Uki - Daredevil

three weeks

THREE WEEKS. IT HAD BEEN three weeks since Matthew heard from Frankie. It had been since he checked in on her that night. He felt odd without her presence, he became accustomed to that one night; how she managed to creep up behind him, sliding her gentle hand on his shoulder to alert him of her presence. It felt like she knew how to act towards Matt, it felt natural. Best of all, Matt enjoyed the feeling Frankie gave him that night. He almost felt like he was a deer in headlights, surprised at her presence, and ready for any collision of emotion she was about to bring him.

He didn't bother to knock on her door, he knew if she had been hurting, she would go to him whenever felt natural. But for now, Matthew headed to his church to the confessional.

He had a force of habit to search for Frankie's unique heartbeat and sweetgrass scent wherever he went. He'd come to remember exactly how she moved, and how the air moved around her and melted into the shape of her body. She moved quick, though especially gentle and soundless. Which was hard for Matt to decipher, but he clung onto his memory of her from that one night.

Granted, he knew not to look for her in a church. What would a little Indigenous lady do inside of a church?

Probably burn it to the ground.

Nevertheless, he sat down in the tiny box. The priest asked him why he was there today.

"Father, I need guidance."

"Matthew," Father said, recognizing Mathew's voice, "what kind of guidance?"

Father knew Matt's identity, and was weary of what he would ask for today.

"Love, nothing like that, Father. I worry about this woman I only met a few weeks ago." He said, unmoving and silent for a moment. "She is... different. But I haven't spoke to her since I met her. Yet she lives right beside me."

"Do you trust she will come to you when time persists?"

"I'm impatient, father."

"You must not question how God works. He doesn't worry about timing, He knows best."

Matthew leaned his head back, "Man to man, Father, what do I do?"

"Give her time. You don't know what she's up to- maybe something important. But, I am glad to see you so interested in this woman." You could practically hear the smile in Father's voice, and he was right. Matthew needed to be patient. He didn't want to admit that he was romantically interested in this woman he's only known for a few hours of a night.

But he grew more and more impatient. He was worried, he hadn't even heard her footsteps, or even smelled her scent flow through the hallways of their complex.

"Thank you, Father." He stood up, gaining composure with the help of his walking stick. He knew he wasn't going to take Father's advice, and frankly, Father knew too.

Frankie told herself she was okay. Yet she hadn't shown up to her new job or even answered her cellphone. The only thing that pulled her away from her depression was a knock on her door. It took her a minute to debate getting up, but by the strength of knowing it could potentially be one of her new friends, she got up.

She didn't smell good and she hadn't showered in god knows how long, but she had masked the smell of it already with white sage and sweetgrass that morning.

Once she opened the door, she noticed a worried Matt.

"Frankie I've been worried sick. Where have you been?" Matthew said, unbothered by her fast heartbeat and stinky clothing.

He walked in uninvited, and brought her to her couch. "I'm sorry, sometimes I just get in a little slump."

Frankie pursed her lips. Feeling sorry for pulling away so harshly after a welcoming night Matt and his friends gave her. Though Matt had suspicions - as he hadn't heard her roaming in or out of her apartment in the last few weeks.