Juniper & Clementine

Obey me

"You may leave as soon as you finish with that." I spoke as Juniper organized a section of my grand bookshelf.

"Your collection is impressive, Mr. Clementine." She smiled, a sense of pride invaded my being.

"A writer should have no less. How else would you get inspired?" I explained without turning from my desktop.

"By life experiences." She suggested, I remained silent. I agreed with Juniper but why would I make it known to her that she was right.

"Wouldn't you agree?" She turned back with a soft smile, she almost looked innocent, the way her big eyes sparkled and her nose turned up curiosity setting in. Something in her pretty little smile sparked my interest.

"Why did you leave New York City- I mean this town is nice and all but you seem like the type to leave and never come back." I shifted my chair to be facing her. The books in her hands found their way to their assigned destination and she faced me with a small nervous smile.

"The city has enough souls like me, sunnyvalley needed me more." A pause, she tried to hide that ever expanding smile. "And I was broke." She laughed.

I caught my lips curving up on their way to forming a smile.

"I can imagine." I said unaware that my eyes lowered exploring her body; It was a mistake. My eyes shot back to meet hers, a wave of guilt weighed on me.

"Actually before you leave, make me some tea." I attempted to change the subject.

"Sure. Why did you decide to come over to little old sunnyvalley Vermont?"

"It 's quite."

"That's good enough." She turned and continued her work. When she was done she made me a cup of chamomile tea and prepared herself to leave.

"So, am I invited back tomorrow?" She smiled back at me as I walked her to the door. I looked her up and down, a weird smirk formed on my lips.

"Your outfit is comical" I laughed a bit covering my lips with my hand. She took a second to look down at her outfit as if she forgotten what she had on, her gentle hand tucking her lovely locs behind her cute ear, her eyes found their way back to mine, the shine in her eyes gave it away- she had something smart on the way.

"You are one to talk." She smiled, what a beautiful pleasant smile. "The prince of spark lost his spark." She was a fan, how else could she have known my fan-appointed nickname.

"You've read my fervor trilogy?" I questioned, now intrigued.

"Goodnight sir." She ignored me, I hate being ignored.

It was almost 2 in the morning and I hadn't laid to sleep. After proof reading the last draft of my next book, I laid down to sleep but a certain someone wouldn't leave my head. A pit in my stomach would drench me with guilt every time the thought of her emerged. I tried to shake it off but it seemed impossible, her face would appear and then I would hear Sarah's sweet voice calling to me, like she was here, near. I couldn't think of Juniper or any other woman without feeling guilt and shame. Her image and memory were my penance, my body reminding me that it was all my fault and it should have been me and not her.

I couldn't bear it anymore, the coldness of loneliness and the haunting surreal depictions of her my body produced; I stumbled to my closet where I hid all my liquor. Opened the first bottle my hands could reach and shugged, I drank until numbness took over my entire being.

JUNIPER

I had precisely five minutes ringing the gate's intercom, trying to reach Clemintine. I debated leaving in fear that he in fact did not want me back.