The glove compartment is inaccurately named…

It was snowing heavily as I drove my Range Rover. Trying to get home seemed impossible, I could barely see out of my windshield. I didn’t notice I was over the speed limit until I saw the red and blue lights in my rear view mirror. I pulled over as the officer started getting out of his car. I rolled my window down and I immediately felt the snow flurries brush against my face. 

“Good evening,” the officer said, “I’m going to nee―wait. Are you Justin Bieber?”

“Yeah,” I smiled, “I am actually.”

“Wow, great to meet you,” he said excitedly, “My daughters love you, would you mind signing an autograph for me?”

“No, not at all,” I laughed, “Do you want a picture too? I mean, you don’t have to but I’m just throwing it out there, I’m totally up for it,” I smiled.

“That’d be great,” he said, smiling. He took his phone out and made a call, I could hear the screams from the phone even with the noise of the wind blaring in my ears. 

After signing his autograph and taking a picture for him, he gave me a serious look.

“All right,” he said, “I know you’re Justin Bieber and all, but I’m still going to have to see your license and registration. It’s nothing personal, I can assure you of that.”

“It’s ok, officer,” I said, “No special treatment. Let me just look for my car registration,” I said, smiling.

I took my wallet out and handed him my license and reached for the door of the glove compartment. It was jammed. Damn it. I tugged on it until it finally came loose and everything flew out onto my passenger seat. FUCK. I spotted my car registration in the mess and handed it to him. 

“There you go, officer,” I said. 

“Ok, everything looks good,” he said, “And since you were a pleasure to meet and it’s your first offense, I’m going to let you off with a warning. But be more careful, it’s hell out here right now, I wouldn’t want you or anyone else getting hurt or anything, all right?”

“Of course, officer, I don’t know what I was doing. I’ll be more careful and thank you very much. I hope your daughters enjoy those autographs,” I said.

“Oh trust me, they will,” he said, “Take care!”

I rolled my window back up and cleaned up the mess on my seat as the officer drove away. I spotted a strange envelope on the floor, it must have flown off when I opened the glove compartment. I picked it up off the floor and opened it. There was about twenty pictures and a note. I looked through the pictures and they were all pictures of Jasmine and me. Our day at the beach, eating ice cream, laughing together in the park, us sleeping, one of her by herself smiling. She had bought a disposable camera, I remember that day.

“Jasmine, I have a $2000 Nikon right here, why do you need a disposable camera,”I asked, laughing. 

“COME ON! IT’LL BE FUN,” she exclaimed, “This way these pictures are permanent. They will exist on film, on paper, and you’ll have evidence that on this very day, at this very moment, I loved you completely,” she smiled and kissed my nose. 

I still remembered that moment, but I also remembered the most horrible one I experienced with her: the day she left.

“No,” I pleaded, “You don’t have to go, we can make this work, you can find a nice life here, I promise. I will do anything, I’ll give you everything I have if it’s necessary but please stay with me.” My eyes were filling up with tears. 

“Justin,” she said, ”I have to leave. I want to make a life for myself and be independent. I can’t always depend on your for everything. I have to be alone.”

I swear I flinched when I heard those words come out of her mouth.

She started getting the driver’s seat of her car when I grabbed her. I turned her to face towards me and I kissed her. I kissed her almost angrily, I was so desperate, I needed her to stay. I felt the tears roll down my cheeks, warm, and I pulled away. 

“Don’t you love me,” I asked desperately, “Why would you ever leave our life, leave me, if you loved me? I love you, can’t you see that? I love you so much and I always have. I love you with everything I have.”

“Justin,” she cried, “You deserve the world. I can’t give you that. I’m sorry Justin. I can’t force myself to love you the way I once did. I have to go, I’m sorry.”

Her eyes were glossy with tears as she got in the car. Her tail lights got smaller and smaller as I stared out into the street watching her leave. 

Now here I am, sitting in my car and wiping tears away from looking at these pictures. These memories that I worked so hard to forget. I opened the note and it had a simple message:

“Dear Justin, 

Here is your proof. ;) I love you.

Love, Jasmine <3”

I blinked my tears away and shoved the envelope and its contents back into the glove compartment and drove the rest of the way home. 

I greeted my family and said goodbye to Selena as she was leaving from visiting my family. I told everything I was heading to bed. 

When I finally got into my room, I collapsed on my bed, not knowing what to do for the moment. I slid my phone out of my pocket and looked through my contacts.Jasmine. I decided to call her. Our love was gone as if it never existed, why did this happen to us? I had questions, I had spent too many nights wallowing in my own self-pity, just more disappointment and regret. She answered the phone.

“Hello?” She asked.

I sat there in silence, listening to her voice. I haven’t heard her in so long. 

“Who is this,” she asked into the phone, “Hello?”

I listened to her voice and I couldn’t say anything, I finally hung up the phone. It’s too late, Justin, just forget about this. I think I’ll call Selena.

“Hey babe,” Selena answered the phone, “Why are you calling so late? I thought you were going to bed. Is everything ok?”

“Yeah,” I said, “I just wanted to tell you that I love you, ok?”

“Really,” she said, “Is that all you called for?”

“Mhm, I just called to tell you I love you. And I want you to remember that.”

“Aww, baby,” she squeaked, “You’re so sweet! I love you too,” you could tell she was smiling, “But I have to go to bed because I have to get up early tomorrow to go to the studio, but I’ll see you tomorrow, ok?”

“Yeah,” I said, “Sure. Tomorrow. Well, good night.”

“Good night, Justin. Sweet dreams.”

I hung up the phone. Maybe if I keep telling myself that I love her, if I repeat over and over, I’ll start believing it. I’ll just convince myself that it’s Jasmine. Maybe one day I’ll finally believe it.

Here I rest, where disappointment and regret collide, lying awake at night…