Thorn

•R o s e s•

"Let me see your darkness, and Ill show you mine" – Komal Kapoor

***

A sweet unrecognizable smell filled the air surrounding you, flitted in your mind before you could even open your eyes. The soft linen underneath your hands felt plush and comfortable. The heat from the bright sun outside your window enveloped you and pulled you into its grasp, warming you, keeping you safe in your bubble of comfort. You stretched your arms and felt the knock of the bookshelf above your head, Eyes slowly drifting open. The room was bathed in the most beautiful yellow light, the rays of sun overtaking the small room, partials of dust slowly floating through the air taking your breath away. Snuggling deeper into the soft blankets that surrounded you, you felt a wash of comfort and safety overtaking you. You almost felt ethereal happiness as you looked around the room, your eyes landing on the single window sitting in the middle of the wall in the small room.

You slowly lifted your sleepy body away from the comfort of the mattress groaning. Pulling your legs against your chest as you moved the blanket around your shoulders to lean against the wall the bed was pushed up against. The bed was nestled between the two walls. One at the foot of the bed, a wall against the length, and a bookshelf. Sleep seemed to be overtaking your body again, resting your head on your knees as your eyes drifted around the room.

The room was small, the furniture and items in the room crowding every surface, trinkets of a life well-lived. The sun still danced from the window, the beams of light landing on items in the room, almost to showcase them to you. The bookshelf to your left housed endless books, some leather-bound and tattered, others brand new and waiting for the day someone would crack open the pages and delve into the worlds it held. The floor around the bookshelf was cluttered with more books. The sheer amount of literature in the room could fill a small library. It made you smile to see so many books in a small space. Across from you was a wall with a small door, no bigger than 4 feet, probably a small closet you figured. The vaulted ceiling tapered off and below it along the furthest wall was more shelving, some filled with books, others filled with sweaters, shoes, and more paper and clutter. Lastly, the room ended at the window sitting in the middle of the window. An old desk piled high with scattered papers, opened books for reference, and what looked like sketches. The room was filled, truly to the brim and it encompassed you with warmth.

"You've been asleep awhile dear," The words a whisper in your mind, dancing amongst your sleepy thoughts. It took you a few seconds until you realized that this was a real voice, tangible, in the room with you. You slowly lifted your head from your knees and looked towards the opened door on the wall opposing the window. Standing there was a tall figure, cloaked in the shadow of the door. You felt a shiver run down your spine, a twisting knot in your stomach as you watched the sun just miss the face you so desperately wanted to see. You felt yourself slowly leaning forward drifting off the bed. The floorboards on the ground creaked in response to you standing.

"I.. I guess I needed some rest,," your voice felt airy and filled with sleep. The blanket fell from your shoulders and down back onto the unmade bed, you could feel your head rush with warmth and comfort looking at the shadowed human. Your voice catching in your throat forcing any further attempts at communication pointless. Your body shuddered at the cool floorboards under your feet, and you slowly stepped closer. The person unmoving.

"You seem to always be a bit sleepy darling, do you not rest when you're home?" That was their voice again, followed by a soft laugh and a shake of their head. You mentally danced at the melodic sound. Their voice silvery warm sending fireworks across your skin. You stood only feet away from them, desperate to just glance at them, to witness the face that you so desperately needed to see.