Written ✓

Four

     Anne woke up early the next morning wearily. She crept downstairs, throwing on a robe as she checked for protestors or any sign of eggs on her Christmas lights.

     Nothing.

     Anne heaved out a large sigh of relief, walking back inside to kiss Phillip on the forehead. "Good morning, my love."

     Phillip grumbled, shifted up as he stroked her soft cheeks. "What did I do to deserve you?"

     "Everything." Anne breathed out, smiling as he fell out of bed. "We have to get to the circus. I promised Tom I'd help him set up for the Christmas performance tonight."

     "Right." Phillip rolled his eyes playfully, Anne loved Christmas. "You can go on without me, I think I'm coming up with the flu."

     Anne's expression turned serious. "Would you prefer me to stay with you today?"

     "No. I know how much Christmas means to you. I'll be there later tonight." Phillip said, hugging her as she left the door.

     "I love you," Anne called, stepping into the automobile as she started the engine. Phillip loved those words.

     Phillip waved goodbye as she drove off into the sunlight.

***

     Anne arrived twenty minutes later, greeted by Tom, who had the boxes filled with Christmas lights.

     "This will surely bring the people high spirits," Tom said proudly, crossing his arms. "And if they don't, they had holly jolly kiss my behind."

     Anne chuckled, slapping him playfully on the shoulder as she unboxed some of them. Lettie and Barnum tagged along, putting up signs and red and green lights all around the tent. It took them nearly three hours to get through half of the boxes. Barnum wiped his forehead and Lettie fanned herself modestly.

     "This is ridiculous!" Lettie remarked in disbelief. "Three hours? Three? Where did you find all these decorations?"

     "Gotta do something to get the crowd pleased." Barnum winked, flopping on a bench to rest. "You guys have a ten-minute break. Beat it."

     Anne giggled, it was early noon by now. She decided to do trapeze practice. The flung herself into the air, doing special flips and tricks. She stopped mid-way when an unfamiliar dark-skinned young man strutted into the tent. He immediately saw Anne, gliding down from the air as she turned to look at him suspiciously. "And who might you be?"

     He stared at her for a while, she felt uncomfortable. He snapped back, his eyes focusing on her face. "I'm Nathaniel Wegman. I'm here from the press."

     Anne froze, running over to check on Barnum, who had passed out on the bench with his mouth hung open, she turned to look at Nathaniel, arching a brow. "You do not have permission to be trespassing. The show does not start until later at night."

     "I believe you'll give me permission," Nathaniel said, edging closer as Anne stepped back stiffly. "Am I correct?"

     "I most certainly will not," Anne said stiffly, glaring at him as he kept moving toward her, he did not have a clipboard, nor did he have a press badge on his coat. "Get away from me."

     "Come on, Miss Wheeler," Nathaniel began smoothly, cornering her. "All you have to do is give me permission..."

     He slammed his hand into her side, his face inches from hers. Anne's legs trembled, he held her waist, which Anne quickly slapped back. He inches closer...his lips inches from her neck when a man took him by the shirt and punched him in the face. Anne gave out a shriek of terror, her legs failing her as she looked at Nathaniel's bloody nose. She covered her ears, facing away.

     "Hey..." Said a voice of a man other than Nathaniel. He brought his hand out smoothly and pushed her back up. "Are you alright?"

      "F-fine..." Anne said shakily, looking up to see Damian, a dark-skinned oddity that could stretch his legs all the way to the back of his head. "Thank you."

       "Don't worry about it," Damian said with a smile, looking to see Barnum dragging Nathaniel out of the arena. "I saw your trapeze stunts, they're incredible. You should be proud."

     "Thank you," Anne said, cracking a small smile as she tied herself to the rope. "You're acrobatics are phenomenal as well."

     And before Damian could respond, Anne took off into the air.

     Anne could've sworn he was smirking.

***

     "Showtime!" Barnum began proudly, throwing his top hat into the air only to catch it again. "Where's Phillip?"

     "He's sick," Anne answered, waving at him in the audience. "He's out on the bleachers watching us perform."

    "Shame," Barnum said, shaking his head woefully. "I've gotten plenty of people coming in with hopes that he'll take his shirt off."

     Anne rolled her eyes, heaving herself up into the air. She looked down and saw Damian shooting glances at her. She wondered why.

     The music began, and Anne hid in the shadows, waiting for her cue. She jumped down, letting her arms flow gracefully around her as the audience cheered and clapped with awe. She turned, reaching out for W.D's hands only to fall and be caught by six acrobats. The crowd screamed in terror, only to chuckle and shake their heads.

     Anne did her dance number beside Barnum this time, glancing at Phillip, who was coughing and wheezing but still holding up two thumbs ups and a charismatic wink. He was always very supportive. She smiled, blowing kisses at the audience as she exited the stage, beaming with pride.

***

     Anne went home earlier than usual that day, wanting to see Phillip and take care of him for tonight. When she arrived home, Phillip was already upstairs, with his mouth covered and his body searing. She grabbed a wet cloth and dabbed it on his forehead.

     "Are you okay Phillip?"

     "I'm fine," He wheezed, coughing harshly while pushing her away. "Get away Anne, I'll get you sick. Barnum doesn't want his golden star absent on one performance."

     "Oh, please," Anne rolled her eyes. "I was absent from the circus for a month before."

     Phillip chuckles gruffly, remembering those times. Anne ran downstairs and prepared Phillip hot soup, rewashing his wet cloth.

     "Thank you," Phillip said, sniffling a little. "You should get some rest, I'll be sleeping in the living room."

     "I don't care about becoming ill, Phillip," Anne began tiredly, changing into soft pajamas and removing her wig. "All I ask is to sleep soundly with my husband by my side."

      Phillip cracked a small smile. "Even if you start coughing?"

     "Even if I start coughing." Anne nodded, sliding into bed, leaning on his chest as he switched off the lights. "Through sickness and in health, remember?"

     Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading Four! Enjoy these few pages of tender love and enjoyment...it won't last very long. Stay tuned for more, and don't forget to follow me and SHARE this fan-fiction. Farewell!

     -E.S.M (AuthenticBookworm)