nothing felt right. It was already like the world had shifted and my place in it didn’t fit anymore.
Sitting down, my feet hovered just above the water, the waves lapping gently against the wood. Sniffing down my emotion, I unfolded the paper, staring down at the familiar handwriting.
Travis,
Sorry to do this, but my new job needs me to start early. I had to leave. They booked me on a plane first thing.
I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye in person, but it was all last minute. I know you’ll understand, but we’ll talk all the time.
Jasper.
I read the note three times, but it still didn’t make any more sense. He was gone. Upped and left without a word. Years of friendship reduced to two lines. A tear rolled down my cheek, landing on the paper and making the ink run.
Just like that, the man I was in love with was gone.
And I didn’t think I’d ever forgive him for walking away from me so easily.