The Visitor

“Hello sweetheart, I just thought I’d check in and see how your day is. Not sure when I’ll be home but I’m sure I’ll be passing through sometime soon. I’ll be driving for most of the day so I won’t be able to answer the phone. I’ll check in later. I love you. I miss you. Bye.”

I hate how I always miss his call, but at least I get to hear his voice from the messages he leaves. It’s been over two months and he still hasn’t had a load home yet. My heart sinks a little more each day, wondering when I can spend just a few more precious moments with him until he has to leave again.

As I do my daily busy stuff, I find myself thinking about him almost every moment. I’m usually not like this, but today I really need him for some reason. I don’t know why, but I have this need to feel him close today, even if it’s just for a moment.

With the day winding down and nothing left to be done, I feel drained of all my strength. Somehow the way I feel doesn’t equate with the chores I’ve done. I think I am just as emotionally drained as I am physically. Climbing into bed and watching TV doesn’t have the usual appeal either. All I can do is lie in bed, put my hand on his pillow and wonder where he is, what he is doing, and is he thinking of me. A small tear soaks into my pillow as I close my eyes and drift away into dreamland.

“Hello love, sorry it’s so late but I’m here now, although I can’t stay for long.” said a familiar voice as I was pulled out of some weird dream I don’t even remember. I lifted my head and looked at the clock. Through sleepy eyes and the groggy haze in my head I made out the numbers 2:30 on the clock.

“Hi sweetie, I’m glad you finally made it home. I was really missing you today.” I said to him as I rolled over and made room in the bed. I felt him slide into bed next to me, put his arms around me and pull me close. He kissed my neck and muttered “I love you”.

It wasn’t long before sleep took me again. But this time I dreamed of wonderful things. I dreamed we went on a picnic in a beautiful mountain meadow. The birds sang a lovely song as we laughed and ate and enjoyed each other’s company. His smiling eyes made me feel young again. As luck would have it, the skies didn’t want to cooperate with our picnic. The sky opened up and the rains came down. I tried to gather everything up and make a run for it, but he grabbed me gently by the arm and pulled me up. He smiled at me through the rain running down his face, kissed me, put his arms around my waist as we started slowly dancing through the warm summer rain. I put my head on his chest and closed my eyes. I couldn’t feel the rain anymore. In his arms nothing else seemed to matter.

Once again his voice pulled me out of dreamland, “I have to leave now sweetheart, I’m sorry I can’t stay longer. I love you” I heard him say as he kissed me on the forehead and ran his fingers through my hair. It seemed only moments after feeling his kiss on my forehead that the phone rang. I reached for the phone not wanting to open my eyes, “Hello” I said in a quiet, still half-asleep voice.

“Did I wake you up” Said the voice that was just with me not moments ago.

Feeling a little confused I asked, “Where are you”

“I’m in Phoenix. I got here late last night and didn’t get to bed until 2:30 this morning. I just woke up and wanted to hear your voice before I call for my next load... honey... are you there... sweetheart...”

I don’t know how long he wondered if I was still holding the phone. I quickly rolled over and looked at his pillow. I had to force myself to breathe when I saw the impression still in his pillow as if he had just gotten up. My neck was still warm where his breath had warmed my soul as we slept. I could still feel the pressure of his arms around me, as if he had just released me from holding me tight through the night.

A warm content feeling came over me as I grabbed his pillow and pulled it close to me. The scent of his cologne filled my senses as I squeezed his pillow tight and laid my head on it. Remembering I still had the phone in my hand, I answered, “Yes, I’m still here darling. Did you sleep well?"

I closed my eyes and let his voice soothe me as he answered, “Yes, I had a wonderful dream last night. You were in it, we had a picnic, then it started raining…"