Divine Affinity

15

When Eddie closed the door of the taxi, the rain was cascading from the angry tad dark sky. Drops were falling steady and strong and though he run to the door of his building, the water beads were so thick that he got his hair wet just from being exposed to the rain for scarce meters. One of their neighbors that they didn't know yet was also getting in and Eddie, in a hurry, held the door so he didn't have to open it himself. The man jumped slightly, startled by Eddie's sudden appearance.

"Good evening..." He greeted with a whisper, feeling a drop of water hanging on his chin. Eddie controlled himself not to shake from the cold he was feeling and battling his shyness, he managed to smile.

"Evening..." The man responded eyeing Eddie from head to toe.

Eddie didn't stay there being scrutinized by the pretentious prejudiced neighbor, because that's all he had in his eyes, prejudice. Eddie knew he wasn't just the regular guy next door. His way of dressing was not ordinary. He had long hair. Adding to that, Eddie knew he looked like a stray dog at the moment. He was damped. He was feeling frozen by all the water that gathered on his clothes while he looked for a taxi to come back home. So, he just gave the man his back without ceremony and started running up the stairs anxious to meet Eiry whom he had failed. He failed her, he knew it. His heart started thundering inside his chest as he got closer to their floor, the blood inside his veins was running wildly and his breathing quick and unsteady. Not because he was tired, but because he was just too anxious. When he stopped in front of their door, Eddie plunged his hands in the pockets of his jeans to find them empty.

"What..." He whispered, starting to search for the keys inside the pockets of his jacket. "Fuck..." He tried the back pockets of his jeans. "Where the fuck are the fucking keys?" He cursed, trying the inside pockets of his jacket once more. "Fuck..." He closed his eyes and rested a hand on the stony door frame, resting his forehead on his hand after. He didn't have the keys. Taking a deep breath, he then knocked. "Eiry!" Eddie called. He gave her a few seconds and then knocked again. "Eiry, open the door."

Eiry was at the laundry space putting her wet clothes inside the washing machine. Meanwhile, she had taken a quick warm shower and changed to a pair of comfy sweaters and a shirt since the house was warm. Her hair was still tied up in a bun that she had done to shower. As she heard him call her from the outside, she shook her head.

"Can't believe he lost the keys already..." She whispered as she started walking to the door.

"Eiry!" Eddie knocked again. "Come on... open the door..." For a second he thought she was not going to let him in. "Babe..." He whispered and Eiry stopped with her hand on the knob to open it, but she stopped for a second just to hear what he was going to say next. "I'm sorry..."

"Right..." She whispered and just then, she opened the door for him.

As the door pried open, they stared at one another. Their hearts galloping uncontrollably. Their chests raising and falling rhythmically as they breathed. Their gaze locked in one another. Their throat dry. Eddie was soaked. His lips purple and the tip of his nose red. His jaw trembling. It was clear he was cold. Eiry stepped away from the door as she realized it and when he did, in silence, she closed the door and locked it.

"You lost your keys already." She said then, feeling her heart breaking after remembering again that he forgot about her. Eddie shook his head.

"No..." He took the chance to take off his jacket that weighted a lot on his shoulders due to the water. "I must have left it somewhere at the Galleria." Eiry extended her hand at him so he could give her his jacket. Eddie did so.

"You need a hot shower."

"Eiry..." He grabbed her arm as she was passing by him.

"You're shaking and you're soaked." Eiry looked in his eyes. "You better have a hot shower."