Moonlit Waters

Chapter 18

My alarm wakes me in the morning. It's not technically early, but I'm still groggy.

There's a moment of sadness when I'm still half asleep. The fact that I'm right hasn't quite stuck with me yet.

But then my eyes open and I feel movement in my chest when I turn and I know.

I suppress a squeal and force my hands back down. Touching my breasts would be weird.

But then again, would it? They're mine, after all.

A split-second later, my hands are up, feeling the sensitive flesh.

A smile forms in my chest and wanders up through my throat and to my lips.

Finally, I remember why I put on an alarm and I get up. I don't change out of my pyjamas, I simply brush my teeth and head into the kitchen.

It's Saturday. My parents aren't up yet.

With the kitchen all to myself, I put on music on a quiet volume and turn on the stove.

I'm busy for quite some time. I make pancakes, cut strawberries, fry bacon and eggs, toast bread, fill a small carafe with orange juice and load everything with two plates onto a tray.

Pearl is still asleep when I open the door to her room. She has rolled up on her side, the blanket pulled up all the way to her chin, Tibbers pressed tightly against her chest.

The bear had been a birthday present made by Alex and I, years ago. The plushy is League of Legends merchandise, we thought it was funny. We had never imagined she'd love it this much.

The memory makes me smile.

Carefully balancing the tray, I come in and close the door behind me. There's a low clicking sound, but Pearl doesn't stir.

I put down the trey next to the bed and crouch right next to her head, so that my face is not far away from hers and whisper, "Pearl."

It takes a second, then she moves. Her eyes twitch and she opens them, blinks in my direction a few times before her eyes focus and she smiles.

"Hi, sister," she whispers back.

"Hi. I brought breakfast." I hold up the tray so she can see it. "Mind if I join you for breakfast in bed?"

She shakes her head and moves over so I can join her under the blanket.

"Slept well?" I ask as I rearrange the blanket over the two of us before lifting the tray onto our knees.

She nods. "I dreamt of you." Her tone is still a little sleepy and her eyes don't look quite awake yet. The smile on her lips is small and dreamy.

"Did you?"

"Yes." She takes one of the strawberries and places it onto her tongue. For several seconds she lets me wait, savouring the taste with her eyes closed.

"It was a beautiful day in spring. We went to some park for a picnic and there were flowers all over. And you were so happy. A bee came by and landed on the back of your hand and you laughed a little because it was tickling you, but you stayed calm and let it stay on your hand."

Wiping the strawberry juice on her shirt, she looks up at me. "Do you like bees?"

I nod. "They're beautiful, aren't they? And so important, too. Without them, we'd all just die, probably." I put some egg and bacon and a slice of bread on one plate and hand it to her, when a thought hits me.

"Pearl, in that dream... was I... the way I used to be?"

She shakes her head decidedly. "You were happy."