On Repeat

“Darling, darling…where are you?”

The old man stammers softly across the kitchen down the long hallway. His bare feet numb again the cold sandstone floor. He couldn’t remember where she was.

The cobwebs were winning.

Soft rays of Twilight filtered in from the compact pueblo windows. It would be a Full Moon over the desert soon. But he could barely remember what he had for breakfast. No. He hadn’t had breakfast.

She didn’t make any. What? Why? Where was she?

“Hello?” {hello hello}

The sound echoed back in the long dim hallway of his abode. Deep in the crevasses of the desert mountains his home felt like a tomb.

Why was it so cold?

He stumbled towards her room. They each had their own space. It worked well that way.

His heart was hurting. It hurt all the time. He just didn’t want to worry her and admit it. No matter how many times she asked.

His heart lifted. There she was. Cuddled with the newest rescue. His long scruffy tail lay across her leg. His heart felt lighter. There was never Another Woman. She was perfect. So loving. So caring.

“Darling…”

He reached out to touch her. He hesitated but didn’t know why. He resolutely grabbed her bare foot. It was warm but…stiff. Her skin felt odd. Just off.

He shook his head to clear the webs. What?

“Darling…”

No answer. No movement. No warmth. He gasped.

The room was hot and the air was heavy but a cold chill engulfed him. She wasn’t here anymore. She was gone. She was a ghost.

He rushed out of the room to gather himself. His heart almost bursting through his chest. He stumbled back down the hallway to the kitchen. Collasped against the terracotta counter.

Took deep breaths. Calming himself. It worked.

He stood there for a few minutes. He felt better. Now…what was he doing again?

He turned…

“Darling, darling? Where are you?”

He walked back towards the hallway. Tracing footsteps he’d taken over and over again. There was No Way Out. The penance was Unforgiven. Because we live in a land where the footprints of ghosts linger.