If the world was ending, you'd come over, right?

I felt the earthquake in my legs as I was sitting at home. Why are my thighs jiggling and my ankles quivering... and the desk is also swaying. It must be an earthquake? I look around me at furniture that's sliding and buckling. It's not that bad. A crack forms in the middle of the ceiling. My books topple off the shelves. My laptop slides right off my desk.

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I wonder if you felt that. You're always my first thought. I know we're not together anymore but I worry anyway. I put on my sneakers. I'll just pop over to check on you. Blood soaks my socks, and white bone peeks out of my gored shin.

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I walk out and start up the car. My favourite memories of us are when I drove you around town. You called it an adventure every time we went to a new restaurant, always so excited to go somewhere with me. Well, as long as an adventure begins with me holding your hand... I haven't felt that joy in the months we've been apart. I don't think you could hold my crushed bones and burst fingers now though. My wrist is twisted in an impossible direction, almost 180 degrees around.

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I'm driving over now. I hope you're okay. It's only 20 minutes and you always made such a big deal about it, but I don't mind. I would do it 10 times a day if you wanted. You taught me what it's like to have someone fall in love with me. You're a whole other person with your own life and history and personality, who loved me deeply and wanted the best for me. Like, who even does that openly? But you did. I was always floating on cloud nine when you were by my side. I buckle while I'm driving, as my lungs compress and my gasps for air become weaker, stunted. My vision blurs and a warm liquid pours from my skull, covering up my eyes. I close them.

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I swoop in to the parking spot right outside your door. I wonder if you're looking out your window like you used to when I drove over for date nights. You'd have everything ready, waiting for me to come in and be comfy. How did I find and let go of an amazing person like you? I turn the door knob and walk in, I know you never lock your front door - how many times have I told you to do that now?

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You look over at me walking in and the surprise on your face turns into a smile. That smile could give me strength on my hardest days. You come over into my arms and give me a hug. I hold you tight, as my mangled body flattens under a tonne of bricks and plaster. As I bleed out at home under a crumbled building, I'm at peace knowing we didn't have to say goodbye as the world ended.