(Nathaniel's Point of View)
I woke up when I felt the weight on Esther's side lighten. I opened my eyes to see her gone. I sit up and look around, I see her looking through drawers throughout the room. "Esther? What are you looking for?" She jumped up, obviously didn't know I was awake and alert.
"Oh, sorry Nate. I was looking for some Tylenol." I got up and went to her. "What's hurting?" She replied softly, "I just have a headache, and a little pain in my back." I went to the bathroom, took the Tylenol bottle out of the cupboard, took out two pills, then placed the pill bottle back in its place. I got a glass of water and went back to Esther and gave her the pills and the water. "Why don't you go lay down on the bed on your stomach and I'll get a heat pad for your back." She smiled and hugged me. "Thank you Nate, you're amazing." She jumped and gave me a peck on the cheek, but that peck meant the world to me. She climbed back in bed and I got the heat pad, lifted up her shirt, then placed the heat pad on her lower back. I heard her let out a sigh of relief and I let one out as well. I moved some hair out of her face and asked her, "How are you feeling?" She said softly, "I'm feeling a little better, thank you." I kissed her cheek and she smiled. "Would you be mad if I took a nap?" I looked at her as if she had two heads. "Of course not sweetie. Take a nap hun, I'll be right here." I kissed her forehead and when I moved away, her eyes were already closed.
Esther was asleep for most of the day. I could tell she didn't feel that well. In the late afternoon, she was still sleeping, but she hadn't eaten all day, so I had to wake her up so she could eat. I picked up my phone and called the kitchen to bring up two plates for dinner. A few minutes later there was a soft knock and I put everything on the table. I went over to Esther's side of the bed, took the heat pad off of her, set it aside, then I gently shook her. She groaned, then opened her eyes. "Esther, you gotta get up, it's time to eat."
She turned around and sat up. She rubbed her eyes and asked, "What time is it? What are we having for breakfast?" I kissed her forehead and said, "Honey, it's actually dinner, I let you sleep in a long time since I knew you weren't feeling too well. Oh and you gotta get up to know what we're having." She got up and pulled her shirt down, then she sat down in the chair and I scooted her to the desk. She smiled and dug into the meal as soon as I began to eat.
When I finished, she stopped eating. "Esther? You didn't eat that much, are you finished?" She smiled softly and said, "Well, since you're done, I should be done." I furrowed my brows, "Baby Girl, if you're still hungry when I'm done eating, you can continue to eat until you're full." She got up and came to my side, then gave me a hug. I pulled her into my lap and continued to hug her.
"Thank you for being so nice about everything, Nate." I said softly, "Esther, I care about you, unlike your father who actually hit you, he didn't give you any free time, he barely kept you fed, he worked you like a dog. I want to give you the world." She smiled then looked up at me, I thought it was the perfect time to kiss her for the first time. I mean she's in my lap, comfortable, my arms around her, securing her. I thought it was the perfect time, until her face dropped. I looked at her confused; she whispered something under her breath, then began to squirm, trying to get off of me. I tightened my grip on her just enough to try to calm her down. "Esther, what's wrong?" She said softly, "I don't want to hurt you, I need to get down." She began to squirm again, so I did the only logical thing I could think of.
I stood up with Esther in my arms and placed her on the bed. I got on top of her and pinned her softly, so I wouldn't hurt her. "Ophelia Esther, you are beautiful and you could not hurt me. You are 120 lbs. at most, I'm 180 lbs., I have plenty of muscle, and lifting you is too easy for me. Do you understand me?" She nodded and I smiled. "Nate, I'm sorry, I just get self-conscious sometimes, it's how I was raised." I smiled softly and told her, "That's why I'm here to remind you how beautiful you are everyday for as long as you'll let me be in your life." She smiled and I leaned down and kissed her forehead.
I got off of her and laid down next to her. "Is it bad that I'm super tired again?" I shook my head no and smiled at her.
Author's Note: Picture is Nathaniel.
