Room 4 Suite 7.
I quickly find the correct door and place the box at my feet. The key slides smoothly into the lock and the door glides open into the living room space. It's small, just enough to fit a couch, a love seat, and a small entertainment center. It’s nowhere near as big as my other place, but at least it's clean. That's a good sign. After lifting the box, I use my back to shut the door and step further into the apartment.
There’s a small kitchenette which is lightly decorated with green accents and a small flower vase next to two microwave ovens. I don't know why we need two microwaves but that's a thing, I guess. Making my way through the common space, I continue to be impressed at how clean it is.
I turn down a small hall. Up until this point, the place looked like a regular apartment but all the doors in this hall are numbered in sequential order with bulky-looking door locks above each knob. Two bedrooms are placed on either side of the hall with bathrooms in between.
I find my door, unlock it, and enter my room. It’s small, as is the rest of the apartment, with just enough space for what's needed. There's a bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and a place for a TV to sit, which is nice. After tossing the box inside the small closet, I drop my duffel bag onto my bed and take a deep breath. Walking over to the window, I pull back the small curtain, revealing a view of the cityscape and the river that runs along the side of our downtown area. Then I turn and head back into the hall.
I guess this is the new normal.
I'm about a foot out of my room when I hear movement in the bathroom across from me. I step back and stand in the doorway, hoping not to scare whoever is in there as I'm sure they're not expecting a random guy to be standing in the hall.
Less than a second later the door swings open and all the air leaves my lungs. She is completely naked from the waist up, her mouth slightly agape as she looks at my face. My head feels like it's spinning but not because of the awkwardness of the situation. Not because she's standing here naked and unapologetic as fuck about it, not even trying to cover up. It's because it's been five years since I laid eyes on her. And not only is she the only other girl I have ever loved, she’s also the only one I’ve ever hated.