A Day Late

The lock of the door clicks shut behind him a little louder than he wanted. With his hand still on the cold door handle, he looks right, then left down the vast hallway. He moves swift and quietly, save for the faint noise of the keys in his pocket that jingle with every other step. Behind several of the doors, there emanates voices, laughter, music. Behind others only silence. These noises are of little interest to him. He has something he needs to do, somewhere he needs to be.

At the end of the hallway, he pushes through the door and the cool nighttime air rushes to meet him. He shivers, zips up his jacket to his neck and stuffs his hands in his pockets. He shuffles down the stairs, anticipation growing inside him with every step. He checks his watch. They should be ready. It should be here.

It has to be here. There was no way it couldn't, it was already a day late. Any later and it would become pointless, an opportunity missed. He fishes inside his pocket, pulling out a ring with only two keys attached. He selects the smaller of the two keys, and places it into the slot. The lock gives way easily and the small door swings open.

It was late, but it was here. He reaches into the small opening, pulling out an envelope. "What took you so long?" he thinks to himself, turning the envelope over in his hand. Instantly, he realizes why. He should have known. A large, red X was scrawled over a portion of the envelope. He shakes his head and stifles a breathy laugh. He shuts the small door, locking it again, and begins the trek back. "She'll figure it out one of these days," he mutters, his finger tracing the red X. A smile creeps over his face. He will have to tell her his zip code again.