Myocardium

Part 47 - The end.

In the morning of this dreadful Monday, I wake up in the unconditional embrace of Rafael, whose arm is still wrapped around my chest. Well, at some point we must have shifted around a little during the night, and he is lying on top of me in a way that has cut off the circulation in my arm ever so slightly, but it's alright. 

I can live with that. 

In fact, I can take a lot, knowing he will be there with me in the end. 

And I would take a lot more than an arm filled with pins and needles to keep Rafael as close as I have him right now.

With a groan that is not long after followed by a deep, heartful yawn, Rafael wakes up to the sound of my alarm only a couple of minutes after I do.
"Good morning," he whispers deeply against my shoulders, bringing a smile to my drowsy face instantly.
"Morning, sleepyhead."

Rafael rolls off me to stretch out his limbs. I did not exactly catch a glimpse of the position he was sleeping in, but by the noises that indicate some mild discomfort, it can't have been the most comfortable. Outside, it's still too dark to properly make out his facial expression as I turn to look at him too. 

"I really wish we could stay here forever," I mumble hoarsely, reaching for Rafael's arm with my cold fingertips. The person I have learned to appreciate inches closer in response, bending over me to brush any hair away from my forehead and kiss the spot of skin he has just exposed. 

My heart sends hot blood through my entire body pump after pump, I can feel it spread so comfortably through my veins, until I am very sure, that, if the room weren't still dimmed, Rafael would certainly notice the red blush on my face. 

The skin on my forehead tingles, so do my lips. 

I want to kiss him again, for now and forever.

"I'm afraid that is not possible, Eli." 

Rafael's voice is soft, almost has a sad undertone in it. After a moment of keeping his fingers entangled with my hair, he leaves the bed and with that, the spot next to me devastatingly desolate. My awareness brings me back to the reality I'm in, and I am left with no other choice than to get up too.

In this aspect, Rafael's presence does not make a difference in our routine all that much. Whatever the slight adjustments are, I do not mind any of them. Who could complain about the additional help when preparing breakfast or the sporadic kisses and hugs that I would not receive without his presence?

My siblings are awake by the time Rafael and I have gotten ready too, which gives us some time to set the table for breakfast. While Rafael occupies himself with doing that and preparing our beverages, I make sure to put together adequate lunch-boxes for us three siblings. Once the table is set, Rafael joins me in the kitchen while the two little ones roam around doing whatever they need to get ready for school. 

It doesn't seem to bother Rafael that the two kids are one of the conditions that come with hanging out at our place. And judging by the way my siblings seek out conversations with Rafael, I take that as his presence not bothering them either.

"Hey, Eli?" Rafael speaks up from the living room after the kids are long out the door. His things are all packed and he is about to leave too. I'm in my bedroom, packing up some forgotten notes that I'd need at college today. My studies have actually improved ever since Rafael has been shielding me from some of the problems that would normally keep my mind occupied.

"What is it?" I shout back as I stuff the rest of my necessities into my backpack before leaving the room and actually giving Rafael my full attention.