>It didn't do anyone any good to stay inside all day.
 
>After a few hours of cuddling naked and dozing off on the couch, underneath the woolen blanket, Sunset suggested talking a walk outside. Not far, just around the block... Enough to get some fresh air and then right back.
 
>You picked her up, and peeled yourself off of the sweat-soaked cushion. The warm perspirations stick with your backside... She wasn't warm or sweating at all... Just kind of.... There.
 
>She looked up at you in the darkness of the house, bathed in the lonely light of the tv. Her face... The way she looked at you, it was scarring... Foreboding even.
 
>Her smile.
 
----------
 
>You carried her into the bedroom. She thanked you with a kiss. And lightly stepped down out of your grip.
 
>Her toes gingerly touched down against the carpet. You watched her stroll across the room to the closet and begin dressing herself.
 
>She slid on her usual outfit, orange skirt, personalized t-shirt, her boots and that 'fuck-you' leather jacket. She looked amazing... Always did.
 
>You dressed yourself quickly and grabbed a pack of cigarettes.... Er... /Cigarette/, that is.
 
>You dragged the length of the stick underneath your nose, taking in the calming and fairly minty aroma.
 
>You placed in between your lips and singed the tip.
 
>The weight on your chest lifted. Sunset tugged on your jacket, and you turned to face her
 
>"I'm here...." She said.
 
>"What...?"
 
>"Nevermind."
 
>You shrugged and unlocked the door, pulling it open and greeted immediately by a roaring and howling darude- snowstorm.
 
>"Let's just go to the end of the block." She said, taking ahold of your arm.
 
>"Aren't you going to be cold in that?"
 
>"Nah." She smirked and presses her cheek against your arm.
 
>"I've got you."
 
----------
 
>Winter is beautiful.
 
> Something about the Absence of warmth and comfort entranced you, and it was present and familiar to you even when Sunset was around.
 
>The snow had piled up into drifts several inches high at places that weren't underneath something
 
>The cold bit and scraped the warmth away with each passing second. Already you were starting to feel numb.
 
>You looked down at her.
 
>She seemed just fine.
 
>Icicles clinked loudly as they swung from rooftops and powerlines in the wind.
 
>Ice had claimed the staircase and the handrails.
 
>God, fuck this staircase.
 
>You make your way carefully down the steps, taking extra now that Sunset was at.your side...
 
>The two of you make your way away from the building and to where you suspect the sidewalk is.
 
>You take a long drag off of your cigarette. The wind obliges you by erasing the dead ash and scattering it back to the world.
 
>She was shivering furiously now.
 
>"Hey.... I uh.... C-c-can I have a drag?"
 
>You look at her as if she's crazy. You hand over the cigarette and remove your jacket, offering it to her.
 
>She wipes a bit of snot off her lip with her jacket.
 
>Sunset reaches out with her hands, the two items.
 
>You release tension slightly.
 
>She barely grabs ahold of the cigarette and jacket... The wind blows both of them out of your hands, and off they went down the street.
 
>"Oh Crap..... Sorry..."
 
----------
 
>You weren't mad at her, of course you weren't, but she didnt know that.
 
>She looked down and away, her left hand reaching across and grabbing the sleeve of her right arm in embarrassment.
 
>That's enough fresh air for right now.
 
>You grunted as you stooped down, the frost was beginning to freeze and attack your joints.
 
>Your arm constricted her around her knees and her waist. Heaving her up, you set your sights on the building, and begin to trudge your way against the wind and growing snowbanks.
 
>She had curled up as much as she could to protect herself from the assaulting winds. You held her tight, you weren't about to let go for anything.
 
>Her hair whipped about violently, causing your already squinted eyes to strain even further.
 
>Her cheeks were turning pink, her eyes clenched tight.
 
>That was all you needed to see to hurry the rest of the way. You trounce over the rolling hills of fresh powder, picking up your gait into a slight jog.
 
>The cold air cycled through your lungs, keeping your body cool as you pushed yourself as safely as possible.
 
>The stairs.
 
>You exhale sharply. 'Okay...'
 
>You step lightly, cautiously maintaining every ounce of body weight as not to shift it in the wrong direction and cause catastrophic failure.
 
>You can feel the soles of your boots threatening to give way against the ice at any second.
 
>Fuck.
 
>The top step.
 
>You step lightly and shift your gaze to the door just a few steps down.
 
>-squirk-
 
>Your leg gives way and you tumble downwards, you twist yourself hurriedly at the last second and land flat on your ass on the top step.
 
>-crack-
 
>You scream internally, grinding your teeth together to combat the hard fall.
 
>You strain your upperbody, and heave her into a comfortable position.
 
>You look her over, she seemed okay, your ass absorbed most of the impact.
 
>She lay there, no longer tense, but relaxed...
 
----------
 
>Her fingers brushed against your cheek.
 
>She lay motionless.
 
>A surge of warmth staved off the cold on your face.
 
>You looked down at her, watching her.
 
>So peaceful in the middle of all this chaos...
 
