[ WP ] The Little Black Box

I was asleep. I knew that much, for in reality I know I can not fly. I know I can not create something from nothing. I know *she* is n't my wife. I know these things but yet I keep the illusion of reality present. 
 
 Every night I close my eyes and wake up in my own utopia. I have everything. I am omnipotent. It is perfect. More than anything I could ever hope to have. 
 
 But then I wake up. 
 
 -- - 
 
 My alarm clock interrupts my slumber. The bleeping wakes me up just as I am going to kiss her. Every day it happens, every day I wake up just before I can kiss her. Maybe today I'll ask her for coffee. Every time I wake up I think the same thing, but every night I fall asleep the same. 
 
 Today when I arrive at work I spot her right away. I wave to her and pull into my parking spot. Hurrying to walk with her I forget to shut my car off. 
 
 `` Katie!'' 
 
 She turns to look at me, her lips forming the smile that I love, the one that makes me into a bumbling fool. Her gorgeous brown hair cascading down her back. Her brown eyes like two little pools of chocolate. 
 
 `` Hey'' she says, smiling, `` Walk with me.'' 
 
 `` Absolutely.'' I reply back, grinning like a fool ear to ear. 
 
 We make small talk as we walk up the stairs to our offices. Nothing serious, always light conversation to kill the time walking up the stairs. Only three stories high we never have time for our conversation to go any further than that. We reach the top floor and she begins to walk to her office and I into mine. We say our goodbyes and depart. Looking at her as she walks down the hall I act. 
 
 `` Katie!'' 
 
 She turns around to look at me, her face questioning me. I walk up to her and muster up the courage to ask her out for some coffee. 
 
 `` Yeah'' she says, her eyes twinkling, `` I'd love to.'' 
 
 I tell her to meet me outside after work and that I'm glad she said yes. 
 
 -- - 
 
 My day blurs by. I hardly pay attention to my work. All I can think about is her, her smile, her eyes, her hair, her face, her voice. *Her*. When the clock strikes five I pick up my things in a rush and hurry to meet her. 
 
 She stands outside in her brown parka, phone in hand, waiting for me. 
 
 For *me*. 
 
 `` Katie!'' I greet her, my smile almost hurting my face. 
 
 `` Hey'' she says, smiling, `` I've been out hear for almost five minutes, going to make me wait some more?'' 
 
 `` Of course not'' I reply, digging my keys out from my pocket, `` Follow me.'' 
 
 When I turn the corner onto the street my heart sinks, along with me, falling to the ground on my knees. 
 
 No. No. No. No. No. No. 
 
 My car is gone, I was in such a hurry this morning to walk with Katie that I forgot to turn it off. Someone must have stolen it. 
 
 `` Oh my god,'' Katie says, behind me. `` Did your car get stolen?'' 
 
 I merely nod and stare at the ground solemnly wishing I was dreaming so I could fly away with her, and take her to get some coffee. 
 
 `` Come with me,'' she says, `` I'll take you to the police station.'' 
 
 -- - 
 
 After filling out some paperwork and talking to a few police officers, me and Katie stand outside beside her car. 
 
 She breaks the silence, `` You should call your insurance company. When my car got stolen it took forever to get my claims check. The faster you start, the faster you'll get a replacement.'' 
 
 `` Thanks.'' I mumble, staring down at my feet. 
 
 `` Here'' she says, opening the passenger seat door, `` get in. I'll give you a ride home.'' 
 
 I look up at her and smile. 
 
 `` Thanks so much Katie, you've been a huge help today. It's not exactly what I was hoping for our first date.'' 
 
 She laughs, `` Me either.'' 
 
 -- - 
 
 On the way home, we pass a young couple holding hands walking on the sidewalk. 
 
 They seem so happy and carefree. 
 
 Katie sees them too. She smiles and looks at me, then looks up ahead at the road and slowly comes to a stop. 
 
 `` Why are we stopping?'' I ask, looking around. 
 
 She points to the middle of the road. A small black box, no bigger than a shoe box lies in the road. 
 
 `` How did you even see that?'' I ask. She laughs and opens her door to get out. She unbuckles her seat belt and slides out the door. Watching her walk over to the box, I too become curious. I open my door and get out. 
 
 Closing the door, I turn to look at Katie. She's crouched beside the box, facing the car. 
 
 `` What's Inside?'' I yell over to her. 
 
 She holds up two tiny shoes. 
 
 `` These!'' 
 
 As if the world went into slow motion, I see it happen. 
 
 As she shouts over to me, the car comes around the corner, swerving as it goes on the sidewalk. The driver, going too fast for a small suburban road, tries to stop when he sees the woman crunched over in the middle of the road. Slamming on the breaks the car stops for a moment before flipping over right into the middle of the road. Katie, unable to get out of the way in time screamed as the car flips right on top of her. 
 
 `` Katie!'' 
 
 -- - 
 Please give me some feedback on this as I'm trying to get better at writing!: )
