Love, Laughter, and Bars.

Alas, i'm getting ahead of story, that's not quite how it happened. It's no surprise though, considering that my memory isn't what it used to be, especially after 15 years and in these conditions? Its laughable. The mix-up however can be explained as our typical mornings spent together all seemed quite similar. They were all filled with endless banter, romance, and a hearty breakfast. Whenever I was within the pristine white walls of your apartment, you made sure I was well-fed. These were usually either store bought or your own delicious effort. 

Getting back to what actually happened. I remember standing at your rust brown wooden door, beaming with smiles when I heard your key turn in the lock. As you walk in through the door, your eyes lit up with interest as you looked at me, your hands laden with even more food than I had initially asked for. You had a smile on your face that was undeniably attractive and quite flirtatious. I momentarily lost my composure and blurted out, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" You swiftly adjusted your expression and put on a faux-sad look while extending your hand toward me, saying, "My hands are literally starving for blood and dying, that's why I'm looking at you like that."

I took some of the bags from you as we moved further into the living room. Alongside my pancakes and tea, you also got wings, juices, and fries. At this very moment, my stomach growled. It seemed I was hungrier than I thought because my stomach was loudly protesting. You pretended not to hear the growling, but I noticed a hint of a smile spread accross your lips as you started handing over the translucent takeout containers filled with food.

You fetched a fresh toothbrush from the bag and offered it to me. You asked, "Would you like to brush first, or do you want to dig into the food right away?" It was then that the thought of me talking to you all morning with morning breath crossed my mind. Without saying a word, I promptly stood up, snatched the toothbrush, and made my way to the bathroom.

You walked closely behind me till we got to the bathroom and said, "You don't have bad breath; I just thought you might want to brush before eating." I rolled my eyes and used hand signals. With the toothbrush in my mouth, I pointed my right index finger at myself, then at my mouth, and then at you. I crossed my arms with the other hand, signaling my intention to refrain from talking to you. I resumed brushing in front of the mirror, conveying my message that I'd rather not speak to you again.

You stood at the door, laughing heartily and throwing your head back. Your laughter filled the house with its rich, resonating sound. It suited you, this carefree and unbridled laughter. You stopped laughing and asked, "Are you serious? Because we can keep this going all day." Rinsing off the toothpaste from the brush and wiping my lips, I glanced at you, smirked, and strolled past you into the living room. You trudged right behind me but walked into the bedroom instead.

I settled comfortably on the couch, tucking my legs beneath me, and began to eat. You returned, bare-chested, wearing ash-colored joggers, and I couldn't help but admire your long arms, chest, and perfectly shaped biceps. You took a seat on the floor at the other end of the couch. You looked at ease; after all, you were in your home. You picked up a bottle of fresh juice, took a sip as your hands reached for the remote. It seemed you, like me, enjoyed watching something while eating.

As you flipped through the channels, I spotted familiar faces - it was the "Friends" episode, "We Were on a Break." I asked you to stop here so we could watch it. To be honest, I wanted to have the same argument that followed in the episode with you. I was curious to know if you'd justify going home with another woman on the very day you and your hypothetical partner took a break from the relationship.

Just like every typical guy, you argued in favour of Ross. The debate lasted a few minutes, and we had firmly taken opposing sides. I wasn't surprised because your stance was the general consensus anyway, but I believed that hooking up with someone else on the same day your reationship took break was highly inappropriate. We also saw the episode where Chandler kissed Phoebe and Racheal just to cover up the fact that he had just kissed Monica in front of them. After watching a couple other episodes, it was almost noon, and I had to leave. It felt like the end of a great night, and you had just finished talking to your roommate so I assumed he was on his way back.

We walked out of your apartment and this time the trip downstairs didn't feel like a long journey. You got me an ash coloured cab, and you watched me safely get in. You gave the cab driver the address and paid the fare as well. As we drove away, you stood in front of your apartment building wearing a black hoodie over your ash joggers, gazing through the window I was sitting behind and we locked eyes.

"Clang, clang, clang!", the least liked guard in the entire facility was on banging on the iron bars of my cell. Normally, the intercom system would announce "lights out," but for the past five days, the prison's communication systems had been undergoing maintenance. During this time, the prison guards had to walk through the hallways, striking their batons against the metal bars to make the announcement: "Lights out!" A few moments after the announcements, all the lights would automatically go off, plunging us into a darkness so thick you could almost feel it in your hands. It had become a familiar companion over the years, reminding you of its presence as it enveloped you.

My journaling for the day had come to an end. I carefully placed the small, tattered book, which had weathered the years with grace, alongside a simple pencil as i lay comfortably waiting for my close friend, DARKNESS.