Yes and No

That day had been bleaker than most. The smog cloud over head was especially dense, and I needed the headlights on my bike even at midday.

Recently, it had been getting easier coping with his absence. Yes, although I hate to admit it, it seemed like the memories of us together were nothing but vague wisps of a dream. The faint outline of his cheek bone would slip through my thoughts. A product label would trigger his voice in my ear pronouncing a soothing word like "replenish." And then, I'd be alone.

I closed my eyes and ran my fingernails gently up the side of my neck willing myself to believe it was his caress. "Do you trust me?" His voice, although only in my head, felt as real as mine. "Yes."

A ding awoke me from my trance. A new message had just been delivered to the mail screen. I tapped the envelope and my heart dropped out of my chest. No, it hadn't gotten easier. I had been in denial about how badly I missed him until, through tears, I read his words across the screen.

My dearest love...