Groom Wars

9. Are You Proposing To Me, Forrester?

It had been two weeks since Leandro and I had met. I had gotten over his beauty. I could almost think of him as a human being. He had his imperfections. His nights were restless, often spent awake, tortured by dreams and memories of the past that he didn't share with me. Things I honestly had no interest in knowing as it would bound me too tightly to him when I wanted to remain somewhat distant.

I played a computer game while I waited for his usual call; my index finger rapidly tapped the mouse as I tried to kill a lizardman. Slits appeared on the hybrid's skin. Blood oozed from the wounds. With a mournful cry, it exploded and left a pile of bones and a few gold coins that I collected. The phone rang.

I swiped the flickering grey box right. There was a click, a shift, a breath, then Leandro's sly voice said, "Ghost."

"Mr. Giant."

"That name...."

"I think it suits you, so it'll stay."

He sighed through his nose. I imagined him smiling and shaking his head. He said, "What are you up to?"

"Slaying monsters. You?"

"What kind of monsters?"

"The slimy green kind."

He chuckled. "Video games and music are your two greatest passions, aren't they?"

"I wouldn't call them passions, but I don't hate them; some might even say I enjoy them."

"Instead of talking vaguely, tell me plainly if you like something or not."

"But what would be the fun in that? I must at least try to get under your skin, or my words would be easily forgotten. So, to what do I owe this call from Mr. Giant?"

"Sleep evades me."

"Say it isn't so. Sleep blesses others but torments you? How many times this week have we spoken through the night?" I yawned.

After a brief pause, he said, "You sound tired. Hope, dear ghost, that sleep will find me tomorrow, or I'll have to torment you further. But I'll make it easy on you tonight. Tell me a story, and if it's good, I'll hang up early."

"And if it's bad?"

He laughed softly, sending an unusual tremor through me, then said, "We'll have to talk till sunrise."

"Then let me get into gear to tell you a good story." I shut down the computer, then went over to the bed and lay with one hand pinning a pillow to my chest for comfort. I narrated, "It was a dark and stormy night."

"What an original beginning."

"Indeed, now shut up."

He laughed. "Alright, I'll be quiet since you have requested it, dear Ghost."

"It was a dark and stormy night. Little Leandro was quite sad. His dragon friend, Miso, had been missing for five days. With his heart in his throat, Little Leandro decided to go and look for his best friend." On the other end of the line, I heard only the sound of Leandro breathing; I could, strangely enough, imagine the breaths he inhaled collecting within my chest. Warmth radiated from the area, calming me. Though I couldn't see him, I felt his presence in the very room. Watching me. Smiling.

I continued, "Leandro packed all he needed for his quest, and with a kiss from his mother, departed for his voyage....."

We talked for a few hours. His soft voice had a way of caressing my inner ear, calling my attention to him.

The conversation, as usual, went on till one of us fell asleep.

***

Sunlight streaming through the drapes played across my eyelids. I jerked awake, confused as to where I was. My racing heart calmed once I surveyed the room. I recognized my computer, chair, and the wood-panelled walls that gave the space a rustic vibe. I remembered I had spent the night talking to Leandro. I wasn't sure who had dozed off first, but I didn't remember falling asleep either.