Making Progress

            Aubrey woke up with a start to the sound of her new alarm clock.  As she wondered and remembered where she was- her new apartment-, she hit the snooze button and rolled over. Her hand hit something metallic as she was rolling over, and she quickly rolled back to investigate.  Beside her on the bed lay one of her silver dinner trays with her favorite breakfast on it: sunny-side up eggs, strawberry yogurt, and a little glass of Tang.  This, while delicious, freaked her out a bit. Someone had to have gotten into her room while she was asleep.  She quickly glanced around the room, and found the window to the fire escape open. I thought I locked that, she thought as she softly walked over to the window. Upon getting to it, Aubrey found a folded-up piece of paper lying on the windowsill.  Further perplexed, she picked up the note, and saw with an odd mix of fright and pleasure that it had her name on the front, written in rather elegant calligraphy.

            Aubrey picked up the piece of paper and tried to think of anyone she knew that had taken up calligraphy… ever.  It really wasn’t a popular practice, and she had a hard time thinking of anyone.  She was tempted to crumble up the paper and throw it out of the window. But what could it hurt to read the note?  They might have left their name, if nothing else, she thought.  Aubrey went ahead and unfolded the letter, and read what little there was in it:

            “Hey Aubrey!

            I know this looks odd as all hell, but I thought today could use a bit of a break in routine. You just got a new apartment, why should things begin the same way they always have, right?  I didn’t mean to scare you, exactly, just wanted to shake things up for today.

            Have a great day,

            Tod”

            “Oh, it’s Tod.” Aubrey said to no one in particular.  He did things like that sometimes. Aubrey and Tod had known each other for most of their lives, and she knew he was an attention whore. This was a bit much, though.  And she wondered when he had practiced calligraphy. Still, that meant she didn’t have to worry about where the breakfast came from anymore, or if it was safe to eat it.  She ate it quickly while trying to savor it at the same time (work still started at 9:00, whether or not people snuck into your house), and picked up the tray to take it back into the kitchen. She felt another piece of paper on the bottom of the tray as she picked it up.  “Another note?” she mumbled as she flipped the tray upside down and removed the tape from the note.  She sat the tray back down, unfolded the note, and read:

            “Hey Aubrey,

So, guess what? I’ve decided to take a stand today! I feel so proud of myself, it’s hard to write this down.  As I sit here, on your new couch, I can’t help but be reminded of how much you mean to me, and what an amazing person you are.  Why, look at yourself. You have a nice car, a great job that you love, a new place to live, a couch that is incredibly comfortable, and all the friends you could ask for. You’ve got it made, I’m so happy for you!  You went through college, paid your dues at your company, and I’d say you’re doing really well for yourself. I’d also like to add that your taste in décor is quite impeccable, too.

            But that’s not why I’m writing this note.  I’m writing it to say that I love you. I have loved you for years.  I gave you everything, and you just took it in stride. While that’s nice, you didn’t reject me, but you never seemed to really grasp what I was trying to do. You missed the point. You’ve always treated me like that guy down the street that you don’t know very well. I never understood that.  I watched you fall for other people, I watched you cry to your girlfriends about them, I watched you go through college and all of the trials and tribulations that are associated with such a journey.  I’ve loved you on every segment of the path, and you still don’t really talk to me.  I don’t get invited to your house, I don’t know most of your other friends, it’s hard to even get a lunch date with you.  I gave you my car once.  You didn’t have to pay for it, or anything, you needed it. I was glad to let you have it.  I kept trying to talk to you, to hang out with you, and you wouldn’t have any of it.  What do I have to do to get it through your head that you are everything to me?! I get what you’re doing, but I only wish that I was anything to you.  You talked to the school nurses as fondly as you talked to me!

            In light of all of this, I will not wait for you any longer. I don’t care what your excuses are. Being selfless has gained me nothing in my life but emotional torment. So, without further ado, your entire breakfast was poisoned. 

You’re going to die in a few minutes so fuck you,

 Tod

P.S. – Oh my God, our first lovers’ spat! We’re making progress!