Her Eyes

Fifty

"Your eyes are still so red," Nikolaos muttered, his thumb stroking Esmae's cheek. She hummed, her voice weak from all the crying and spur of emotions once swirling within her.

If there was anything she hated more than being upset, it was the emptiness she felt after having a breakdown. She didn't know how to feel, still processing everything that happened thus far, and hated it.

Nikolaos sighed softly, wishing she wasn't so melancholic. He couldn't blame her. He'd never witnessed Esmae as emotional as she was today, and as relieved as he was that she was able to meet her mother at last, it didn't negate the pity he felt toward her.

"Is the chocolate good?" he asked, keeping his voice low to not disturb her thoughts.

He could never disturb her though.

The dryad nodded quietly as she ate the ball of milk chocolate, letting the sweetness melt against her tongue and wash away the lingering bitterness from earlier in the day. Her head rested on Nikolaos' chest as she sat on his lap on the hotel bed, staring at the patterned LED lights of the minuscule Christmas tree decorations by the small television.

Nikolaos watched her quietly, concerned with her silence. He was used to it, but she was quiet for a reason other than watching nature live on, and it bothered him that she was this upset. He continued rubbing her back slowly, his other hand on her cheek, and his thumb brushing against the underside of her eye, the area inflamed from her incessant crying hours ago.

"Are you still up for the museums tomorrow, or do you want to stay inside and rest? We can do whatever you want, glykiá mou," he asked, aware of their tight schedule, but perfectly fine with resting for the next day. It was a stressful day for them both, and Nikolaos worried Esmae would fall sick from everything that occurred.

She looked at him, her bleak eyes meeting his concerned ones. The sight broke his heart. "C-Can we... rest to-tomorrow. Sorry," Esmae whispered tiredly, clear exhaustion in her voice. Nikolaos told her to rest once they returned, but she only slept for thirty minutes before waking up again.

The man smiled softly, trying to be the optimistic one between them, and kissed her forehead tenderly. "Of course we can. You don't have to apologize, Esmae," he assured, squeezing her shoulder gently.

He continued to hold her as he leaned against the bed's headboard. Their breaths and Esmae's soft chewing were the only sounds in the room. Amid the silence, a knock sounded on their door and Nikolaos' slow rubs came to a stop. It must have been room service with dinner.

As pleasant as it seemed to go outside and have a nice evening dinner in a small restaurant down the road, staying warm and in bed for the evening was far more tempting for the two. "I'll be back," Nikolaos whispered as he planted a faint kiss on Esmae's head, the leaf's heart fluttering softly. She ate another ball of chocolate, her eyes turning to the window, the glass cleaner than any other she'd ever seen.

Wind rattled, blowing harshly during the midst of the night. They horsed around, playing rough and sweeping up the humans down below in their childish play. Their words and voices were all so familiar to Esmae, and she could feel the pang in her heart as the nostalgia of being in her homeland flashed through her mind.

The weight on the bed shifted as Nikolaos returned with a tray of kokotxas en salsa verde, empanadas, and cheesecake. For drinks, they had hot chocolate – of course – and wine. A strange combination, but perfect for the couple.

"Here we are, moró," Nikolaos sighed, pulling Esmae into his lap again. She fit so snugly against him. It was a perfect fit. "What do you want to try first?" he asked, going back to rubbing her back softly as the dryad peered at the dishes on the tray.