Somewhere Here on Earth

7

The next morning I was making Roze breakfast. Usually, I got Claude to make me breakfast, but I wanted to do it. And, she's made me breakfast many times. When I popped the plate of pancakes out of the microwave, I sat them on the table and put butter and syrup on them before going to our bedroom. I sat on the bed and was watching her sleep, hoping she wasn't having any bad dreams. Roze fell asleep in my hoodie last night and in her sleep she was twitching. I moved the blanket and slipped under it to lay next to her which caused her to reach for me. "Prince?" "I'm right here, baby." Her hand went to my heart and she slid closer to me putting her face in my neck.

"I made you breakfast. We were out of pancake mix, so I went out by myself and wanted to get some, but I found out they have microwaveable pancakes, so I got those." She laid on her back running her fingers through my Afro. "You didn't know they had microwaveable pancakes? You don't go to the store often I'm guessing." I shook my head. "Anyway, it's ready. I put them on for about two minutes." Roze kept stroking my hair which was soothing me from how nervous I was about her appointment. I was scared for her, and I didn't want anybody with a piece of paper as a certificate to make her feel uncomfortable.

"Prince..." She whispered. I watched her eyes. "What do you think of me?" She asked. I smiled. "You're beautiful and smart and funny. You're so affectionate and you have the biggest heart when it comes to every person you meet. Even me. You've watched me be baptized and become an elder in a church to leaving it all behind." She leaned up to hug me. "You've changed so much since I first met you. You're so kindhearted even if you're not sure how to be." Roze said to me. "Now you're my boyfriend and I just...I couldn't ask for a better friend, boyfriend, lover, supporter...everything." I laid my head on her shoulder letting my forehead brush her jaw. "I'm always here for you. I'm not leaving again, and if I have to I want you to come with me." Roze was quiet. I picked my head up and saw she was asleep. Her mouth was slightly open and I smiled gently stroking her jaw before carefully getting out of bed.

Prince and I were getting in his car and I wasn't quite awake yet. There was more snow on the ground which was causing me to shiver. "We might go shopping afterwards if that's okay. Papi gave me some money and I need winter clothes since I can't go back to my apartment." Prince smirked unlocking his car. He was hiding something from me. "What's going on?" I asked him as we got in. He immediately turned on the heater. "Oh, nothing." He pulled his seatbelt on. "Prince Rogers, you better tell me." I was irritated, but I was pretty sure it was because I wasn't awake yet.

"I'll tell you while we go shopping." He said to me. I rolled my eyes and yawned. "So, it's at the hospital?" He asked. "Um, sort of. Gynecologist actually." For some reason I thought he'd get quiet, but he just said "Oh, okay. Do you want me to come in with you?" He didn't sound irritated, but he sounded caring. "If you want to. It's to make sure everything's okay. I might have to switch birth control, too. Do you think you could help me with that?" I asked him. "I can try." He held my hand. "Well, I can't have an IUD anymore...I might have to get on the pill or maybe get the injectable kind since my IUD is getting removed today." "Okay. We can see what your options are." When he said "we" it made me feel happy. It made me feel like I wasn't doing this alone.

We arrived at the gynecologist and Prince was unbuckling his seatbelt. "Baby, you don't have to come in if you don't want to. It won't take long. It's just a quick exam and maybe a talk." I said to him. "Are you sure? I can be there with you. Just say the word." I didn't want to bother him, but I didn't want to be away from him either. "If I'm gone longer than thirty minutes, come in, okay?" I said to reassure him. He nodded. "Okay. I'll be here." Prince said to me. For the first time I got the confidence to kiss his lips softly. I gave him my phone. "Here, see if you can beat my level at Tetris while I'm in there." He laughed. "Okay." I kissed his cheek before getting out of his car and going inside.