love notes
As the city fell into late afternoon, Luke began preparing for another shift at The Crow’s Nest. By now, Essie had been gone for two days, and the house was quiet without her. He fell into his usual routine—the one she’d been trying to break him of over the past few months—between The Crow’s Nest and, well, nothing much else. It was always this way when she had to leave: whenever he was left to his own devices, he had a tendency to regress into his previous habits.
Turning off the shower, he stepped out and toweled off before padding into the bedroom. He opened a drawer at his dresser, in search for a shirt, when his fingers brushed against something unfamiliar—something that shouldn’t be there. Furrowing his brows, he grasped it and pulled it out.
It was a folded up piece of paper.
Luke quickly unfolded it, eyes scanning over the familiar script.
  Don’t forget your jacket tonight.
               xoxo Ess
He smiled faintly and folded up the note once again, placing it on top of the dresser.
Once he was dressed, he went into the kitchen to feed Ankou. The dog trotted happily behind him, tail wagging and tongue hanging out of his mouth. He paced as Luke opened the pantry, finally sitting when the latter reached for his food bowl. Luke filled it up and set it on the tile, closing the pantry door behind him. He paused, opening the pantry door once again.
There was a little sticky note pressed against the inside of the pantry door.
Luke snatched it down and read it, eyebrows raised.
  I know you’ve just fed Ankou—please eat something before you go to the bar tonight, darling. Please.
            xoxo Ess
Shaking his head, Luke closed the pantry door and put the sticky note on the counter. He sighed and opened the fridge, opting for the takeout he’d brought home the previous night. After reheating, he jumped up on the counter and ate quietly, listening as Ankou munched away happily.
After he’d eaten, Luke grabbed his messenger bag and keys by the door. He swung the door of the coat closet open and pulled down his jacket, tossing it over his arm. A flash of yellow caught his eye, and he did a double take.
He smiled and peeled the note off of the door.
   Mo rún, have a good night at the bar. Say hi to Quinn for me.
            xoxo Ess
He grinned, stuffing the note in his jacket pocket, and made his way out of the house.
oOoOo
Several hours later, Luke returned home after a long—and busy—shift at The Crow’s Nest. The sun hadn’t quite risen, but the sky was getting lighter and lighter by the second. The drive back home felt longer than usual as he tried not to think about the empty house awaiting him.
As soon as he parked the car, he pushed himself out of the driver’s seat and onto the driveway. His feet dragged as he walked up the front steps and into the house. As soon as the door was open, he shrugged off his messenger bag and jacket, tossing his keys on the table. Ankou greeted him happily, nudging his hand with his snout. Luke knelt down and scratched beneath the dog’s chin and behind his ears. Ankou licked him in reply, and Luke made a face.
Standing once again, he trudged to the bedroom, exhaustion clinging to his bones. Running a hand through his messy black curls, Luke sighed as he was greeted with the sight of an empty bed. He kicked off his shoes and shed his jeans in favor of sweats. Ankou trotted into the room and settled down on the floor at Essie’s bedside. Luke, though the thought of sleep enticed him, knew that he couldn’t—and wouldn’t—fall asleep. His thoughts would keep him awake, and without Essie there, there wasn’t any point in trying.
With a sigh of resignation, Luke sat down on his side of the bed, back leaned up against the headboard, and plucked a book from he bedside table. Opening it to where he’d last left off, he allowed himself to be lost in the story. If anything, he knew he would at least have some sort of peace until he was too exhausted to keep his eyes open.
After immersing himself within the story two chapters later, he turned the page and paused.
There, in the middle of the page, was a sticky note.
Gently pulling it off of the page, Luke read the note slowly.
  Mo rún, I think two chapters are enough for now, don’t you think? You promised me you’d get some sleep while I’m gone, and I’m holding you to it. You need sleep—even if you are immortal. Be home soon. I love you.
           xoxo Ess
Luke smiled tiredly, folding the book closed. He set it down on the nightstand and flipped off the light. As he lay down beneath the sheets, he turned to face her side of the bed. Be home soon, it said. He blinked, eyes becoming heavy, until they closed altogether. Silence enveloped him, note clutched in his hand, and he drifted off to sleep.
