4/10/10

The Journey Home
By Liza Larregui


Sam questioned the logic behind her trip. Wondering if it would be worth her while, she pulled over to rethink the plan. Am I really driving 100 miles to meet a man I never met? She thought to herself. Sam pulled out the paper she printed at work with the directions to his house. She was halfway there and determined to follow through with it.

When Sam finally arrived at Dan's house, she sat in her car outside his place. She turned the radio down to a low volume so she could reorganize her thoughts. “Do I call him and let him know I’m here or do I just ring the bell?” She wondered aloud. She reminded herself that Dan had asked her to come and that he wanted to be with her. That’s what he told her the last time they had spoken. She unbuckled her seat belt and opened her car door. Still questioning her actions, she moved slowly toward the building. She scanned the names on the door and rang the bell next to his, D. Girardi.

“Hello?” A female voice answered.

Jolted, Sam ran back to her car and drove down the block, away from his building. Pounding her fists on the wheel, she screamed in frustration and anger.

“How can you be so stupid? Why did I come all the way out to Pennsylvania for him? Ugh, stupid Sam, stupid!”

Sam began to cry. Her tears gushed uncontrollably. Underneath, she was hurting. Her heart burned with guilt and regret. “Why did I leave Frank?” She asked herself.

Sam's cell phone began to ring. She picked it up to see it was Dan. Unsure of whether to pick it up, she let it go to voicemail. After a few minutes her phone made a chirping sound, a sign that a message was left. She held it to her ear and listened.

“It’s me. Hey, did you leave yet? I hope I caught you in time. It’s not a good idea for you to come tonight. Mary’s here and I haven’t told her our plans yet. I’m sorry, Sam. I’m not sure I’m ready to tell her. Please call me at our normal time. If I don’t hear from you, I’ll just assume you’re really upset. I hope we can still meet up sometime.” Click.

Sam closed the phone and placed it on the seat next to her. “I miss Frank,” she said. A light began to blink on the corner of Sam's phone, indicating a text message had been received. Sam was hoping it wasn’t Dan and wishing it to be Frank.

Sam, please come home. Whatever that guy can offer you, I promise I’ll do better. I’ll change. Just please come home. I need you. I love you. I miss you. - Frank

Sam wiped away a tear from her cheek and smiled as she typed a message back.

I’m coming home, babe. I’m coming home.


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Liza Larregui has been writing since she learned how to use a typewriter at the age of five. Only recently has she decided to submit her work for publishing. She lives in NYC with her husband and her MacBook.