Whisper

Chapter II

Dani heard a knock on the door and sprang up from the couch. She unlocked the door and peered out of the crack. Rebecca stood in the hallway, her red hair curled around her shoulders, her green eyes rimmed in black eyeliner. Someone must have let her in, Dani thought. She opened the door and stepped to the side.

"Please, come in," Dani said. Rebecca nodded her head and took a tentative step into the apartment. Dani closed the door behind her and locked it. She showed the redhead to the couch and sat down beside her. "I've got pizza on the way. I hope you like pepperoni."

"I don't mind it," Rebecca said, crossing her legs. She was wearing another corset, but with leggings. She wore the same boots she had worn the night before. Compared to Dani's flannel pajama pants, she was decked out. Dani felt a bit self-conscious about her attire, but she always felt underdressed around Rebecca.

After a few minutes of silence, a knock sounded at the door. Dani went to the door with some money in her hands. She opened the door and took the pizza, then handed the money to the delivery person. She kicked the door closed and put the pizza on the counter.

"Do you want a piece?" Dani offered. Rebecca shook her head. Dani shrugged and grabbed a plate and a slice of pizza then walked over to the couch and sat down. Rebecca sat back and watched as Dani paused the video she was watching on her television. She dug in her bag and pulled out the tape recorder and a notepad. She grabbed a pen from the mess on the table. She grabbed a new tape from the stack on the table, inserted it, and pressed the record button.

"We left off on you telling me about your mother planning a party for after your ceremony," Dani said, adjusting herself on the couch.

"Correct," Rebecca agreed. "My mother was the type to throw lavish parties, and this occasion was no different. It took her months to plan and send out the invitations. Laurent sent many letters, as many as he could, filled with mundane things. It was all so normal. I kept him apprised of the happenings in my life. He was so invested in my life. He even wrote poetry!

"Can you remember any poems?" Dani said turning in her seat to face Rebecca. She watched as the woman before her stared off into space, her brow furrowed.

You are my only wish,

My dreams and my hopes.

You are the weaknesses that I must bind within myself,

And you are the strengths that I must pull forth and hold fast to.

"Rebecca, that's beautiful. You didn't tell me you were a poet," Dani said, leaning forward to rest her face in her hands, her elbows nestled in the crooks of her knees. Rebecca let out a small laugh and turned to face her partner.

"I didn't write it, Laurent did," she whispered with a straight face. Dani gave a smile.

"Of course, right," she said. She pulled her notepad into her lap and picked up her pen. She began writing down notes. Rebecca looked down and saw that she was describing her face. They sat in silence for a moment as Dani wrote a few more notes. When she was done, Rebecca cleared her throat.