I L L U S I O N S

When it started...

I felt safe in his arms with the morning sun kissing my skin.

The warmth radiating off him and onto my body. The sweet comfort of his muscled torso underneath me. Its innocence and purity. The security of his care. The feeling of being loved.

Why, it was all I could dream for.

It was Friday night, August 16th, and as Malikai was driving me home I proposed the idea that he could stay. My parents went overseas for a business trip and would be out of town for a month, starting that day. Friday, August 16th.

He hesitated at first, not knowing if a certain "commitment" was to take place. I reassured hin he didn't have to if he wasn't ready, hell, I wasn't sure if I was ready. But even though we agreed to take things slow...well... Let's just say we lost our cookies last night.

I smile a bit. Having taken this step leads me to think about our future, and as my mind drifts, a soft snore takes me back to reality.

Knowing he's asleep I can carry on with my mission.

I gently sit up, making sure not to touch him. The last thing I'd want is for him to wake up. I move myself into a sitting position and carefully remove the blanket from my side of the bed. Malikai stirs; I stop. He lets out a tiny pur, signaling that he is asleep once more. I get off the bed and my bare feet are greeted by the freezing hard-wood tile floors.

I hiss quietly. Where are my slippers? I spot them a few feet away from me, and I practically hop to get to their safety.

Once my fuzzy slippers are on my feet I penguin waddle out of the room, leaving the door idle as it was already open. My destination is just on the left of the hallway.

I'm finally in the bathroom.

I closed the door gently and made sure to flip the light switch softly. Now standing in front of the sink, I look at my reflection through the mirror above the faucet. God I looked like a mess. My hair was matted, flying in all the directions of a compass, my makeup that I forgot to wash off because of my boyfriend was stained in every crevice of my face and sleep still covered my eyes.

I was hesitant to turn on the sink in fear Malikai would wake but came to the conclusion that my well-being is more important. After thorougly washing my face, I go into the kitchen to make breakfast. The least I could do is let him wake to the smell of bacon. And as I was cooking Mali sure enough wrapped a hand on my shoulder.

"Honey, are you awake?" He asks.

"What does it look lik-" I was disturbingly cut off by my own doubts when I turned my head and my lover wasn't there. There was absolutely no trace of him. Where did he go? I walk over to the last sign of life, the bathroom. Malikai stands over the sink and brushes his teeth while only in undershorts. Geez, would it kill you to get dressed? That is, until I realize that I'm only in my underthings as well. "There you are, babe!"

"Where did you think I was?"

My brows furrow in thought. Did he not go into the kitchen..? But if he didn't what was it that I heard...and felt?

"Honey, are you feeling okay?" Malikai asks, seemingly to have finished grooming with a concerned look directed at me.

"Uh- Yeah...just...thought I heard something other than the stove," I slowly reply.

"Well I'm no serial killer looking to kill you while you're cooking," he chuckles jokingly. I don't think you'd be laughing if I told you what just happened but okay. "Honey?"

His voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I realize that I'm in his way. "Oh, uhm" you stutter as you make the bathroom entrance clear.

Maliki mutters as he walks to take over the cooking, "You look irresistible and I'm tempted to take you on that couch, but we can't let the food burn, you know."