Since you left

A Dark Story

The warmth of his body pressed against mine had always been comforting. He was like fire that never dies. Protecting me, keeping me warm, happy but
most of all, loving me.

"Do you want to hear a story?" I mumbled, my cheek flat against his chest as the beat of his heart played beautiful music in my ear.

Absentmindedly, his fingers stroked my arm as he stared up at the ceiling. "Sure. What's it about?"

I smiled. "It's a story my mom once told me. It's about a snake and a mice."

His chuckle vibrated through his chest, making me feel the sound. "This should be good, tell me."

Lifting my left hand, I draw imaginary circles along his bare chest. "Once, there was a snake. Like always, he went out with his friends to hunt for food. His best friend was also a snake, but the rest of his friends were a variety of animals. He and his friend go hunt for mice. As they go, his best friend spots a mice. He simply says,

'Hey! I haven't seen you in a while! I thought you've been eaten.'

The mice laughs and the snake is now confused. 'You know the mice?' He asks.

'Yeah. Friends actually. She's a real jokester.' H tells him.

The-"

"Wait. Can they have names?" He questions and I laugh.

"Okay, snake will be, mmm Ben."

He nods. "His best friend could be Nathan."

I snort. "You sure he you want him to have your name?"

He shrugs. "Just a story. The mice, it's a girl yes?" I nod. "Then, she's Ruby."

I laugh. "May I continue?" He kisses my forehead and nods. "Anyways, Ben then says, 'How is it possible for you to be friends with a mice? We eat them.'

Nathan simply says 'She's a toy.'

Ben then realizes it wasn't a real friendship but a way to keep Ruby around so she could convince he mice friends to tag along.

Ruby didn't hear what they were discussing but she couldn't careless anyway. She simply went on with her day as normal.

One day, Ben sees Ruby and decides he should try Nathan's method.

'Hi, I'm Ben. You know my friend Nathan right?'

Ruby smiles at him because she's very fond of Nathan. 'Yes! I do! He's very friendly. My cousin loves him.'

Ben finds the thought funny. 'I was thinking we should be friends too.'

Ruby instantly agrees and they become friends. Soon, their friendship becomes much more. They begin to hang around one another more. At times,
Ruby would become hurt."

"Hurt? How so?" He questions.

"Shh, telling a story." He frowns. "Ruby's friends told her she was running on thin water. Snakes and Mice don't belong together. They constantly said that.

Ben would get the same responses. Though, he wasn't as strong as Ruby. Their words ate at Ben. His emotions were genuine and the thought of harming Ruby had long gone.

Soon, Nathan began to despise this relationship." His face scrunched and I couldn't help but laugh. "Nathan didn't approve of Ben's relationship, so, he harassed Ruby. Told her she was nothing but a mice he eats for lunch. He even told her his plans and why he had become friends with her. It broke Ruby but she ignored it. Soon, he began telling her that Ben deserved someone much better. Someone who was just like him.