The Blind Man

SIX

Maggie's chest was tight with the pressure of confessing her story to Jae. She unloaded everything on him while at the same time crying onto his shoulder. She talked of her panic and worry about Tim maybe coming back to get her or that she may never get her memory back. She had never even talked to Cristal like this before, but yet, something inside still pushed her to keep going.

When she was finished she felt a hundred pounds lighter. But even after she was done talking, Jae still held her close to him. Maggie didn't mind as she found herself becoming comfortable in his arms.

He began talking about the girl he called Star and the nights they had spent together. He told her about how easily they had fallen in love, and he confessed that he would go out to the barn and pray for God to bring her back to him.

By the end if it all, they were both crying and Rosie was on the bed trying to cheer them up.

Afterwards, they headed back downstairs with a new prospective of each other. But as Maggie made her way down, she suddenly realized what she had just done. In telling Jae about her fears, she had completely made herself valnerable to him, and may have handed him a key to her heart.

~~*~~

Later that night, Jae and Maggie sat together on the couch talking freely to each other.

"What time do you usually go to bed?" Maggie asked him after he yond.

"I don't really know. Rosie always brings me to bed when she thinks it's time. Or I just go when I'm tired."

"How can Rosie tell time?"

"I have no idea. That's one thing I've never learned. She's really smart."

"So what do you usually do before bed?"

He shrugged. "Nothing really. I can't watch TV, or look at the stars-"

"Hold the Mayo," she said cutting him off. "stop looking at the cons of everything. Look on the bright side."

"Well, even if there was a bright side, I couldn't see it."

He meant it as a joke but she didn't laugh. "That's not funny. Stop making fun of yourself."

"I'm not making fun of myself, I'm just laughing so I don't cry. Laughing has always been a medicine I try to use."

"You haven't laughed since I've known you." She stated.

"I don't laugh that much, I mean making others laugh. I like hearing people having fun, even if I can't."

She was silent for a moment. "You're going to make me cry if you keep talking like that." She teased.

He felt his lips lift at the corners. "Well, don't do that, I've done enough of that today."

She laughed then and it was like music to his ears. Her laughter was sweet and low. It wasn't load like Cristal's. It was almost shy, nervous even.

They talked some more about going to church tomorrow morning before Rosie stood and nosed Jae's leg.

"Well," he stood. "It's time for bed."

They slowly made their way up to their rooms. Before Maggie could close the door Jae stopped it with his hand. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to wake me up. I'm usually awake anyways."

Her voice was full of appreciation when she spoke. "I'll remember that."

With that, he turned and walked into his room closing the door behind him.

~~*~~

Maggie's eyes popped open as she jerked awake to find a man's hand covering her mouth. Her heart pounded against her chest as an adrinaline rush washed over her. It was too dark to see anything, but still she began fighting the large bulk that stood above her.