Petrichor

A Perfect Start

11:50PM. My watch read. She was probably fast asleep by now.

I shut the laptop down, put it on the table in front of me, and got up.

There would be a knock on the door anytime now.

I went over to the bedroom, and found her sleeping peacefully under the covers, with a leg sticking out. The warm glow of the night lamp bathed the room in an eerie shade of orange. The files scattered on the table beside the bed suggested how rough a day she had had at work today.

I gently closed the door and came out to the living room.

Knock knock.

I walked over to the door and softly unlocked it, trying not to make much noise.

"Thanks, right on time," I sighed happily.

The other man standing beyond the threshold handed me the basket covered with a red checkered cloth. I took it, placing a hand underneath it to keep it steady.

"No problem. It's just a floor down anyway," he chuckled. "Is it time yet?"

I checked my watch. 11:54.

"Yeah, kind of. Thanks man," I said again, and shook his hand.

He grinned at me. "I should get going. Make her happy, man."

I looked down at the basket and smiled. "She'll be the happiest."

***

I put the basket on the table and quickly rushed to the kitchen to grab the food that I'd already prepared after she went to sleep.

I checked the time again. 11:59. Perfect.

I had a bottle of Coke and two cupcakes ready, with chocolate icing and small colorful stars all over it. I stuck two candles, one on each, before proceeding to wake her up.

I held the plate in one hand with the bottle in the other and went inside the bedroom. She had tossed over and was sleeping on the other side. I had to wake her up.

Of course I was scared.

I gingerly poked her arm. "Hey."

She didn't even shift.

I took a deep breath. This was gonna be harder than what I'd prepared myself for.

I put the plate on the table with the bottle, and gently pushed her with both my hands. This time she groaned.

"Hey, babe, wake up," I mumbled softly.

Thwack!

The arm came out of nowhere and hit me square in the jaw. "Ouch!"

She hadn't even opened her eyes and was hitting me.

"Jeez, get up! Ain't gonna hear your protests today, get up! Get up!" I I shook her harder.

"What..." she groaned and opened her eyes reluctantly. As her half-opened eyes registered my face, she lifted her arm again. I caught it on time.

"Nope. Up!" I grinned down at her. She frowned.

"Why are you waking me up? Let me sleep!" she moaned. "It's not even morning."

"You're gonna destroy everything if you don't get up now!" I looked at my watch. 00:02. Great.

She sat up groggily and looked around. Thankfully she didn't see the plate beside her. She gave me a reproachful look and almost incinerated me. I just grinned at her. I knew how much she hated being awaken from her sleep. But I had to do this.