Suicide Watch

Chapter 31

Temi POV

I wake up before Isa. She is snoring softly beneath me, with her mouth ajar, and I smile as I watch her.

Our batch of cupcakes from last night came out slightly burned, but we managed to save most of them. Isa and I had watched a movie last night while we ate them, before ultimately falling asleep, entangled within each other on the couch.

The Netflix show we were watching last night is still playing on the TV, and I reach over for the remote, switching it off.

Isa's arms are wrapped around my waist and my mind subconsciously goes back to the moment we had in the kitchen yesterday. I feel moisture form between my thighs just thinking of it.

"Isa," I whisper, trying to rid my brain of the thoughts I am having, "are you awake?"

It's a stupid question and I know she's not awake but Isa stirs slightly. Her eyelids flutter open slowly, revealing her soft brown eyes.

"Hey," she says, her morning voice is low and has a rough edge to it, "good morning."

I smile despite myself, and reach my fingers down, carefully tracing over Isa's thigh tattoo.

"Are you tired?" I ask.

"No," Isa replies. But it's obvious that is not the case from the way she struggles to keep her eyes open.

"I want to go for a walk, but you don't need to come with me," I say. "You should go back to sleep."

"Are you sure?" Isa asks, "I don't want you running off again."

I roll my eyes playfully, remembering the time Isa is referencing. It's crazy because it feels like it occurred forever ago, in a completely different lifetime. It's almost absurd to me that I once despised Isa and actively worked towards trying to get rid of her.

"I won't run off again, I promise." I say, and I mean it. There's nowhere I'll rather be at. There's a particular comfort Isa brings me that I'm not ready to lose.

Isa looks at me for a few moments, then nods her head softly.

"Be safe. Please don't go too far and dress warm."

"Yes mom, whatever you say, mom," I reply playfully as I detach myself from Isa and get to my feet.

Isa's arms linger around my waist for a few moments longer, as if she doesn't want to let go of me. Her eyes open fully as she takes me in for a moment, and I let her. I understand the feeling.

"Hurry back," Isa finally says before detaching completely for me.

I nod my head and make my way into the closet to grab my coat and beanie. It's late November, so I know it's most likely freezing outside.

Isa watches me get dressed from her position on the couch. Her eyelids shutting, and reopening again every so often.

"Okay, I'm heading out now," I announce. Isa is half-asleep already and mumbles something I cannot decipher, which causes me to smile.

Just as I guessed, it is cold outside. It snowed quite a bit last night and everywhere is completely covered in snow. It's peaceful.

I walk in the snow, a small smile forming on my face as I think about how I had once hated the snow growing up. I hated the cold and everywhere being wet and gross all the time. Even though the cold isn't the best thing, I no longer completely resent it.

I find it comforting. I find the idea of everything being covered up by a layer of snow oddly reassuring. It buries things; and signifies new beginnings. It's refreshing in its own way.