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  It was an odd experience to wake up to a soft voice instead of a blaring alarm, and her gentle touch and smiling face were grand bonuses.  She was sitting on the edge of the couch.  When I opened my eyes, she said, "Good morning," as her fingers lightly stroked my face.  For a moment I was in paradise.  Then she said, "Your alarm woke me up," then paradise just sort of faded away.  I hate my alarm, and I loath the idea of anyone being needlessly subjected to it.

  "I'm sorry," I said half jokingly.

  "It's okay.  We had to get up anyway, remember?"

  "Oh yeah."  I smiled at her and said, "I'm supposed to go to work today.  I guess I should call in and tell them I'll be a little late."  She looked at me quizzically.  "By about the rest of my life," I finished, and we both laughed.  I took her hand in mine and kissed the back of her fingers.  I could smell the remnants of soap, then I noticed that her hair was damp, and she was dressed.  "You already took a shower?"

  "Yeah.  I let you sleep in a little," the magic words.  "Are you going to shower?"

  "Always."  Some people need coffee.  All I need is a shower.  I sat up.

  "Good.  I'll make breakfast."  She stood and walked to the kitchen.

  As I stood I wrapped the cover around my waist.  "Thanks, but I usually have cereal."

  "So I won't pour the milk in."

  "That'll work.  The cereal's in the-"

  "Don't tell me.  I want to find it."

  "Okay."  Whatever.  I walked to the bathroom, grabbing a pair of shorts along the way, and showered.

  When I came out and went to the kitchen, she was just finishing her bowl of cereal.  I got the milk from the refrigerator and poured some into my bowl, which was sitting ready for me on the table.  I put the milk away, got a spoon, sat down, and started eating.  She had just finished her milk as I started into my bowl, then she took her bowl and spoon to the sink to wash them.  She then said, "Where's your suitcases?  I'll start packing your clothes."

  I was about to protest, but we did need to not waste any time, so I told her, "They're in the closet."  She started for the bedroom, and I added, "Skip the bottom drawer of the dresser.  I never were those clothes."

  "Okay," then she disappeared.

  After I finished my breakfast, I made all the necessary phone calls.  I called work to tell them I won't be coming in anymore.  I called the few friends I had that lived in town and told them that I was moving, but that I'd be by later to explain.  I called the family I had in town and told them I was moving and made arrangements for them to sell whatever I didn't take with me.  I told them to try to get the best prices since I was probably going to have to live off that money for a while.

  I went throughout the house taking down pictures and posters that I couldn't bear to part with.  She helped me box up my favorite books, magazines, knick-knacks, cassettes and CD's, my radio, and a myriad of other items.  It sounds like a lot, but it's mostly small stuff, and I'm a whiz at packing things.  I packed only a few necessary dishes, and no furniture.  Upon completion, few hours later, I took a step back from the loaded jeep and admired the job immaculately done, even if I did say so myself.

  We stopped by the bank to close my savings account.  Stopped by my friends houses and went through the repeated process of telling them as much as I wanted them to know and saying goodbye.  One of them even bought my couch for two hundred and fifty dollars so I'd have some extra money.  Another friend was so enthused by my daring that he just gave me all the money he had on him.  It was only fifteen bucks, but I wasn't complaining.  I stopped by my relatives' house to say goodbye and to tell them about the couch and who gets it.  They weren't too keen on what I was doing, but they knew that protest was futile.

  We went back to the house so I could make sure I wasn't leaving anything important behind.  She walked with me throughout the house as I looked everything over.  The bedroom was the last room, and while we were there, the phone rang.  I answered the phone beside the bed.  Who could that be, I thought.

  "Hola," I said, smiling at her.  I listened as the person on the other end told me they were from the hospital.  They started telling me that the person I came to visit yesterday is now missing and asked if I knew anything about it.

  As they spoke, I covered the receiver with my hand and said, "It's the hospital.  They're asking me if I know you're missing."  We both laughed quietly.  I uncovered the receiver and said, "Eh, no hablo Englais."  As I lowered the receiver to the cradle, I heard, "Isn't this the residence of a mister-" then the receiver was rested.  We both laughed loudly.

  I finished looking around the room and saw nothing until we were on our way out when I took second notice of my black candle on the dresser.  Not knowing exactly why, I stopped and grabbed it.  I put my arm across her shoulders.  "I like it," she said.

  I handed it to her, and she took it.  "To keep the bad spirits away," I said.

  She kissed me and replied, "They're already gone."

  Back outside, I started the jeep and pulled out of the drive way, paused a moment then pulled back in.  "What direction am I supposed to be going in, anyway?"

  "For the moment?  Go north."

  "Works for me."  I pulled out again and headed north.  As I went down the street I passed an old friend, whom I'd seen around every once in a while, as he was walking.  I waved and he waved, but as I passed, he shouted, "Hey!" I stopped and backed up to him.  "Where are you off to?"

  I put the jeep in forward, looked over to my new companion, then back to my old friend and smiled.  "I have no idea."

  He gave a short laugh and said, "Okay.  Have fun."  I laughed back, said bye, and hit the gas.  As I drove away, I heard him shout, "Where're you going?"

  I kept going, but shouted back, "Nowhere, Nowhere, USA!"