Curled Up Beneath The Comforter

Almost didn't make my self-imposed cut off! That was close! This one's a bit weird. Stick with it, okay?

It was the way she held herself around him that first caught his attention. The length of her body and the shimmering movement of her hips. He used to think that he would be safe at night; that locking the door kept her out. Then he would wake up and find her soft breathing against his face and her great green eyes peering into his soul.

He was confused. What was he supposed to say to this revelation?

More often than not, she did not speak, but her muteness made him want to understand her all the better. Sometimes when he babysat his nieces, they watched The Little Mermaid, and he wondered if maybe that was the reason. Maybe she was undeniably in love with him.

But he would change his mind the very next day, when she would stretch herself out on the yellow-green grass of his lawn. Her eyes would catch those of the neighbor's, and he would wonder if all he was seeing was a fuzzy misunderstanding.

There were days, when he returned from work, when he would find her combing her hair on his bed. And he could swear she was laughing at him inside. That she only did this to see his reaction.

And react he would. She would find herself suddenly on the other side of his bedroom door. And some days, when he knew that she could tell she had upset him, she would stay there. She would sleep on the hard floor and wait until morning.

He always forgave her then, and he always carried her to his bed where he brushed her hair until it was gleaming. Then he would kiss her forehead and head off for work.

He wasn't sure how she did it, but she managed to take care of herself when he was away. When he was gone a short while, she always ignored him upon his return. When it was a middle amount of time, she held her head high and gave him a single long-suffering look before prancing off to her own bed.

It was when he left for a whole week that he knew she actually did love him. He would leave her meals for her to eat while he was gone, explaining to her that he had to go and that this meal was especially delicious on Thursday afternoons. She would glare at him and curl up in her bed when he left. He would sigh and let her be, knowing she would be here upon his return.

When he returned, she would come running and he would pick her up and twirl her around. She would rub her face against his cheek, nuzzling him and purring.

He was always most happy at these times. The two of them would snuggle together, warmed by the blankets, and she would purr, and he would read, sweetly scratching her behind the ears.

Cheers!

Hammeh