One Last Gift

It was a chilly winter Evening in Chicago and Charlotte was dressed from head to toe in black. She sported high-heeled leather boots overtop tight leggings. Her winter coat met the middle of her thigh and her face was shielded by a bulky scarf and knit cap. Her hands were protected from the chilly air by long gloves. She sat with her legs crossed on a bench beneath a bus stop and stared at the apartment building across from the street. Rosewood Plaza was her home last Wednesday. Now she could see the shadow of two bodies entangling by candlelight in the bed she used to lay. They'd only been apart for a week and he already had a new lover.

Vincent Somers ruined her life. They met in college and she thought he was the one. Every man and woman she'd ever been with previously ripped her heart out and stomped all over it. She swore he was different until he became another name to add to the list. The day they met they were attending a frat party on campus. They bumped into each other outside of the bathroom and stuck like glue. They didn't even go all the way that night, but it was the most intimate experience Charlotte ever had.

They stayed up until dawn and drank wine coolers on the roof of the sophomore dormitory building. They talked about what they wanted in life. Their goals. Their hopes. Their dreams. And everything seemed to line up perfectly. Two kids and a dog. They both wanted to get out of the city into the suburbs. They even shared the desire of becoming teachers. He was studying math, and she was enveloped fully in dedication to studio art.

They graduated together and signed a lease on an apartment downtown. Getting out of the city got put on pause when Vincent was offered a teaching position he couldn't refuse, so they stayed. Charlotte tried her hand at teaching but she found after a year she couldn't manage it. It turned out she didn't like it. So she decided to dive in and become a full-time artist. Vincent was supportive at first until she wasn't able to support herself. Though he got paid more than enough for both of them his resentment grew and grew. They would yell and fight a lot. But he would always reassure her they'd get through this together.

They'd lived in that apartment together for two years, and it took him less than a week to fill her vacant position. He wouldn't answer her calls or texts. He had her blocked. Charlotte couldn't understand how he could throw away all that time with someone like it was nothing. It was everything to her. If she couldn't have him, she felt that no one should.

Charlotte had been waiting there for hours with her purse clung tightly to her lap. She noticed the lights change in his apartment and turned her attention towards the front lobby. After some time, Vincent walked out with the other woman. Charlotte watched with a clenched jaw as Vincent clung around his mistress's waist. Charlotte's face burned red as hailed hailed a taxi and gave the woman an all too passionate kiss before sending her on her way. Despite her anger, she had to act. She walked across the street as the cab was driving away.

"Vincent!" Charlotte called out.

Vincent turned towards her voice with his eyebrows raised and a look of fear painted across his face. He started to move briskly towards the lobby doors. Charlotte jogged to catch up.

"No, wait!" Charlotte said. "I have something for you! An apology!"

Vincent stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. Hesitatingly, he walked towards her. "What do you want?" He asked disparagingly.

"Remember that diner we used to love? Henry's?" Charlotte's face was beaming as she pulled a small white box out of her purse.

"Yes, I do. What's this even about?" Vincent looked on, perplexed at the situation. "I told you we couldn't do this anymore. It wasn't good for either of us."

"Yes, I know," Charlotte responded. "This isn't my way of trying to get you back. I was just wondering if you'd humor me and share one more slice of chocolate cake?" She opened the white box to reveal a decadent slice of their favorite dessert. It came equipped with a white plastic fork.

"Why?" Vincent was even more confused at this request. His hands were stuffed in his pockets and his extremities were turning red from the cold.

"For closure. I'll never contact you again. Just have a bite." Charlotte held the fork out for him to grad.

"If you promise to never contact me again, I'll do whatever you want." Vincent stepped forward and grabbed the fork from her hand. He dug in and took a generous portion for himself.

"I promise." Charlotte had a sly smile that spread from ear to ear. "Y'know what. It's cold out here. Keep it. One last gift from me to you."

"Alright, Charlotte... You take it easy now." Vincent took the whole box from her hands and watched Charlotte walk away. "Crazy bitch." He whispered out of earshot.

"I'll miss you!" Charlotte called back.

The next morning Charlotte sat outside of Rosewood Plaza in the same spot under the bus stop. She watched as two cop cars escorted an ambulance out front. As the minutes passed, she moved closer and closer to the edge of her seat until finally, she saw it. The medics wheeled out a gurney occupied by a black body bag about the size of Vincent Somers.

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too,” Charlotte said.