MDCF

26

"Sia, you know that is not what I meant," said Alan, "it is a curse!"

"So?" asked Siana, "I am not going to just break it off because of that sole reason."

"What if it puts a lot of stress on our relationship in the future?"

"Nothing will compare to what happened last night...," said Siana, "And I can handle it."

She took a deep breath and looked at Alan. She studied him and blurted out, "Nothing is going to make me change my mind," she said, "Don't worry so much about it. But if you leave this room, I will leave this house, too."

Her voice rose with impatience, she turned around, laid down and pulled the blankets over her head. She could feel her heart beating loudly. She wondered if Alan would just get up and leave. What if he does? Am I going to leave too? I just blurted it out and now I don't know what to do, but I meant it. She closed her eyes tightly and reprimanded herself on losing her cool. Her hands on her blanket clenched when she heard Alan moving around.

She thought he had left, and her heart just dropped. But she suddenly felt him beside her, and his arms wrapped over her. He pulled her to him gently. "I am sorry," he said, "And thank you."

Siana breathed a sigh of relief. His low voice soothed her. She turned around to look at him. She snuggled into his arms. She felt Alan flinch. And she hugged him tighter, trying to calm him. Siana fell asleep into a dreamless sleep.

She woke in the morning to find Alan on the sofa reading the magazine. "Sleep well?" he asked.

"Like a baby," she mumbled drowsily.

It still felt strange waking up and Alan being the first thing she saw in the morning. She would have to get used to that. She remembered him tossing and turning a lot in the night. I didn't wake up after that... I wonder of Alan slept at all.

She glanced at him. Should she ask? She shook her head. Asking never harmed anyone. "Did you sleep well?" she asked, "Did you have more dreams?"

"No," said Alan hesitantly, "I slept through the whole night." His hesitancy made her question the authenticity of his answer.

She was just going to ask him more when he added, "It's because of you that I was able to sleep. Thank you, Sia."

"I see," she said, "That's a relief. I am glad." She thought he was just saying that so she wouldn't worry. He could be lying. Did he sleep at all?

"You couldn't sleep very well because of me," said Alan, "I am sorry."

"Nonsense!" said Siana, "I didn't even wake up once after that. I am very well rested." She brushed his concerns away but what happened last night still lingered in her mind. 'I might hurt you," he had said, with such agony. She could see he was very worried as well but trying hard not to show it. I am just glad he didn't suffer from nightmares after that.

Maybe it won't happen again, thought Siana. Even if it did, she could shake him awake or call out his name. There weren't any weapons in the room, anyway. She looked at Alan then turned to look at the mirror at the far end. She was half draped in her blanket. Her light-brown hair was all tangled like a bird's nest on her head. Her eyes were bloodshot, probably because she hadn't gotten much sleep. But Siana slumped. Is this how I actually look every time? Gross!

It made her embarrassed that Alan would see her this messy first thing in the morning. She pulled the blankets up to her face. She knew it wasn't a big thing to worry about, but she still felt insecure. She just lay there covered wholly with the blanket, not wanting to come out.