The Person I Want to Be Happy With

When I opened the front door, familiar air and warmth greeted me from the darkened house.

I stepped over the threshold first—and Claude quietly closed the door behind him.

Quietly stepping inside, I felt the chill of the wooden floor beneath my toes.

The only thing left in place of the vanished sunlight was the faint glow of sunset filtering through the walls.

That pale light cast our silhouettes long across the wall.

I drew my collar together and cautiously breathed in.

I’d been excited the entire way home.

I’d kept holding back, breathing in Claude’s scent.

Quiet footsteps approached from behind.

Before I could turn around, his shadow had drawn up beside mine...