One Touch

chapter 2

The sunlight seeping through the blinds was so bright I had to blink several times before I could see properly. Looking to my left I noticed the time. 12:00.

Wow. I never normally slept in that late before.

Stretching, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. For some reason today felt important. Why would that be?

I scanned my brain for reminders of something special happening today but I couldn't find anything. Sighing I looked around the small room I shared with my boyfriend Joe.

The room was fairly big, with white walls and carpet. The bed was in the middle of the room with white chests of drawers on either side. On the wall opposite my side of the bed was a small widow, with a range of small boxes I like to keep special things in on the windowsill.

I loved our room. The idea of having everything white with spots of colour here and there was my idea and, it turned out just as planned.

Lifting my legs over the edge of the bed, I stumbled sleepily into the kitchen, where Joe was making what looked like lunch. Well, it was lunchtime.

The strong smell of onions wafted towards me, making me gag. I hated onions.

"What you making Joe?" I called from the doorway. Joe was stood by the sink chopping onions. Obviously he hadn't noticed me before, as by the sound of my voice, he jumped and a small screech came from his direction.

"You made me cut myself!" Joe said abgrily, looking up and facing me.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry Joe! I didn't mean to!" Rushing forward I clasped his hand in mine. And then I realised what I had just done.

Oh god! No no no no! Why did you do that Hazel?! What was that for? You could have just got a plaster and that was that! But oh no. You just had to go and make things worse by touching the god damn cut! Well done, well done. A round of applause!

"Hazel what's wrong? Why are shaking? Is it the blood? I never knew you were squeamish! I'm fine on my own if you want to go and lie down."

"No no. That's not it. I'm not squeamish I just... ummm.. well." Swallowing hard I clasped his hand tighter, not wanting to show him what i had just done.

"What's wrong then?" Joe asked, worry very visible in his voice.

Closing my eyes I sucked in a breath and willed the ground to just open up and swallow me whole.

He couldn't see! Not now! I wanted to tell him but not in this way! I'm not ready!

"Hazel? Just tell me! Please!"

"I can't!" I whispered, keeping my eyes closed and my hands clamped around his. "You can't see!"