Strength |✔️

twenty-four

Alisha

My eyes flutter open slowly, taking in my surroundings. Neil and I are sleeping in the same bed, the same bed we had sex last night.

We had sex last night.

Oh shit.

"Neil! Neil wake up!" Neil's arm is wrapped around mine as I sit up from the bed, clenching the blanket to my naked body. Neil sleeps soundly, as his mouth is cutely gaped open. Now's not the time, Alisha!

"Neil!" I shout one more time. His eyes open and he looks at me confusingly, but then he smirks, showing his dimple. "Good morning, babe." My heart melts when he says that. Oh, how his hair is planted effortlessly on his head, and how his muscles contract, and how he grabbed me last night and how he was so gentle...

Stop! I clear my throat. "Neil, did we have sex last night?" I say slowly.

He bites his lip and sits up as well. "Yeah, I think so... why?"

I take a deep breath. "Did we use protection?"

He stares at the ground for a while, but his eyes shoot up. "Oh, shit."

I groan. "It all happened so fast and we couldn't control it."

"Yeah, you're right." He looks at me. "Did you enjoy it though?"

"Yes, I did... But that's not the point!" I throw a pillow at him. "I can't be pregnant, Neil! Not at this age, at least."

"It's okay, calm down, Alisha." He runs his fingers through his hair. "I could make a trip to the pharmacy to get a morning-after pill and you can take it before the Haldi ceremony begins today."

I take a deep breath. The last time I had taken a pill was when I had PTSD, which was two months ago. I had one final check-up, and the doctor had said I didn't have to take the pills anymore, since my vitals were reaching up. Since then, my PTSD has been gone. And, I still have nightmares now and then, but none of them involve in me having a seizure.

Neil stands up and quickly puts some clothes on and brushes his hair. Then, he kisses me on the forehead, me still sitting up on the bed, blanket clutched to my chest, and me being worried. "Alisha, don't worry. I'll get the pills. You can get ready by then."

I nod my head and he reassuringly smiles at me. Then, he goes out the door and I take a deep breath. Neil's right. I shouldn't be worried. I blow a piece of hair that's covering my eyes, and I lay back, thinking of last night and how magical it was.

______________________________________________________________

Neil

I go down to the pharmacy across the street and quickly ring up the pills. I feel bad about what happened last night, though. Technically, it was my fault that we didn't use protection. I shake my head and think that I'm going to be fine and Alisha's going to be fine and everything and everyone else will be fine.

I place the birth control pills on the counter and the cashier looks at me with confusion, but then she smirks. She has a lip ring and dark purple hair and she is wearing way too much makeup. She kind of reminds me of Faith, although Faith didn't wear that much makeup.

Her name tag says "Lily." She clears her throat and looks at me amusingly. "So how was it last night?"

My face warms and I awkwardly stuff my hands into my pockets. "Uh, good?"

She blows a piece of gum and pops it. "Interesting," she says, slurring her words. "That will be 5.99."

I quickly pay and run out the door and start the car. All I can think about right now is what happened last night, how so much happened last night and so fast. I lean against the seat and take a deep breath. The way I felt yesterday night... I never had felt before. And Alisha was so amazing, as always. I smile and reverse out of the parking lot.