Workaholic

Bubba clung sleepily to my neck as we stepped out of the sunlight into the shop. I paused, waiting for my eyes to adjust. Then I saw him amid the automotive debris. Mr. Excitement saw us and a smile spread across his face.

It had been three weeks since I’d seen him. His bronzed skin glistened with a thick layer of sweat. His shirt clung to his muscular frame.

As he drew closer I saw how thin he’d gotten. His cheeks seemed hollow. His hair had gone almost completely gray. When had he gotten so old? He’d aged so much since I’d seen him last. He kissed Bubba and then, almost as an after thought, his lips brushed mine. I felt his warmth and I wanted to hold onto him but he moved away.

What happened to us? We’ve been through so much. We met at our lowest low and we’ve battled our demons side by side. He knows me better than I know myself but I can’t understand what goes on behind those honey colored eyes.

He’s so angry with me. That last fight really hurt us. Of all things, it was over money.  Excitement’s work had dried up in Historyville and I couldn’t find a job. I’d even applied at the local grocery store and I’d been turned down.

“I think you don’t really want to work,” he’d accused angrily.

He was partially right. I didn’t want to work, but not out of laziness. I’d quit my last three jobs because I couldn’t handle the stress. I’ve been in and out of hospitals over the last six months. I’m scared that if I add any more straws to my back I’ll break.

Excitement decided to move back to Metropolis. We weren’t breaking up, just taking some time to get ourselves straight. He could find steady work there and maybe with a little time to alone I could pull myself out of this depression. So he packed up everything and hopped a bus.