Scene opens to KP sitting on her blow up mattress, sniffling. Still by Matt Nathanson is coming out of the computer's speaker. The same sheet covers the window. Clothes from the work day have been tossed on the bed's corner.
It's been a long day. I have spent the majority of it at the office, where it appears I will be spending much of my time over the next few weeks/months. On Friday afternoon I was pulled aside and told I was being added to another account. It's a "broken" account that we are working to "fix" before it's too late. So, with no other options, they chose me. I'm flattered. And scared. The fate of my job - of all of our jobs - could rest in this one account. Holy shit. The reality is terrifying. So, I am being infused with all the knowledge possible to bring me up to speed as quickly as possible. Who knows how this will play out. I have to admit I'm kind of looking forward to the challenge...
KP flashes back to last week when "J" was on her blow-up mattress next to her. She smiles.
"J" and I decided we needed a night alone before he left for Europe. Again. So, last Wednesday he left his mom home with "Little J" and we had a date night. It's crazy to me sometimes that 2 "single" people have to plan to see each other the way we often do. Seriously. It took SEVERAL text messages to plan an evening together. We decided on dinner at a fabulous restaurant in the South End, followed by some Port in the North End. Dinner was amazing. We talked about how hard it is to be apart constantly like we are - and to stay connected to each other. I was upset. Scared thinking about the implications that often come when one person is always gone, and the other is always waiting. Come to think of it, I'm still scared.
We left dinner and drove to the North End. After looking for a parking space for quite some time (and eventually finding one), we decided to just head home and spend some quiet time together. I laid on my bed going through emails for a client interview I was setting up. "J" laid behind me and let me rest my head on him. He looks at me with the sweetest eyes and says: "I love you, KP." He apologizes for not always being the perfect partner, but promises that just because he's not perfect at showing it doesn't mean he wants anything less than to be that person for me. With tears welling in my eyes, I capture that moment in my mind. I think this is my favorite moment.
The next day we have dinner with his mom and all head to pick mine up from the airport. Within minutes, we had both mothers in the same place - both from different continents. Crazy. We took "J's" mom home and continued (finally) to the North End for some dessert, wine and good conversation. It continued to our hotel where we visited for several more hours, until I was falling asleep mid-conversation. I walk "J" downstairs, kiss him and wish him a safe trip.
On Friday, after finding out about my new account and my impending stress, I call "J" before he boards his plane. He tells me about the newly uncovered issues with his citizenship struggles. UGH! Please, God, I think, don't take this away from me. Don't tell me this is too good to be true...
"J's" still gone. We are trying new ways of staying connected while we're apart. I think we're doing okay. Mom left this afternoon, which always makes me a little sad. No matter how long I'm away, or how old I am, I still miss being close to her. No luck so far convincing her to move out East. Emotional from these goodbyes and lack of sleep, I check my voicemails. I come across the first message "J" left (after the woman prompted me that it was about to be erased) and start to cry at the sound of his voice. I think to myself: is this normal? (I still don't have the answer). I left work to have dinner with one of my dearest friends. She talked about her plans to leave Boston within the next 3 to 6 months. I took the bus home with all of my luggage from the weekend with mom and came up to my room, where I sit now.
I have left so many places and so many people. So much of me is scattered across different cities and states...and even countries. But, I sit here and wonder...is life always about saying goodbye? I have to think it's not, because if it was, people would stop taking the time to say hello.
Scene ends with KP sitting on her blow-up mattress, exhausted after a long day. The Story by Brandi Carlile is now coming from the computer's speaker. She smiles thinking of the nice day she had, and the wonderful people who shared it with her.
