Lacy flakes drifted out of the sky
and slowly turned the landscape white.
I was in the Pacific Northwest
for New Year’s. Alysha wanted to meet
for the weekend at our family’s vacation home.
Tufts of dead grass poked up through the snow.
I traversed to catch my footing
over last night’s accumulation of snow.
It took elbow grease to open the mailbox
as icicles minded their own business
and stuck together.
White flakes melted
as my warm skin fought against
freezing the news.
I shut the box and flipped through
the envelopes on the walk back.
I stomped on the welcome mat
and entered the house,
locking the door behind me.
Alysha sent a letter.
People call.
People text.
Who sends letters?
I shook my head
and used my fingernail
to open the maroon envelope.
I set the postage on the table
and unfolded the letter.
My eyes narrowed before they widened.
Alysha lacked the will to tell me at all
much less in person.
My slack-jawed stare into the fireplace
presented an option.
I dangled my arms around my sides,
still holding the letter.
I did what I did before I even thought twice about it.
I tossed her letter into the fire.
I’m sure she had more to say,
but nothing I’d wanted to hear.
I looped my arms,
and I paced the living room.
The dark hardwood floor creaked
with my pressure.
I remained in the present.
Screw Alysha.
A knock on the door startled me.
Who could be here?
I didn’t see any headlights.
I opened the door.
A woman introduced herself
as Fay stood, playing with her hands.
She craned her neck around me.
I took a step back, and she entered.
She observed me in distress
from her cabin across the street.
I shrugged her worries away.
She gave me a skeptical gaze.
Fay’s long, blonde hair cascaded to the small of her back.
I sighed and dipped my chin.
She told me she’d listen.
We plopped on the brown leather sofa.
I spilled out my issues.
Fay inched closer and massaged my back.
I released the tension in my chest.
She climbed her hands up my shoulders
and rubbed my neck with her soft, fair skin.
Weak headlights strengthened
as a car approached
the house.
I stood to my feet.
I split the blinds with my fingers.
Alysha exited her car.
I felt weak.
She entered the home.
She asked about dinner.
I told her I thought it was over.
Alysha feigned ignorance.
I reminded her of the letter.
Confusion spread across her face.
Fay cleared her throat.
She sent the letter.
Alysha glanced at Fay
and so did I.
But the two knew each other.
Fay asked Alysha to come clean.
And tell me she’d been sleeping
with Fay’s brother.
I shifted my attention back to Alysha.
She said that it was true.
I threw her out
and chilled with Fay.
We laughed, talked, and cackled to tears.
At midnight, we had our last first kiss.