Wildflowers and Tattoos (The Crow: Bill Skarsgard)

Chapter 9

❀Lillie❀

Why am I happy?

Oh.

That's right.

I actually slept last night, like real sleep, not passing out due to exhaustion, or being sedated, or the half dazed-half conscious state I'm in most nights. I didn't wake up to screaming, of my own or the voices' making. I didn't toss and turn. My mind didn't conjure up the worst parts of my imagination. I didn't dream. I simply slept, and it was the most peaceful thing I've experienced in a long time.

With a sharp inhale, I stretch my body as far as it will possibly allow. My weary bones shift and groan in protest. I starfish my limbs on the floor, before twisting and contorting to ensure I've stretched practically every muscle. I probably look like I'm seizing or having an episode of some kind, but why change what works.

A knock sounds on my door, before the metal opens inwards. I extend my neck, resting my head upside down on the floor. My gaze travels up the familiar tall tattooed body. I take in his lean finger, crossed arms, cocked head, and curious eyes.

"Hi." I whisper, my lips twitch upward.

"Hello?" Erik twists his head sideways, attempting to look at me upside down. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing." I answer, rolling onto my stomach before standing to my feet.

Erik nods unbelievingly. "Uh huh."

"I wasn't doing anything." I reiterate rolling my eyes.

One of Erik's eyebrows raise. "So you just slept on the floor."

"Yes."

"Why?"

My shoulders lift in a shrug. "I don't like sleeping on the mattress. It feels weird."

"Alright." Erik nods, standing up straighter. "You ready to head down for breakfast?"

"Yea- Wait, I need to tell you something." I clasp my hands in front of me, threading and unweaving my fingers in different ways."

Erik chuckles. "It sounds an awful lot like you're breaking up with me."

"What?" My skin heats, and I look down.

"Nothing. What do you have to say?" He asks gently.

I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly in order to delay one of the many things I've had very little practice with. "You got my note right?"

"Mhm."

"Well, I'm sorry." The words aren't difficult to get out, but they make me cringe at the rising guilt in my veins.

"Okay?" His response sounds like a question, prompting me to glance up at him."

"That's it?" Now it's my turn to be confused.

"Yeah?" The confusion is a heavy fog in the room.

My eyebrows furrow, and I squint my eyes, trying to read Erik's emotions. "You're not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" Erik answers my question with another question.

"Because." My frown deepens. "I practically ignored you for three days."

"Oh, um." He scratches the back of his neck. "I thought you just kinda had something going on in your head."

"So you're not mad?" I repeat, wanting absolute clarity on the matter.

Erik smiles at me. "No, Lillie, I'm not mad... and, thank you... for yesterday. No one's ever done that for me."

I shake my head. "Don't thank me. You don't deserve to be treated how these assholes here treat you."