Breakfast Alone
"connected"
photograph by Stephen Briseño
Breakfast Alone
by Eric S. Fomley
The sun shimmered in through the curtains of my bedroom, warm rays that pulled me from my slumber. I opened my eyes and heard my phone vibrate.
“Good morning beautiful!” It read.
My heart fluttered and I couldn’t help but smile. He always sent me a message first thing in the morning.
“Good morning babe!” I replied. “How’s work?”
I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen. His next message came just as I started warming up breakfast.
“Work’s okay. I probably won’t be home until after you’re asleep again.”
Work had been keeping him from me for a while. I missed him so much.
The microwave had almost finished when the power suddenly flicked off. I cursed. I hated everything about that old house.
I went down to the breaker box in the basement and flicked the misplaced switch back on. I gave myself a moment to lean against the wall. My chest was tight and I felt the tears welling up.
Back in the corner of the basement on his old desk, I saw the lights on the black box flashing from the outage. I forced myself to go over and reset the AI program.
After I reset, my phone vibrated. Tears streaked down my face.
“Good morning beautiful!”
I tried to smile. He always sent me a message first thing in the morning.
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*Previously Published in Empyreome Magazine, March 2017
Eric S. Fomley is an American writer from Indiana. He is a member of the Codex Writers’ Group. His fiction publications include Galaxy’s Edge, Daily Science Fiction, and Flame Tree Press. You can read more about him and his work by following him on Twitter @PrinceGrimdark or going to his website ericfomley.com.
Stephen Briseño is a poet and middle school English teacher. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in Mentor Mixtapes, 8Poems, formercactus, Riddled with Arrows, and Right Hand Pointing. He lives in San Antonio, TX with his wife and daughter, where you can usually find them lounging at a coffee shop. Follow him on Twitter: @stephen_briseno
