The Blind Man

SEVEN

Jae suddenly felt himself wake up. He could feel the heat of the rising sun coming in through the window. He had never known himself to sleep until the sun came up. What had made last night so different from all the others? When he went to sit up, he realized what the difference had been. Maggie's warm body was cuddled against him with his arm resting under her head. He had thought the unfamiliar weight had been Rosie, but now he remembered.

He knew he should get up since he didn't know the time, and they should at least try and make the preaching service at church if not Sunday school. But he had a strange desire to stay how he was; with Maggie close to him. He knew that it was wrong to be enjoying it while she was asleep, but he hadn't been this close to a woman in years. He of course had no desire to go any further than her resting beside him, all he wanted was to feel the warmth off of her body and feel it spread over him as it pushed his loneliness away. Tears filled his yes and he wasn't sure why.

Moments later she stirred and he felt her move off his arm. His loneliness quickly returned and he wondered how just the feel of her could make it disappear.

"Are you awake?" Her husky tone reached his ears. She was sitting up beside him.

"Yeah, I've been up for a few minutes. What time is it?"

"It's just seven o'clock." He could hear the hint in her tone.

"Do you want to sleep in?" He asked teasingly.

He could hear the smile in her voice as he felt her fall back down on the bed. "I love how you read my mind."

He chuckled and felt Rosie jump onto the bed. She rested between Maggie and him at their feet as he placed his head back down on the pillow. He wished he had sight so he could study Maggie. He wondered if she had already fallen back asleep.

~~*~~

Maggie stared over at Jae's handsome face. His blind eyes were open as he stared blankly into her face without even knowing. His bruises from last night's fight held more color and swelling, she knew he had to be sore.

She suddenly had an unfamiliar desire to reach out and smooth his jaw with her hand. She didn't act on the impulse, but couldn't help the warm feeling that settled in her heart thinking that he received those wounds from protecting her.

He was a good man. She had ever met a man that could sleep with a woman in the same bed without trying to make a move. There was something special about him, and she wished she could learn more about his character; really get to know him.

Who really was this man that lay next to her? They had grown closer, but yet in many ways they were still strangers. She wondered what he was thinking in this moment and if she was even crossing his mind.

~~*~~

Two hours later, they got up and slowly started the day. His whole body ached and refused to go, but he forced himself to get up. Maggie had put some ice on his swollen areas while he waited on her to get ready for church.

Jae teased Maggie about dressing him like a clown without him knowing since she had to pick out his clothes. But several older women at the church had come up to him to say that he looked handsome in his suit. Only one had asked about his marked face, and he had only made a joke about Maggie beating him.

He didn't want to explain that his personal life was a mess right now.

Since he didn't feel right about bringing a dog into the church, Maggie held his hand and guided him where he needed to go. He felt a sense of pride with her beside him. As she left him to talk with his buddies, he was asked several questions about her.