Float On

Part 5

I wake up startled, instantly aware of an absence. Instead of waking up with Phil wrapped around me, there is a blanket in his place. I start to panic, trying to untangle myself from the blanket in the pitch black so I can turn on the side table light. Once it's on, I look around and confirm what I already know. He's gone. Completely disoriented, I grab my phone and see that it's 3:00 am. To my relief, there're also three texts from Phil that were sent around midnight.

(12:30 am)

Phil: I have a class in the morning so I have to go, but I don't want to wake you up. I had a wonderful time tonight and I'm only partially insulted that you fell asleep during Buffy ;) I hope you see this as soon as you wake up. I don't want you to think I waited for you to fall asleep and then snuck out. If I had all of my school stuff with me, I would have gladly snuggled with you all night. I went to the coffee shop and brought you back pastries for breakfast and left them on the coffee table.

Phil: Please text me in the morning. I'm nervous that you might be upset with me when you wake up and I'm not there. Believe me when I say that the last thing I wanted to do is leave.

Phil: PS You look adorable when you sleep.

My heart flutters after reading the messages. I look up and notice the paper bag sitting on the table and when I open it up, there is a cheese danish and a chocolate croissant. Somehow Phil managed to figure out my favorites. All of these feelings I'm having are completely foreign. It's been such a long time since I've even dated I don't remember how it all works, plus I never thought in a million years I would meet someone who would accept all of my issues. Despite being 3 am, I dig into the bag and pull out the danish and start eating. I grab the remote to turn on the tv and Buffy fills the screen. I grin and hit play before rereading his messages. On an impulse, I turn around so the tv is visible behind me and hold up the pastry before taking a selfie.

(3:00 am)

Me: I woke up in the middle of the night and was pleasantly surprised with sweet texts and my favorite breakfast food. I wish you were here to share them with me, but I know you have classes and homework to do. If you come over here often enough, you may just make a Buffy convert out of me yet ;)

I attach the photo I just took and hit send.

Still sleepy, I lay back down and snuggle up under the blanket he got for me. I go to turn the tv off but change my mind, just turning down the volume instead. After only a few short minutes, I drift off to sleep with Buffy playing in the background and a pillow that still smells like Phil under my head.

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The mid-day sun streams through the balcony blinds that I accidentally left open the night before. I roll over and fall off of the couch in a tangle of arms, legs, and blanket, hitting the floor with a thud. Even that isn't enough to wake me up fully, so I continue to lay there in a fog unsure of why I'm in the living room to begin with. I yawn and stretch but instantly regret it when my back cramps in pain. My eyes travel around the room and settle on the bag sitting on the coffee table. My head starts to clear and I smile as I remember falling asleep next to Phil. Not ready to address my aching back, I grab around on the table until my fingers find the bag, which I immediately open and ravage the remaining pastry while still laying on the floor. I'm starving and it feels like I haven't eaten in ages.

Feeling something sharp under my back, I wiggle around until I retrieve my phone which is lodged firmly under me. I check the time and am surprised when I see it's already 2:00 in the afternoon. I'm not able to recall the last time I slept this late. Not only did I get a fantastic night's rest, but I'm also happy to see I have several more texts from Phil waiting for me.