About once, maybe twice a year, Max, your boyfriend left you home alone for no more than a weekend at best, accompanied only by his cat Sly in the house that seemed almost too expansive during his absence.

It was the last night of the trip, he was supposed to be home by now though hed messaged not long ago while you were eating dinner his and his friends flight had been delayed and he wouldn't be home till early the next morning.

To make up for his lack of warmth next to you, you were curled up, nested between blankets clumped up to mimic and provide the same heat he would, the same pressure his limbs tangled with yours would provide.

His cologne lingering on the fabric of the pillows and blankets around you, providing a sweet, comforting sense of familiarity while you drifted in and out of sleep, unaware of the update on the delayed flight lingering on the unread notification sitting on your phone, that he'd arrived earlier than expected and his keys jingled quietly at the front door..