>You scooted yourself off of the staircase and planted your boots down against the nice firm concrete.
 
>You grunted and lifted yourself and Sunset up off of the ground..
 
>You kicked in the door and stepped into the living room, laying her down across the couch.
 
>You return to the door and lock it.
 
>I think that's enough fun for one day.
 
>You look back to the couch.
 
>She was gone.
 
----------
 
 
>You look over towards the bedroom door, and step over to the frame.
 
>You catch a glimpse of red hair snaking its way into the bathroom.
 
>Well.. at least she was up and about.
 
>You glance over at the clock. 10 PM.
 
>'Alright... Maybe I should get some sleep.'
 
----------
 
>-RNGZ RNGZ RNGZ RNGZ-
 
>You reach over and slap the snooze button on the alarm clock next to the bed.
 
>The sound of ice prattling against the windows was all that could be heard.
 
>"Sunset?"
 
>You groggily look around on the bed for a lump underneath the covers.
 
>It was just you there.
 
>You cough once and roll out of the bed, setting your feet down on the carpet. You stand shakily and exit the room, flicking the lights on to the kitchen as you step through the frame.
 
>The house was empty.
 
>Its 2 AM.
 
>Oh please God no.
 
----------
 
>You tear open the closet door and rifle through its contents.
 
>You toss hangers to the ground, furiously searching for something of hers.
 
>Nothing.
 
>She left.... Nothing.
 
>You storm the bathroom cupboards and underneath the sink.
 
>Nothing.
 
>'She... She took everything...?'
 
>Please no.
 
>You look up at yourself in the mirror.
 
>Its an incredible sight to see a grown man go from presentable to a sobbing mess in such a short amount of time.
 
>Your whole body shook, your hands refused to remain steady.
 
>'Where did she go? Why....?'
 
>Tears began to flow freely down your cheeks.
 
>Your reddened eyes studied themselves in the mirror as you ran your fingers through your nappy hair.
 
>"Sunset?!" You screamed... into an empty apartment.
 
>You staggered through the kitchen and into the living room
 
>You turn slowly towards the couch....
 
>'Be there... please...'
 
----------
 
>A brief second
 
>You swear you saw her. She was right there... sitting on the couch with her legs crossed...
 
>You looked around the apartment, panting and panicking to the point of near puking.
 
>You grabbed ahold of the freezer door handle in anger, and pounded your knuckles against he door as hard as you could.
 
>The violent slamming left spots of blood on the white finish after a while.
 
>You stop and breathe, putting your hands on your knees and leaning over...
 
>Your eyes dart around the kitchen, looking for proof.
 
>The cake tin.
 
>You take one step over towards the empty cake tin.
 
>A stale chocolaty crust lined the bottom.
 
>She was here! She was here and she at your cake!
 
>You panted faster, sighing in relief as you wiped the sweat from your brow.
 
>And then it hit you.
 
>You've never baked a cake in your life.
 
 
>You reached for the tin.
 
>Your fingers curled around the cold surface.
 
>You brought it into the light.
 
>They were shadows. This tin hasnt been used.
 
>Ever.
 
----------
 
>A chill paralyzes you.
 
>You turn around towards the living room and look slowly around for the bowl of cake batter.
 
>Your foot brushes up against something light.
 
>You look down.
 
>You squat down slowly and examine the object.
 
>An empty pudding cup.
 
----------
 
>You reach into your pockets for your phone.
 
>Your hands unable to hold steady. The colorful decorated screens blurred past as you looked around for your text messages.
 
>Nothing.
 
>You plop down on the couch and look up at the ceiling.
 
>A soft crinkling noise croaked out from underneath your buttocks.
 
>You grasped it and whipped it around to examine it.
 
>Your eyes dart wildly from sentence to sentence.
 
'A tired Sunset marched across the living room slowly. She left a trail of clothes leading to the kitchen'
 
"Anon.... Where's that chocolate cake?"
 
>Wait what the fuck?
 
>No.
 
>No.
 
>You slowly began to realize, that you were the only one walked in through that door in years.
 
>The lie.
 
>Was so beautiful.
 
>You looked down at the carpet, where you and Sunset had made love the day before.
 
>It was you. You came all over the cushions and didnt even clean it up you fucking slob.
 
>You got up and opened the cupboards.
 
>Ramen, canned food, and other shit that required minimal preparation. No cake ingredients to be found.
 
>You could'nt even scramble eggs you fucking idiot.
 
----------
 
>She won't ever know
 
>You know what lie just beneath the couch
 
>She won't ever know
 
>You lean over and retrieve the old wooden box
 
>She won't ever know how much you loved her.
 
>Maybe
 
>You open the box, and grasp the wooden handle of the old blues revolver
 
>Do you think you could ever smile at me?
 
>You unclasp the cylinder and reach for a single.round, dropping it into place.
 
>Do you think... we could... Be together?
 
>-click-
 
>-click-
 
>-snap-
 
>.....
 
>"Are you.... Smiling at me now?"
 
END
 
....RIP