the calm before the storm     I turned over onto my stomach, my fingers manipulating the track pad while I waited for the time. My eyes were strained at the laptop, the dull light of the screen being the only source of light in the room. I forced a yawn and my eyes watered, my hands going to access a couple of photos in a folder. It didn’t take a while for my lips to tug up into a smile as I browsed through the many photos I had with my boyfriend. He was the light of my life, being the only person who could melt me in many different ways. We have been together for three years now, and everything was going well despite the long distance.   A bark sounded and I looked down to see Sporter, a small french bulldog who was looking up at me with big eyes. His droopy mouth was filled with slobber and I chuckled, bending down to wipe his mouth with a tissue.   “Oh, look at you. What did you do now?” I spoke to him, sighing. He was an overactive one, just like his dad. I followed his gaze and saw the dog stare at the muffin on my table before trailing his eyes back to me. I shook my head sternly and he let out a puff of defeat, jumping up and settling on the edge of the couch before plopping his whole body cushions.   “You miss daddy, don’t you?” I asked him.   I didn’t get a response, looking back at him just to see him sleeping soundly, the frenchie’s snores filling the room. I bent down to scratch behind his ear before whispering almost to myself.   “I miss him too, buddy.”     Kai had left Korea six months ago while I stayed behind. Being in trading and logistics, he ended up getting a job that required him to travel back and forth. At first it was small trips, three days here and three days there until he was presented with an opportunity to go to the states. His boss had given him a job that was double his pay and after three months there he would be able to come back with twice he was earning when he was here.   Naturally, I was sad that he had to be away, He mentioned that the increase in salary would be good for our future, that he wanted to be able to take care of me. Being a working woman myself, I didn’t think he needed to support me at all. Do what you have to do, I told him. I’ll be here waiting. Being his girlfriend, I ended up having to take care of Sporter. Kai said he’d come back soon, but his work was a hassle and he always found himself delaying coming back here. I have asked him a hundred times when he’d come but he never could give me a direc