Visitation

A double-drabble and a dream.

I found him with his feet up on my couch. I said, where have you been? He didn’t answer, just smiled at me and reached up to pull me into his arms.

I was really happy to see him.

But a bit confused, too.

I’m married, I said. Panicking, I twisted around to see his reaction. My lover meets my wife, oh god! But he just nodded, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I stopped being afraid. I know that look.

He knows all about her. He thinks it’s funny.

And then I suddenly remembered hard wooden pews and all of us in uniform… and it’s too hot… and someone hands me the whole box of Kleenex… but I don’t know who, because I can’t see…

No, I thought, that’s a mistake. Got to be. I mean, he’s right here, isn’t he?

That’s when I felt the bastard laugh. Yeah, I got it. The joke’s on me. I thumped his leg. Asshole! He just laughed harder. Years dead, and still playing games.

I woke up in my own bed, feeling his arms still wrapped around me.

I looked at my sleeping wife.

You know… I think he likes her.