Love Next Door

“Where are you going?” I heard the man say loudly with distain.

“I’m out of baby formula so I’m headed out to the store,” I can hear his Wife say still sounding pleasant and caring.

“Well get another case of beer while you’re out,” spit the man as if talking to nothing more than a waitress who forgot his order.

How could any woman put up with a man like that? He was mean and horrible to her all the time. At least he wasn’t abusive. Since I could hear all this through the crappy thin walls of my new apartment I’m sure I’d have heard if he was over the last few weeks since I moved in here.

I hurried and put on my shoes and checked my refrigerator. I didn’t really need anything, but could use some more soda. I just got to the door as she started walking down the hall. “Hey neighbor,” she greeted me as she always did with a warm and beautiful smile.

“Hi,” was all I could say, dumbstruck as always by this beautiful brunette bombshell that was maybe only five years older than me.

“College keeping you busy James?” Julie asked. The First Time we met she laughed after our introductions saying us Jays got to stick together. I only wish she meant physically as well.

She always wanted to know how I was doing and what I was up too. Julie was only just a mother for a few months, but already acting like my own, but somehow I never seemed to mind. “Yea, just going out to pick up some soda to help me stay awake and study,” I lied. How could I tell her that I often listen to her sing her baby to sleep and all the other everyday things through our thin shared apartment wall.

I don’t know when I fell in love with her, but she was obviously married with a baby, so I’d never have a chance with her. “Well I’m just headed to the corner store myself for some baby formula. Would you like to accompany me?” she asked me and I felt like I was going to the prom.

I never went to my own in high school since I was kind of a nerd and never even had a real date before, but I imagine it must have felt this way. My stomach churned with butterflies as I answered, “Sure, I guess,” while inside I was cheering and shouting “YES!”

The store was only about two blocks away, but we enjoyed our walk and talked about our lives. Julie recounted the cute things her baby did, and I told her about some of the interesting things I’d learned in classes since last we spoke. We bought our items at the store and returned home all too soon. I loved every minute of being close and talking with her.

I never figured out why girls liked the jocks and bullies, but they always seemed to. And Julie was always kind to me, but I’m sure it was just her being friendly as she was married to the drunkard who lived next door. We got home and I wanted to kiss her goodbye from our date, but of course that was just my fantasy. “Good night,” I said and opened my door.

“Good night, and don’t stay up too late studying,” Julie cautioned before we each disappeared into our own apartments.

That night I fantasized much the same as I had the last few weeks, that I had her in my bed and that her baby was actually mine. Then Julie’s drunk husband would come in and with one punch he vanished and she suddenly loved me instead and became my wife. It was stupid and corny, but I just couldn’t stop myself from dreaming about her again and again.

The next day after I came back from classes I could hear them fighting.