Apartment 3B

15. Firsts

Luna

To surprise Elaine after her first day of work, I cycled from the gallery to her school. The sun was low and emitted hues of orange as I got close. My texts went unanswered so I decided to walk inside and find her.

The day was over and there weren't many people left. Asking around, a janitor told me where I could find her staff room. Entering through the big yellow doors, I couldn't see anyone there. I figured they would've left as I searched for Elaine.

"Elaine?" I barely whispered in the quiet room that started to grow darker as the sun set through the light blue curtains.

Moving in closer, I heard sniffles from the edge of the room. Behind the long desk and a string of chairs, Elaine rocked herself in a corner. Her arms wrapped around her knees, I saw her silhouette gently swaying back and forth.

Panicked, I dropped to my knees and opened my arms to hold her stiff figure, "What happened? Are you okay? Elaine?" She just sobbed louder in response and kept rocking as I tried to hold her. Nothing I said seemed to work, so I just let her cry in my arms. Her body started to relax as the weeping became a soft sniffle. She looked up at me and said in the smallest voice, "Simba died."

Simba was one of her favourite cats, even though she denied having favorites, Simba was the closest to her heart. Leaving the generations of kitties behind at home wasn't a very comfortable decision and one of her babies passing away hit her hard. My voice got caught up in my throat as I couldn't tell her anything that would make it better.

I leaned into her and held her tight. This time, her arms came up around me and she found the strength to receive the only form of support I was able to give her. A few quiet moments had passed when she removed her right hand and her fingers found their way to the locket around her neck. As she traced the pattern, her breaths became ragged and it looked like she had trouble breathing.

Unable to comprehend how to help her, I let my palm caress her cheek and my fingers run through her brown locks. My thumb wiped away the tears from under her eyes as I moved in closer to her.

"Breathe with me, Elaine," I whispered, taking her hand in mine. My fingers were intertwined with hers as she tried to find the courage to keep going.

She looked into my eyes with complete defeat and exhaustion as her grip on my hand loosened. I took her face between my hands gently and leaned in, ever so slightly.

Locking my eyes with hers, I let my lips graze against her pink plush ones. I felt her give into the sensation as she kissed me back. Her dry chapped lips touched mine with feathery soft gentleness. The heat of her tears radiated through to my own cheeks as we closed any gap between us. Hungry for more but with the most fragile touch, I let my hands run through her hair and bring her even closer; if that was even possible anymore.

We lay on the floor with our lips dancing with each other's. We kept our mouths closed but the kiss grew deeper. I could taste strawberries on her lips and it felt like my nerves were on fire. The hair on my arms stood up and I felt a chill run up my spine. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, just like it had when she was texting me at lunch but being able to touch her was nothing short of heavenly.

When we finally parted to breathe, a sly smile broke across her face. Even though the silence was comfortable, I needed to tell her how she made me feel, "That was-"

"I know," she cut me off as we wrapped each other in an embrace. We didn't need words to explain how we had just felt. I didn't need to tell her how a surge of electricity rushed through me. How my soul felt more alive than ever before. How my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. I didn't need to tell her because I knew she felt it too.