Sunrise From Indigo
Give In: Lance
By Mariah

When I get home, your car is in the driveway, still wet and gleaming in the sun. I feel like I'm back in my life after a day of meeting after meeting and phone call after phone call. I don't wonder what you did all day anymore. I just know and I hope you're still wet.

"Joey!"

"I'm out here!"

I slip out of my shoes and loosen my tie. There's no need to look powerful and impeccable now. You know my weaknesses. You are my weakness. There's no reason to try and hide now that I'm home.

I'm not going to walk outside in my socks but I can see you from the back door. "What are you doing?" I ask even though it's clear. You are stretched out on your stomach in the late afternoon sunlight.

You look over your shoulder and smile. "Come out here."

"I can't, I'm still in my work clothes."

"Oh, come on."

"I'll go change and then I'll come out."

"Fine, Whatever." You turn your head away.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

But it's clear that you're not. I don't even know why. I just walked in the door.

"Are you pissed off at me?"

"No," you answer without looking over at me.

"Then what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just wanted you to come out here with me."

"I said I would after I changed."

"And I said fine."

Forget it. I don't want to fight with you when I don't even know what's going on. I take the stairs two at a time. It doesn't take me long to change and I can see you stretched out by the side of the pool, staring out over the water. With a final glance out the window, I take the stairs two at a time again.

The deck is warm under my bare feet. I sit down next to you and just look at you for a minute. You have to know I'm sitting there but you don't look at me.

Your voice is soft when you finally speak. "Sorry."

"It's okay. I just didn't want to fight. I wasn't sure what was going on but I knew it was leading up to a fight."

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?" Your skin is warm under my fingers as I trace your spine.

You finally turn your head and look at me. "Yeah, I'm great." Your smile is radiant but your eyes glisten with tears and I'm even more confused about your attitude minutes ago.

I stretch you next to you so we are face to face, our noses almost touching. "Joe, what's up?"

You smile and lean forward until I can feel your breath on my face. "She's getting married."

"Brianna?" My heart soars but when you nod, I understand completely.

"I'm losing her."

I can't but smile at you. I know how your heart is hurting. She is your world. But I see something you don't seem to see. "No, you're giving her away."

You understand that. I can see it in your eyes. You still have everything you always had.

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