When I walked in my front door I didn't recognize my house at all. Everything on the shelves in our kitchen was arranged in boxes lining the living room wall up to the ceiling. Our room was all boxed up too, all my stuff in separate boxes than Henlies, knowing they'd never get unpacked in her new room in Denver.
All that was left was my bed, night table and dresser. Henlies matching set on the other side of the room. I feared our things would get mixed and I wouldn't know which bed or dresser was hers. It felt wrong to use hers, even accidentally.
Desperate to keep them separate, I found a sharpie and wrote on the top of my dresser in bold letters, "FUCK DENVER". Again on my nightstand and my bare mattress.
That'll be a good story one day.
——
I tossed the remaining items from my room into a box, taped it shut and walked into the kitchen.
"Thank you for bringing me home from the hospital early. I was really worried about not being able to see Bree before we leave." I tried to sound thankful.
"You're welcome sweetheart, we know that was very important you." My dad said as he came over for a bear hug, "I love you so much. I'm happy you're here, is your room all done?".
"Yes, all packed up.", I said, as I winced internally at what I wrote all over my furniture, "is it okay if I go over to Bree's? I want to spend as much time with her as I can before Saturday."
"Absolutely, just be home in time for supper. We're having your favorite! Chicken and veggies! Invite Bree and her parents too, I'm making extra.", my mom smiled as she hugged me goodbye.
——
As I walked across the street I took in as much as I possibly could, the lilac at my neighbors house, the heat on my skin that I would miss so dearly, the way Bree's house looks, her annoying ankle biter dog that I could hear barking from her back yard, and even the screaming little kids down the street I babysit from time to time.
Bree greeted me at the door and we went to her room.
"So how was the hospital?" She asked me.
I rolled my eyes, "it was bullshit. Evans, my doctor is a total marshmallow. You'd have hated him." I made a stank face.
She laughed, "I missed you so much, I'm glad you're back." She paused taking a deep breath, "Even if it's just till Friday night.", she said with tears in her eyes.
Tears rolled down both our cheeks as we stared blankly at each other.
A couple minutes of silence passed when she shot up off the bed, "I have a surprise for you, well for us. I was gonna save it for tonight but I think we could use it.", she winked at me while still wiping tears away.
She walked over to her dresser and after looking for a brief moment she excitedly held it behind her back, "let's go for a drive."
——
We got into her car and after watching my parents go back inside my house we sped out of her driveway and down the street.
I already knew where we were going so I didn't have to try and ask over her blaring music she always plays in the car. I like it though. You can't think properly when the music is too loud.
We pulled to a screeching halt at the top of camelback mountain. I love it up here because you can see the whole city, it's beautiful.
We parked at our usual spot and made our way to 'our' tree, as we liked to call it.
I lit a cigarette as we started our short half mile walk. I handed one to Bree and she lit hers as we walked.
"Do you really have to move? What if we just leave? Like right now.", we stared at each other in sympathy.
"Trust me. Fuck Denver"
——
We got to 'our' tree and sat down on the branch in silence looking out over the mountain.
She giggled after a few minutes, "I've been practicing", she winked as she pulled out two of the biggest blunts I've ever seen.
"Bree!! These look awesome, I'm so proud!", I laughed.
I've always been much better at rolling than her.
"Spark it up!", she handed me the lighter.
——
After we finished smoking we slowly made our way back to her car.
"Hey it's already 3:30, we should probably go home, my mom wants you guys over for supper tonight," I suggested.
"Sounds good. Let's get out of here," she said starting the car. "Wait. Let me guess, chicken and veggies?", she laughed at herself.
I laughed and rolled my eyes.