Deprivation ♱

Part 3 ♱

We strolled side by side, my hand tucked gently into his pocket as he held it, seeking warmth against the biting chill of the air. My gaze drifted over my surroundings, where the sky hung heavy with a brooding shade of dull grey as if the colour had been drained from the world. The clouds loomed ominously, thick and oppressive, concealing whatever might have been above in a shroud of gloom. Small, persistent droplets of rain wept down from the sky, each one finding its way to the ground below, seeping into the earth and blending with the moisture that clung to everything in the air: the fabric of my clothes and the pores of my skin. My body shivered slightly, and I felt Caleb let go of my hand gently and wrap his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. The sentiment was cute, yet I couldn't help but feel awkward. I hated being intimate in public; the thought that strangers would see that part of me gave me this uneasy feeling in my stomach. It made me want to vomit. He turned to me.

"You've been quiet."
I swallowed hard before trying my best to put on a smile. "Yeah, no. It's just.. I'm cold."
"We're almost at the shop now."

I nodded, then shifted my gaze ahead, only to catch sight of a woman on the street who scrutinized me with a piercing, judgmental stare. Her eyes seemed to slice through the air, and I felt the heat of her disapproval wash over me. Embarrassed, I ducked my head, allowing my hair to fall forward, and continued walking, the pavement blurring beneath my hurried steps. It felt as if eyes were still on me as I continued walking ahead; that thought made my skin crawl. The cold late autumn air now felt like it was stinging me, and the embarrassment I felt just being outside didn't help. All the blood rushing to the surface of my skin made me go red; it felt hot, sweaty, and gross. Caleb patted my shoulder.

"See? We're here now."