Against the Law

Chapter 5: Sleeping Beauty

James' POV:

As the clock struck 1am, I finally trudged through the front door of my home, exhausted from yet another day of work. The apartment was silent besides the quiet sound of the tv that was playing some comedy movie.

With a long, tired sigh, I kicked off my shoes at the front door and tossed my keys on the table in the kitchen. As I made my way into the living room, I noticed a familiar sight- Emily peacefully sleeping on the couch, curled up into a ball. Her short red hair was flailing all over the place.

I couldn't help but smile warmly at the sight, thinking about how happy she seemed to be settling in. We haven't known each other for very long, but this move has already brought us closer together. It's only been a few days, but her presence had become a cherished part of my daily routine.

I knew I couldn't leave her to sleep on the couch all night, that would be uncomfortable for her. So, with gentle steps and movements, I made my way over to her, careful not to disturb her slumber. I couldn't believe how gracefully she slept, her features relaxed and her breathing steady.

Placing my hand on her shoulder, I gently shook her. "Emily..." I whispered. I repeated this a few times, only to have no response back. She did stir slightly, mumbling about something I didn't quite understand, but remained blissfully unaware of her surroundings. Realizing that waking her was no use, I made a decision.

Bending down, I carefully cradled her in my arms, her petite frame fitting perfectly against my chest. She then snuggled more into my arms, which gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. Her scent, a delicate blend of Lavendar and warmth, enveloped me, momentarily erasing the weight of the day's stress.

With each step I took through the apartment, dodging furniture and shadows, my focus solely on the task at hand. The soft flow of moonlight filtered through the windows, casting a gentle illumination in my path.

As I reached the room she was staying in, I gently lowered her onto the bed, maneuvering around her limbs to ensure comfort. I tucked her in, brushing some hair from her face with my fingertips. I felt such tenderness towards her, and I don't know why.

Standing back, I watched her for a moment before leaving the room, closing the door behind me. I decided that I should probably head to bed, ready to face whatever tomorrow brings.

___

As the sun slowly crept through the blinds of my room, I woke to the sound of my phone constantly vibrating on the nightstand table next to me. I groggily reached for my phone, squinting when the brightness blinded me. I was puzzled by the incessant buzzing and flashing of notifications. Suddenly, my eyes widened when I saw the name that appeared on repeatedly: my ex-girlfriend, Sarah.

Letting out a deep sigh, I braced myself for the chaos that was about to unfold if I called her back. I had broken up with Sarah months ago due to her constant need for attention and her knack for creating drama out of thin air. Yet, she still wouldn't accept the fact that our relationship was over.

As I opened my phone, my screen was immediately flooded with messages from Sarah. Each notification seemed to scream for attention, demanding to be read. I scrolled through the onslaught of texts, rolling my eyes at the predictable content.

"Hey James! How is your day?"

"I can't stop thinking about you. Do you miss me?"

"Remember that time we went to that cute little cafe? I wish we could go back there together."

The messages continued, one after another, as if Sarah's thumbs were possessed by a ghostly neediness. I couldn't help but wonder how someone could be so oblivious to the fact that their relationship was over.

With a mix of annoyance and resignation, I decided to respond. I knew that ignoring her would only prolong the inevitable. Typing out my words carefully, I crafted out a concise yet firm message.

"Sarah, I appreciate that we had some good times together, but it's important for us to move on. I think it's best if we both focus on our own lives now. Take care."

I pressed send and watched as the message delivered. I hoped that this would finally get through to her, allowing both of us to fins closure and move forward.

A sense of relief washed over me as my phone remained silent. Maybe Sarah finally got the message.

Finally getting out of bed for the day, I slowly make my way to the kitchen. To my surprise, Emily was already up and brewing some coffee.

"Morning, James!"

Sending her a warm smile, I greeted her back "Good morning. What are you doing up so early?"

She sent me a small smile. "I couldn't sleep well, so I decided to make the most of the day. I made you some coffee." She passed me the hot black coffee.

I chuckled and thanked her, appreciating her thoughtfulness. We chatted about our plans for the day, sipping on the coffee. We were enjoying the comfortable conversation between us when we suddenly heard a knock at the front door.

"I got it." I told Emily and went to the front door to see who it is. When I opened it I was a little surprised at who I found.

"Hello, James."