To Infinity and Beyond

A girl's closet

Mark's POV

"Alice, wake up. We are home." I traced away the brown locks that half-covered her beautiful face using the tip of my fingers.

"Mark?"

"I am here. We are outside your apartment." She jumped up and scanned her surroundings. She was still tipsy from her drinking stunt at tonight's party, but she had calmed down after I took the liberty of declaring our relationship in front of all our friends. She had been awfully silent since then and dozed off while I drove her home. Was she mad at me? What was I even thinking? That's not how proposals are supposed to be done.

I stepped out of the car to open the door at her side and helped her out. She took my hand and immediately lost balance when she attempted to shift her weight.

"Let me help you up." She nervously nodded and wrapped her soft arms around my torso. I assisted her sloppy steps in reaching her apartment. She smelled like roses with a mix of wine. Even in a messed up state like this, her fragile frame fitted perfectly in my arms.

I carefully dropped her on her bed when I heard her stutter. "Mark, umm... I feel sick," with that she rushed to the small door which I think led
to the washroom. She spilt her guts out and threw up while I held her hair and gently rubbed her back. She might have felt the raw tension too, every time I unintentionally touched her bare back, it caused her to quiver. "Mark.. can you help me with some clean clothes? The brown closet next to the window outside." She whispered in between the splashes of water that she was now throwing at her face.

Opening a girl's closet made me uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I went through the rack of clothes, and a small smile crept up my lips at the sight of my blue jacket hanging in between her dresses. I sniffed my jacket, which now smelled just like her. Flashes of our first date started to cloud my mind. My heart melted while reminiscing it.

Getting out of my short trance, I quickly picked what looked like a cotton nightdress with small baby print of moons and stars on it.

While Alice took her time freshening up, I decided to wait outside. That's when I noticed her room. The walls were a light shade of purple, with a queen-size bed in the centre and a full-length standing mirror with a small dresser at the right corner. The room matched Alice in a lot of ways, simple yet effortlessly elegant.

Alice's meek sniffs got me out of my thoughts. I immediately rushed to the washroom door and knocked softly.

"Alice, are you okay?"

The sound of her deep sigh, followed by a mere "yes" reached my ears. A slight ruffle suggested that she was either standing or maybe sitting against the door on the other side.

"Are you crying?"

"No." Her response came instantly, but her trembling voice gave away her lie.

"What happened Alice? Did I.. did I hurt you? Are you upset with me?" I slowly slumped on the floor outside her door too, eagerly waiting for her to respond.

"No. It's not you. I am sorry for my behaviour tonight. And all that I said to you." She seemed to have sobered up, guilt evident in her tone.

"Hey.. you don't have to apologise. I am sorry I left you unattended, and then took the liberty to..umm.. you know... kiss you in front of everyone. Please open the door. Allow me to explain."

"No."

"But why?" My hand touched the door, hoping she would oblige soon.

"I am too embarrassed to face you."

"Alice, you don't have to feel embarrassed in front of me. You don't know how incredibly perfect you are to me." I raked my hand through my hair and let out a deep sigh, "do you have any idea how I feel about you? I may not have confessed the right way before, but...."