File Under: Fiction, Speculative

Dust

My hands are shaking. The cold of the door seeps through my shirt, kisses my back, and raises goosebumps along my arms. I imagine a boy on the other side of the door, sitting against the freezing wood with breath puffing out in clouds, trying not to cry just as hard as I'm trying. What have I done? What did I do? My arms raise and I stare at my trembling fingers. My eyelids feel heavy, so heavy...Close my eyes.

*

"Catherine, come on!"

"Levi, I don't know..."

His foot was perched on the bridge. Water flowed by in gentle ripples.

"Haven't you always wanted to explore the woods?"

"It could be dangerous-"

"Haven't you?"

With a sigh, a resigned answer limped away from me.

"I suppose."

"Then come on! Adventure awaits!"

"Levi..."

"Do you trust me?"

His hand was outstretched and waiting for mine. The question was written plainly across his face.

"Levi, please..."

I was a nervous girl with a skirt swishing in the breeze.

"Do you trust me?"

He was a gallant boy with an honest question and the chance of an adventure.

"Yes. I do."

His lips seemed painted with a happy grin.

"Then come on!"

*

Open them. A boy on the other side of the door. A boy with the chance of an adventure. I don't want to-no, can't-imagine his hands shaking too, with cold instead of emotion, eyelashes frosted with snowflakes. My head slides back to rest against the door. Close my eyes.

*

"Hey, Cat, can I do something with your hair?"

His request was genuine, his face asking.

"What? Why?"

My voice was skeptical.

"Because I learned how to do something special just for you."

His eyes were earnest, pleading hazel orbs, and I couldn't say no to the defensive tone in his voice.

"Fine. But Levi, if you mess up my hair, I will be very upset."

My mouth laughed but my eyes showed how serious I was.

"I won't, I promise."

There was a soft silence and his gentle pulls on my hair.

"Ow! Careful, I want to still have hair when this is done!"

"Ooh, sorry! I didn't mean to, are you okay?"

The clumsy apologies tripped over each other and left the boy with a worried look.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Carry on."

When he finished, his voice carried a whisper of a smile.

"Done. Okay, you can look now."

A mirror was produced and I examined the finished product.

"Levi! You learned how to French braid just so you could do it on me?"