The Lullaby Nights

♥ 12

NIGHT TWO

NINA

The dazzle of the morning winter sun woke me from my light drowse. I shifted my sight to Harley, who was still in my bed, hugging me.

'Why didn't you go home?' I whispered, noticing he wasn't asleep. His eyes were open but vacant, indicating a deep state of contemplation.

At the sound of my voice, he snuggled closer to my side and began stroking my hand. 'I'm not going home. I'll be staying here, with you,' he said, as if it was him who'd been confined to this bed.

My forehead creased. 'Really? But why?'

His head lifted off the pillow, and he looked at me, serious. 'Because there's no one else I'd rather spend my time with.'

'But you've got to eat and shower,' I protested. My voice sounded hoarse from sleep and dehydration. 'I don't want you to exhaust yourself by squeezing on this bed with me, either.'

Harley pointed at the window, or rather the wintry view outside it. 'See that?' He nodded at the wads of snow. 'Worst case scenario, I'll just rub it into my armpits.'

A quiet, labored chuckle escaped my mouth. 'What about food?' I cocked a brow. 'What are you going to eat? Spaghetti Snowballese?'

He shook his head, regaled. 'Call it a weight loss diet.'

'Like you need one. You're thinner than the snowman we built!' My quiet laugh lingered unpleasantly in the grim silence that had unexpectedly filled the room.

In the past, Harley would've returned my verbal attack, but today he passed on this opportunity, and I knew the reason behind it. He was afraid of hurting my feelings because I was just as bald and pale as the snowman standing in the corner of my room. The fraction of the good mood that had filled me evaporated quickly.

Harley remained silent. He only kissed my knuckles and hoisted himself off the bed. 'Asher should be here soon,' he said, checking his obsolete cell. 'He's bringing me a few things, you know, so I can stay,' he explained, noticing the way my curious eyes wandered around his face.

I didn't stare because I thought he might be hiding something from me. I'd never been the jealous type, and neither was my boyfriend. We had an immense trust for each other. It might've been the reason our relationship had always been healthy and unproblematic. We had the chemistry and sense of understanding others vehemently envied. We were meant for each other. The only thing that could ever do us apart was, well. . . death.

Harley put his shoes on. 'I'll bring you tea and breakfast.'

I didn't feel hungry at all. 'Gina will do it.'

'Gina was already here.' He pointed at the bedside table on which, I only realised now, were pills and water. 'I told her I'll come and get the food once you're up.'

I understood he must've been awake for much longer than I'd expected. It made me feel terrible. The lack of space on my bed didn't let him get the rest he deserved and needed.

'In the meantime,' Harley segued, 'you can read bits of my diary.' He leant down and placed his warm lips on mine. 'I love you, pumpkin,' he whispered, then disappeared from the room.

I sighed, feeling tired. With another day came another dose of painkillers. I reached for the pills and water that had been left on my bedside table. I swallowed the medicine. It'd become more and more difficult to make anything go down my throat. My body was slowly shutting down. This thought made me nauseous. I felt terribly nervous. One thing you couldn't learn during your lifetime was how to die. Was there any form of hereafter or was it just lights out forever?