The Petals of Amaryllis

Chapter 6

For some ungodly reason, I couldn't sleep. The house just felt cold and deserted, like no one had lived here for centuries.

I decided, since I couldn't sleep, to go bake some cookies to take my mind off of the ache in my gut.

Something was wrong. Out of place. Non-existent even.

I shook the chilling off as I stood up, toes touching the frigid floor.

A shiver went down my spine as I shook my body in an attempt to get rid of the cold.

I'm in fucking Florida, why was it so goddamn cold. I crept to the door not wanting to risk waking up George.

While going down the hallway and stopping every so often when the floorboards creaked, I decided to check up on him.

If he was sleeping after all of this it would be a miracle, and if he wasn't I'd invite him to bake cookies.

I checked the wristwatch that resided on my arm and saw 5 am in bright stinging red letters.

He may be up already, I didn't know his routine.

When my hand landed on the knob the door jiggled slightly and I silently cursed hoping he hadn't woken up.

I pushed it open and was greeted by a warm breeze, unlike the rest of the house.

I saw the curtains flutter as sunlight started to peek through the trees and above the horizon.

I turned my head and saw the curled-up figure of George laying on his side.

He looked up as I stepped in.

"Hey uh, sorry if I woke you." I mumbled rubbing my jeans

"It's fine. I was up anyways." He said voice muffled by the sheets

He sat up and I noticed how exhaustion weighed on his shoulders but he carried himself lighter as if something else had left.

I smiled at him feeling any trace of the cold from earlier leave my body.

"Well um, I came in to ask if you wanted to help me bake cookies. Cause I couldn't sleep with how cold my room is." I said hoping the little pleasures in life would cheer him up

"Yeah. I'd like that." He said a small smile breaking through the exhaustion

He stood up and followed me out to my kitchen.

Once I got out there I reached into the cabinets to pull the proper ingredients out.

"Chocolate chip good?" I asked turning to face him

He was spaced out staring at the clock.

"George?" I asked again

"What?" He finally said snapping out of his trance

"Uh yeah, chocolate chip is fine. Sorry." He said with a hollow smile

I nodded and went back to what I was doing.

"Are you okay? You seem off this morning." I said, glancing back from the cupboards

"I uh yeah...I'm fine." He said, attempting to smile

Not wanting to press, I let it go side eying him every so often

I pulled the rest of the ingredients from the cupboards.

With his help, it shouldn't be too hard to do, right?

Cookies couldn't be that hard to bake.

"Hey, you wanna help me here?" I asked