The Firefly

9°

I suddenly woke up.

My nightmare had disappeared just like the darkness that had surrounded me until a second before.

As I rubbed my eyes, I noticed with pleasure that the sun had risen for a while all over San Francisco.

I had fallen asleep at the window the night before and had remained there until that moment.

As I looked around absent-mindedly, I realised that this would be one of the last times I would sleep with the window open as we were approaching autumn.

I smiled, soon the trees would be tinged orange, some yellow or red.

I had always loved all seasons, but autumn I had always found the most distinctive and had come to convince myself that it was even more colourful than the flowering meadows during spring.

I got up stretching and feeling a sudden ache in my back, massaging it I glanced at the clock and realised that it was only 7:00 a.m.

Without a second thought I ran to the shower, taking with me the little black gadget I had received a few days earlier from Mrs. Holland.

I don't know how long I was in those 4m², but when the notes of the music began to dance along with the sound of the drops of boiling water running over my body I lost track of time.

When I finally realised that it had been ten minutes since I had had my head resting against the shower glass, motionless, looking at the floor, I decided it was time to get out.

I hoped I didn't look like a prune, so I put on a little make-up just to avoid looking like a zombie in the eyes of Mrs Holland who was arriving that morning for breakfast.

I went downstairs and started cooking, the relationship between Jake and the woman had not yet mended and that day I was more determined than ever to put an end to any discord between the two.

I ran to open the windows.

I had to enjoy that day, the air seemed less polluted than usual and it was neither too cold nor too hot.

The maids began to arrive and looked curiously at the table set for three, they were good girls but terrified of Mr Jake to such an extent that they wouldn't even say a word if I started the conversation.

When the little black thing rang they disappeared away from me and I immediately headed for the boy's room.

I was surprised to see him already sitting and waiting for me and not lying down in his usual position.

His dark hair was already combed back and his cold eyes were covered by the same sunglasses as a few days earlier that even hid the scar near his left eye.

Before speaking, however, I watched him for a few moments, enchanted by his beautiful Asian features. -Good morning Mr Hale.-

-Morning.- He said, staying still where he was.

-He combed his hair.- I began, if he had, he would probably have liked someone to notice.

-How smart.- He reached out his arm to his right side to grab his stick, I wrinkled my nose in annoyance.

-Did I... I combed them well?-He then added, his voice lower.

Maybe they'd be better arranged differently, if I told him, he wouldn't kill me, would he? I thought with a knot in my throat.

I shook my head chasing that thought away, if he had asked me that question he surely wanted an honest answer.

I hoped I wasn't wrong as I approached him cautiously as if he might bite me.