Finding Love

I woke up, it was late, I checked my phone. It was 2 in the morning. I went to reach out for Jim, he was not there. I got up and went to the bathroom. I looked everywhere for Jim, there was no sign of him. I searched for his belongings that were right next to the bed, they were still in place. I peeked out of the window; our truck was still there. His phone was on the nightstand, charging as it always was at night. Perhaps he went for a nightly stroll.   5 hours later…. I could smell my favorite foods cooking in the kitchen. Jim must have been home. “Honey? Where were you last night? I searched all over for you, I was so worried.” “What are you talking about? I was here in bed with you all night long.” “No Jim, you were gone this morning.” “Okay, Alex, okay. Whatever you say dear.” Did I dream that he was gone? Did he really lay by me the whole night? Whatever it had been, freaked me out. We spent the day watching television and hanging out. 11 hours later…. I decided to leave Jim watching television. I went to the kitchen to make some dinner. My mind was completely and utterly shattered. I knew for a fact that he was not there last night. Was he cheating on me? I finished dinner and set the plates out. “Jim, dinner is ready. Come eat babe.” Jim did not answer. “Jim? I said dinner was ready, are you not hungry?” Jim was gone again, the front door was open, but there was no sign of my soon to be husband. I checked his phone, to see if there would be any trace of where he keeps going too. No missed messages, and no missed calls. This was weird of him; he usually tells me everything. He was my best friend ever since we were little kids, we grew up together. He knew everything about me, and I him. I decided to lie down and get some shut eye. 8 hours later…. Great, another sleepless night. I checked my phone, it was 2 am again. What is it with the weird hours? I then hear Jim’s phone go off. There was a missed text message? I looked at his phone, the text read: If you ever want to see your precious human again, meet us at the abandoned. The abandoned stretched over most of the United States.  Why would Jim be there? That was alien territory after the war. I got dressed and headed for the abandoned. I was so scared; it was cold and black outside. After hours of walking, I finally reached the gate to the abandoned. There was a guy, tall and buff. He was wearing an army uniform. “No one passes through here without clearance, state your business.” “I know the rules, sir.” I stared to feel the tears running down, I was choking on my words.” I am looking for someone, my fiancée. Over the past few days, he has been disappearing at random times of the day and night. I had received a text to come here, let me show you.” I grabbed the phone and showed him the message, I fell to my knees from the fear. “His name is Jim, sir, I have known this guy my entire life. Please help me find him.” He reached for my arm and picked me off the ground. I needed someone to hold me, tell me it was okay. My mind was racing, it was like static when this guy grabbed me. “Ma’am, why don’t you come inside and rest? You look exhausted, probably a long walk? I have a bed you can rest in; we will find Jim.” “Thank you, sir, would you mind staying with me? I do not want to be alone right now. I have come across some scary things on my journey.” “Of course, ma’am, I will send my best men to look for Jim, we can stay in the head room. You will have a change of clothes waiting for you there.” “My name is Alex, and yours?” “I am Erick, Erick Boards.” “Thank you, Erick, for your help.” He reached for my hand assuring me that everything would be okay. “You should get some sleep, Alex. It might take a few days or so to find Jim.” “Okay, but can you lie next to me? I am so cold, and body heat might be good?” Erick grinned and locked the bedroom door. “Okay princess, your wish is my desire.” He took his clothes off and put sleep clothes on. He left his shirt off. I did the same, there was a t-shirt and a pair of shorts on the bed. I laid in the bed next to him, he pulled me close to him. My hand was on his abs, I could not believe this, I was in bed with some stranger. It felt all too right, something strange was happening. I drifted to sleep with my head laying on his chest. Jim never let me touch him while we slept. This was nice, comforting. As I woke, my head was still on his chest.             “Hey, I didn’t want to wake you.” “No worries. Thank you, Erick, I have not slept like that in an awfully long time. It was nice.” “Yeah, it was. I slept well myself. Are you hungry? I can fetch us some food?” I was hungry, but I was comfortable laying on this handsome stranger. “No, please stay there. You are now hired as my pillow.” We both let out a chuckle, his was sexier and deeper, mine was well mine. “You must love this man, coming here to find him is very dangerous for a beauty like you.” “I thought I was in love with Jim, we have been friends since we were in the sandbox together. Now I am not so sure.” “Yeah, usually after a night like that, girls say that about their soon to Be’s.”  “Well, what are you implying here?” “I am kidding, Alex, relax, would you?” “Yeah, sure. Sorry, it has been a while since I could do such thing.” I had no clue what was happening. We laid in the bed for hours just talking about Jim and me. The more we talked, the more I knew the truth. I was never in love with Jim. Night fell all too quick. I wanted to keep talking to Erick, he was amusing in ways Jim never was. I fell asleep all too soon. Erick held me throughout the night once more. “Good morning sleeping beauty. Time to shower and get some food.” Erick opened the curtain and let the sunlight in. “Why?” “Because you need to move.” He came over next to me and knelt on the floor. “You are too beautiful to rot in a bed.” He let out a giggle. That was when I knew I had to go home before I did something to ruin Jim and me. I was falling in love with Erick, and I knew it was wrong. I took a shower and packed my belongings up.             “Thank you for everything, I am going home. I need to get out of here.” Erick looked shocked. “What do you mean? What about Jim?” “If you find him and get him well, send him home?” “Why are you leaving?” Erick, stop, I need to leave.” He looked hurt and betrayed. “I thought we had something, Alex, please stay. Even for one more night? Please don’t make me beg anymore.” “Why are you even begging me to stay? I am just a stranger to you.” He cut me words off and kissed me. I could feel shocks of electricity dripping through my body. I pulled away. “Erick, no, please stop.” “Why?” “I think I am falling in love with you.” The tears rushed down my face. I was in shock by what I said. I was betrothed with a man, yet in love with another. Erick had a smile on his face, he wanted to hear those words. Did he feel them too? It was time for dinner, I locked myself in his bathroom. I was no longer hungry, I just cried. “Alex? Please, I am sorry, I hate to see you this way. You are too beautiful to be crying, let me know if I can do anything to stop this pain you feel.” I heard the crack in his voice, was he crying too? Who was this man? I opened the door to look at him. He had roses in his hands. He knew all too well. I grabbed the roses and threw them on the floor, and we kissed. We made it to the bed, I never wanted to stop. He was so perfect to me, how could I hurt Jim like this? I could not stop myself. I was on top of him, feeling him grind against me. We stopped for a second, I looked at him. His grin overtook me, it was the same grin as the night before. I took my shirt off, and he did the same. Within a few minutes we were both bare, grinding on each other. He was close to perfect. “Are you sure you want to do this?” “Yes, Erick.” His name rolled off my tongue. He slipped inside me. My body fell apart, it was like heaven and hell intertwined. I loved this man, whoever he was. We had s*x all night. “Damn girl, you wear me out.” “Sorry, but wow, I have never felt anything so amazing in my life.” “Wait, no, no, no. God forgive me, you are bleeding.” “I am fine, Erick, just promise to never leave my side.” “Never, but why, why are you bleeding?” “I was a virgin, I never had s*x before.” “What? You never had s*x with Jim? Or anyone?” “My mother always told me I would know the right moment, with the right guy.” “Alex, marry me.” “Ha-ha funny.” We both grinned and cuddled, it did not take long before we were both out. The next morning, I woke up, he was still sleeping. I hopped in the shower. I sat in the hot water, remembering the night before. I gave my life to this man; I hope he was one worth waiting for. It hit me, where did he c*m? Was he wearing a condom? I was in a new pickle. I turned to see a shadow of a man. I bent over to grab the shampoo; I felt his hands. “Good morning beautiful, how did you sleep?” He was naked behind me, I was grinding on him, wanting more. He it in me once more. All I could feel was insane pleasure. He jumped in the shower with me, we continued for a few more moments. “Did you c*m inside me last night?” “No, babe, I stopped myself. I was unsure how you would feel.” “Oh, thank you.” That was all I could say. He bathed me, making sure I was clean in every aspect. “Alex, I need to get back to work today. Feel free to walk around and meet more people, make some friends. Learn the ropes of being here since you are staying here for a while.” “Who said I was staying?” His face dropped when I said that. “I am just kidding Erick, relax a little.” I let out a laugh. He hugged me and kissed me goodbye, something simple. When he did that, all was right with my world. He was mt soul mate. He left for work, I laid in the bed for a while. I was dressed for the day, why not go out and say hello.             I walked out of the room. I still remembered the way I walked through. Erick was the highest-ranking officer here, then was Dylan. I saw Dylan looking at a screen. “Hi, Dylan, right?” “Oh, hello there, mystery woman, right?” “Sorry to keep him from work.” “Trust me when I say this, thank you. He is in better spirits since you came along. He has been a mess since Natalie passed away.” “Who is Natalie?” “Oh, s**t, sorry. She was his girlfriend before the war.” She was taken by the aliens and came back a different person. She eventually killed herself, scared by paranoia.” “Oh, my. I don’t know what to say.” Tears started to roll back, I thought of Jim killing himself and that thought would kill me. Though I no longer loved him the same way I once did, he will always be my absolute best friend. “Hey now, Erick would kill me if he saw you cry. Might want to hide those away for another rainy day.” I went back to the room and fell asleep.