Used to be that the sound of his keys jingling meant that he was bolting off at 10:00 at night to go hang out with friends and spend the night. Abandoning me. Escaping me.
The other night, in our new home, I heard the familiar sound.
My heart leaped into my throat.
I almost screamed out, "Where are you going?????" in fear.
But I caught myself and self-soothed, reassuring myself that he was probably just going outside for his final cigarette of the night. And taking his keys to make sure he doesn't lock himself out.
So:
R. I. P. The sound of jingling keys used to cause me fear. But now I know that he's still here.
