Throwing my legs over the bed, I got up and made my way to the bathroom. Splashing my face with water, I wondered where Harmony had gone.
Heading back over to the dresser, I pulled open the top drawer and pulled out a pair of sleeping pants and a Boston Red Sox T-shirt. Slipping it over my head, I stopped and looked around. Fear and panic set in as I went downstairs and walked into the living room.
“Harmony? Baby, are you here?”
Silence.
Walking into the kitchen, I looked around. Harmony had put everything up. Glancing over at the table, I couldn’t help but notice the plates were still on the table. The candles had blown out but there was a piece of paper on the plate where I sat.
Swallowing hard, I walked over and picked it up. Unfolding it, I noticed my hands were shaking.
Dear Preston,
I’m so sorry to do this to you. I thought I was able to handle opening my heart again, but yesterday proved to me why I had built that wall around my heart.
I don’t know any other way to deal with all of this. Please know that I don’t want to leave you because I love you more than anything. I’ve never felt a love like this before and I don’t think I ever will again. I can’t tell you the countless times I’ve daydreamed of us getting married and starting a family together. The thought of losing you…I would rather die than lose you, too, Preston. I love you too much to ask you to give up something you have dreamed of since you were little. I would never ask you to pick.
You are the only person who has ever loved me so completely. Thank you for last night. I will treasure you and our love forever.
I love you,
Harmony
My whole body shook as I read the letter for the fourth time. Shaking my head, I dropped the letter and ran through the condo. Racing up the stairs, I screamed out for her.
“Harmony! Harmony, please don’t do this! Harmony!”
Running back to the kitchen, I looked for my cellphone. Grabbing it, I found Jake’s number and hit CALL. My heart felt as if it was being torn straight from my chest as I fought to drag in air.
“Hey, buddy, what’s going on?”
“She’s gone! Jake, where is she? You have to tell me. I won’t lose her. I can’t lose her! She’s my entire life!”
“Wait, what are you talking about? Preston, calm down. I can hardly understand you. Who’s gone?”
Closing my eyes, I doubled over as I dragged in a few deep breaths. “Harmony! She’s gone. She left me a note saying she couldn’t be with me anymore. She left!” Dropping to the floor, I cried out, “Jake, she left.”
“Are you at Harmony’s, Preston?”
Forcing air into my lungs, I barely whispered, “Yes.”
“Don’t leave. Sandy and I are on our way.”
Dropping my cellphone to the floor, I pushed my hands through my hair and looked up as I screamed, “Harmony! Come back to me!”
—
Sitting on the sofa, Sandy held my hand as Jake read Harmony’s letter again. Standing, he pushed his hand through his hair.
“Fuck!” Jake shouted, and Sandy jumped, not having expected Jake to yell out like he did.
Closing my eyes, I dropped my head back onto the sofa.
“I get that she freaked out about what happened to you yesterday, but I can’t see her leaving because of that,” Jake said.
Sandy dropped my hand as she stood up and walked over to Jake. “Jake, Harmony has suffered so much hurt and loss, I don’t think it’s too far-fetched to say Preston almost dying yesterday caused her to freak out.”
Letting out a sigh, I said, “I didn’t almost die.”