Date Night

We met for dinner around 5:30 p.m. at an Applebee's in New York City. I arrived first and had the waitress take me to a table for two. I was excited, looking forward to our time together. Feeling parched, I ordered an ice water with lemon while I waited for my companion to join me. After a few sips my bladder started speaking to me, so I listened and went to the restroom. When I returned, the other chair was occupied. We had not seen each other in months, but neither of us had changed. We shared a quick embrace then took our seats.
The food was good and the conversation even better. Distance and time had separated us, but nothing had changed. We were completely in tune with one another, finishing each others sentences like we used to. We laughed, reminiscing about our best moments. Midnight boat cruises, late nights in New York City, and plenty of mischief. At our best we were unstoppable, a force of nature. The memories made me miss who and what we were, before life got in the way.
Dinner ended, but we couldn't part ways. The night continued. The apartment was the same. Mail littered the kitchen table and the fridge was still empty. Laundry covered the familiar full size bed. I pushed it aside and sat down, tired from a long day. I had a three hour drive ahead of me and needed rest before embarking. Alone, in the darkened room my mind wandered back over our five year history. How we met played in my head, the memory clearly preserved over the years. I drifted off into a light slumber, awaking an hour later. Sleep clung to my senses as I made my way to the living room. We sat on the couch together, watching television. Words weren't necessary, the silence was calming.
The hour grew late. Too late to drive home. "You should sleep here and leave first thing in the morning." I agreed. We crawled into the bed we've shared on countless occassions. "I better not wake up with a knee in my back." "You won't," I assured. I had learned to keep my limbs to myself since the last time we'd laid so close. Banter filled the air, then trailed off into slumber.
I awoke with the first rays of the sun and quietly crawled out of bed. Footsteps approached from behind as I gathered my purse. "Do you have all your stuff?" I nodded then headed towards the door. We walked down the stairwell to the front entrance. Through tired eyes we gazed upon each other one final time. I promised to call when I got home then we exchanged one last embrace. The sun was climbing over the building tops in the east when I reached my car. I threw my belongings in the back seat and started the engine. As I headed towards the highway, away from Flatty Girl's place, I couldn't help but think that she was the best date I'd had in ages.