Lilies And Smoke

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: The call

Anita stirs on the couch, a rough sensation smooths over her face. She rubs her cheek, ignoring it but it came back more vigorously. It moves from her jaw line up to her cheek bone, then from her neck to her ear. She stirs, uncomfortable as her face starts to become wet. She squeezes her eyes, disturbed but it came back across her lips. The smell was sickening, warmth slithers its way up her nose and tingles the tiny hairs on her upper lip. Her eyes shot open, sitting up as she wipes her face thoroughly. "Bill!" she whines, wiping his saliva off her face. She hears him pant beside her; she pulls a face as she smells his breath on her. She places her hand out on the couch and feels Bill's wet nose brush against it. "I love you, but not your breath" she tells him. He proceeds to lick her fingers; she smiles and moves her hand away. She listens and hears a vibrating sound and then a click coming from the kitchen. She turns, her legs now on the floor as she hears footsteps coming into the room.

"I thought you would wake up with him, I tried not to laugh watching him do it" Janice says, her voice low but fruity. "Good morning" Anita mumbles, rubbing her face. "I thought you'd appreciate a coffee, I've got to go soon but I'll drop you and Bill off" she informs, placing the mug on the table in front of Anita. Anita moves forward, the steam from the mug surrounds her hands as she carefully moves them towards the handle of the mug. She takes the drink eagerly, placing it just below her lips and blows on it gently. She takes a sip and sits back into the couch, "thank you, I really need this".

Janice didn't reply, instead she sat down on her arm chair and drinks her coffee. "Anita?".

"Yeah?" she replies tenderly, sipping her drink.

"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" she asks hesitantly.

"I want her back" Anita says, becoming very still. Janice's eyes widened a little, before she replies carefully; "I know, I know you do". Anita felt a warm tear trickle down her cheek, gliding its way towards her mouth as she licks her lips, "the strangest thing happened". Janice doesn't reply, instead she waits for Anita to continue. She was watching her, how her eyes suddenly reddened and how her bottom lip starts to tremble. Anita places her mug on the table and sits forward.

"He brought me Lilies, Alex. I'm guessing you told him they're my favourite" Anita confronts gently, tears pouring down her face. Janice gives her a weak smile, "I might of, I thought that it would be a nice gift". Anita nods, wiping her cheeks as she chokes, "they just remind me of her, how she stirred in my arms and then how still she became" she places her hands out, cupping them as she brings them to her chest. Janice starts to cry, her heart aching for her friend "I'm sorry Anita, I never meant to cause you any pain". Anita shakes her head, "that's the thing" she says trying to smile as she chokes out; "it made me so happy to remember her, I've been avoiding it for so long and... I just really want her back". She begins to sob, covering her mouth as she does so. Janice cries, "we'll get her back".

Anita doesn't believe this, as she sobs "She was so heavy, I was surprised how heavy she was at that stage. But she felt so tiny and her fingers were like small carrots and I traced them for so long, as long as I could. She was so soft".

Bill starts to whine and licks at Anita's knee, she smiles and strokes his fur. "She never even cried" Anita says, her voice breaking. Janice moved quickly, sitting beside her and cradles her to her chest. Janice smooths her hand over Anita's hair, untangling the curls as she soothes; "we will get her back and put her to rest, don't worry. I'm here for you". Janice squeezes her eyes as she tries not to let anymore tears fall, she felt Anita shakes in her arms as she sobs.

"It'll be ok" she cues, kissing the top of Anita's head. She begins to rock back and forth like a mother soothing her child, "we'll get Lilly back, I promise" she assures lovingly.