STRANGER THINGS

A beautiful morning

Mike's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the brightness of the room and the birds chirping from cracked open window.

He immediately smiled, feeling El smuggled up against him. He sighed happily and yawned; today was Saturday, they didn't need to go to work. That means they can spend all day together.

He turned his head to the side to look at the time; ten-thirty in the morning. It was so nice to sleep in.

Every thing felt so cozy; their house, which they bought in the suburbs, was lit from the sunlight and so warm from the spring morning. They never had a desire to move into a city because both of them like their space and El would get too anxious. So, they bought a nice cabin not too far deep in the woods, surrounded by the garden El spends so much time on everyday and the tall trees and wildlife. El always liked to observe and learn about the world around her. She found everything so fascinating, she could stare at a single flower for hours. So whenever a squirrel or a deer runs by or just simply going out on the porch and looking out to the beautiful setting, she'd always feel so free and happy.

And feeling his beautiful wife's arms wrapped around his torso made the coziness complete. He listened to the wind going through the trees and the birds singing as he stared at her peaceful resting face. Her eyelashes kissing her pink cheeks and her face unblemished. She looked stunning.

Her curls were frizzy and he smiled, gently running his hand through them so he doesn't wake her up. He could feel her steady breaths up against his chest and seeing her so in peace made him the happiest man alive.

'How did I get this lucky?' Mike thought as he softly kissed the top of her head. He stared at her engagement ring sparkling in the sunlight, a symbol that she's his forever. He clicked his ring with hers and sighed happily, almost feeling like he was in a dream.

As much as he didn't want to leave her, he caught a sniff of his armpit and decided he really needed a bath. So he unwrapped his arms around her and slowly rolled from her embrace, careful not to wake her.

He rubbed his eyes and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He turned on the faucet, and as he waited for the hot water he stripped off his boxers. He figured he would take a bath instead of a shower today, because he wanted to read a book as he got the smell of sweaty armpit gone.

Once the bathtub was filled, he turned off the faucet and stepped in, feeling relaxed by the warm water around him. He sunk deeper in and grabbed his book at the side of the bathtub, and began reading. It was some science nerdy stuff, like always.

El woke up, feeling empty for some reason. But she realized why when she didn't feel Mike in her arms. She sat upright, immediately getting anxious, but she realized that the bathroom door was closed, meaning that he was in it.

She immediately calmed down and rubbed her eyes, walking out of bed and going to the bathroom door. She knocked quietly so she wouldn't startle him. "Mike?"

Mike immediately smiled hearing his wife's beautiful voice. "Hey pumpkin."

"Are you taking a bath?" El asked.

"Yeah."

"Can I come in?"

Mike nodded even if she couldn't see it, "Sure."