November 2008.
Magritte and Raf had been meeting up for their weekly jam sessions, after hours at Hi-Note for close to half a year, now--and that's been their entire relationship up to this point.
Their weekly sessions had been a highlight that they both looked forward to every time, and they both genuinely enjoyed each other's company, but Raf was very sure to himself that he wanted to maintain an arms length as an amiable acquaintance--just "that guy she plays music with once a week". He liked that relationship. it was very easy, it was very fun, it was very safe.
Inviting her to spend the night at his place, as perfectly and casually platonic as it was, felt like breaking the seal on that "arms length", safe relationship. The whole drive to his apartment, he thought he had made a huge mistake (while Magritte sat next to him, tired, but delighted and blissfully unaware).
That feeling of dread didn't really go away until he woke up at 6 am for work the next morning. The sweet, sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee--as per his usual morning routine--was somehow enough to lure Magritte out from the guest bedroom. And--for the first time in years, Raf had a nice little...morning chat over breakfast.
And, by the time he was ready to head out the door, car keys in hand, Magritte had already begun filling his little apartment with music.
The kindly company had put him in such a pleasant mood, he couldn't help but assure Magritte that she was welcome to stay until he returned from work if she so wished--and that she'd be welcome to fill his mornings with conversation and music any time she needed a place to rest her head.
For some reason, he figured that was a straight forward enough invitation for her to take up eagerly. But
upon returning home that evening, Margie's things were gone, and so was she. He received a text from her thanking him--but did not see her again until they met up again for the next week's jam session.