Divine Affinity

26

Eiry woke up slowly, blinking her eyes a couple of times and then she stretched. When her muscles relaxed, the fight with Eddie came to her mind first thing and her heart ached. The sound of his gentle snoring filled the room for he had drunk too much. Despite the fight, his arms were wrapped around her, holding her close in a protective embrace. It was an automatic reflex because she knew he was absolutely mad at her. He looked vulnerable, yet strong. His chest rose and fell rhythmically, his breaths deep and steady. As she watched him, guilt washed over her like a tidal wave. Eiry couldn't help but feel responsible for the tension between them. Things had escalated into a serious argument. It could seem silly to him, but it was something that really bothered her. Nevertheless, Eiry felt guilty for not holding in her jealousy on his special day. She reached out and gently brushed his hair away from his face, taking in the expression on his face and in that moment she knew she needed to apologize. She couldn't help but think how much she loved him and how much he meant to her.

Taking a deep breath, slowly she turned her body towards the edge of the bed and gently placed her feet on the floor. The creaking sound of the wooden floorboards made her pause for a moment, and she looked back to make sure he was still sleeping. Then, she tiptoed towards the window, trying not to make any noise. As she opened the curtains slightly, she realized she was being greeted by another gray morning in Seattle. The sky was overcast and the air was damp. She could see some raindrops hitting her windowpane, menacing a shower at any moment. The street was quiet. The trees of the park were shrouded in mist, making them appear ghostly and ethereal. Nature mirroring her dreary mood.

After a few contemplating seconds, she turned around and looked at Eddie, stomach down sleeping his drunkenness. She tiptoed again out of the bedroom being really careful as she closed the door. She went straight to the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine. Then, she filled the container with water and measured meticulously the exact quantity of coffee powder she needed for a strong beverage. She leaned against the counter while hearing the coffee pouring slowly into the pot and at the same time, her fight with Eddie came to her mind once more. She let a deep sigh, disappointed in herself she couldn't hold her jealousy inside, especially on his special night. The beep warning the coffee was done startled her and brought her back to her morning letting her mind drift away from the past night events. She poured her coffee into a mug and took it near the window. Though she would love to take it outside, she knew it was cold and she was just in an old shirt. She stayed there, sipping on her coffee hoping it would make miracles at the start of a new day.

"Is there any coffee for me?" His groggy voice almost made her jump and her hand closed around the mug as if she was able to smash it. Eiry looked at him over her shoulder in an almost slow-motion movement as if fearing he would burst the moment her eyes hit his.

"Yes..." She told him, nodding softly. "You have some in the pot."

His curls tangled. Eyes barely opened and a painful look on his face. Barefoot, just in his boxers... he could have been sleeping safe and sound but he sure had a rough awakening.

"You have aspirins in the first drawer of the bathroom's cabinet." Eiry added knowing he should have a monstruous hangover.

"Yeah..." He whispered already turning around towards the kitchen.

One other thing she noticed was that he barely looked at her. Her eyes set on her feet but she knew he would be mad at her still. Even as drunk as he was when he arrived home, he told her he was absolutely mad at her before sleeping and considering she had to help him undress, that detail was striking. He kept repeating it to her while she disposed him of his clothes and it was also the last thing he told her before drifting off. Instead of looking outside, her attention was now turned to him as he moved in the kitchen. Eddie didn't look for anything to eat, he just grabbed a cup and poured coffee in it. He also didn't join her, not that she was expecting him to, but deep inside there was glimpse of hope that he would do so to soften things between them. Instead, Eddie remained with his back turned at her, forehead against the edge of the upper cabinet having his coffee by himself and without pronouncing a word. Eiry took a deep breath, rested her mug on the table and went to the bathroom. She grabbed an aspirin and went back but this time she joined him in the kitchen instead of just watching him from a distance. Eddie was frozen in the same position only a half cup of coffee gone.