Arthur didn't call me for days. So did I. Of course, I always looked in the mailbox, but I said no more, if there was nothing for him.
I missed him a lot. Of course I didn't want to admit it, especially not in Riley's or Abigail's presence. I tried by all means not to think about him, but met me at least three times a day myself, as I dreamed and forgot everything around me.
On Sunday evening I rummaged around in one of the drawers of the dresser in the entrance area.
I was looking for the second key for the mailbox. "It has to be somewhere ..."
I fished out a pile of cash and threw it on the floor.
The light of the ceiling light shone on something metallic and made it shine.
"AHA!" I pulled out the slightly rusty key and gently placed it in my palm.
I moved away from the chaos. Quickly, I took out an envelope, put the key in it, and wrote, not very neatly, "mailbox" on it.
Quietly, I opened the front door, stepped into the cold hall, and slipped to Arthur's door.
How much I wanted to knock and close him in my arms.
But my pride was bigger.
I pushed the envelope a little more than half under the door and turned back.
It was probably the last time I was so close to him.
Slightly upset, I went to bed. I lay there for a few minutes, thinking about the last few weeks before closing my eyes filled with tears and trying to fall asleep.
---
I sat on the couch. I had supported my legs on the small table in front of me. It was Sunday evening - crime time.
Excited, I looked at the small screen.
I was startled by the click of the door. I took the remote, turned off the TV, and moved away from the couch.
As it was dark throughout the apartment, I couldn't tell who was about to enter my apartment.
The gap between the door and the frame increased, so that light fell from the hallway into my apartment.
It was Arthur.
He wore a red suit, an orange vest and a green shirt. He had also applied his clown make-up.
He stared at me with a fixed look.
Without any warning, he threw me on the couch.
He started taking me off. But before he pulled my black top over my head, he grabbed my throat lightly to pull me in for a kiss.
His eyes were cold, his make-up perfect, seductive.
My eyes met his, which made him grin.
He eased the pressure on my throat and leaned on my hips.
I didn't resist, I just let it happen.
Arthur exhaled, straightened his hair and smoothed his suit jacket.
His hands moved over my legs and his fingers lingered where I needed them the most.
Arthur didn't bother to undress. He has it on and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
---
I startled. Straight up I sat in my bed.
My heartbeat went fast. I had dreamed of Arthur again.
To calm myself a little, I got up, left the bedroom and entered the kitchen. With trembling hands, I took a glass out of one of the closets and filled it with ice-cold water from the fridge.
"That really has to stop." I told myself, leaning against the kitchen counter.
I took a sip, put the glass down and ran across my apartment to the living room.
When I saw the couch, I paused.
This dream was in some way more intense than the last.
I didn't know what to do, but I had to change my mind anyway.
It was Sunday night and in a few hours, three to be exact, I'd have to get up again.
For a short time I sat in front of my window to look out.
I couldn't divert my thoughts from Arthur. Not after this dream.
He returned again and again.
Even concentrating on my breathing didn't really help.
"That can't be true!"
I was dead tired but couldn't fall asleep.
With a goose bump spread on me, I got up from the bed again, slipped into my slippers and opened the front door.
I stole to Arthur's apartment and listened. He seemed to sleep, which was completely normal at this time.
A few minutes passed. I was still standing by his door.
A doorknob made me jump and take a step to the left.
I saw it as a good chance to get away from Arthur again.
My tired and at the same time excited steps led me to the window on the other side of the corridor.
I raised my head and looked into the black night sky.
Occasionally I could actually recognize a few stars.
It didn't happen that often because of the heavy smog that hung over Gotham like thick fog.
Again the crash of a door reached me, but this time I didn't let myself be deterred.
I felt strangely watched. So I turned around and almost scared to death.
Arthur stood behind me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, taking my hands off the windowsill. He still just stared at me.
"Arthur?"
He had his fingers crossed but released them and put them on my shoulders.
I didn't know what was coming, which made my heart beat faster.
"I'm sorry." he replied, now putting his arms completely around my upper body.
I put my arms around him, too.
However, this embrace felt different than the others. It made me shiver and still gave me a warm feeling.
Arthur first broke away from the embrace, but still held my shoulders tightly shut.
For the first time, I really looked him in the eyes.
And for the first time I noticed the beautiful green they were shining.
Why hadn't I realized this before?
My thoughts were distracted as he started to speak.
"I shouldn't have left you alone. Anything could've happened to you. I overreacted. I'm sorry."
I stared at his lips.
"When I found the key, I got scared to lose you forever, Lila."
Why did I suddenly feel the desire to kiss him?
I thought it would've been beautiful.
"Are you still very angry?" Arthur asked, pulling me out of my thoughts again.
I blinked.
"No, not anymore." I tried to smile, which turned out to be more difficult because of my fatigue and funny thoughts.
"Why are you even awake? Is everything alright?" He asked.
It was not easy to explain, without giving away too many details.
"I couldn't sleep and you, what are you doing here?" I held on to the windowsill again.
"Yeah, that's how it was with me, too. Come on, you have to go to sleep."
Arthur took my left hand and pulled me away.
Arriving at my door Arthur hugged me once more.
"See you tomorrow?" He asked.
I nodded. "Definitely."
Before he turned around, he pressed a kiss on my right cheek, which made me wake up again.
"Good night."
He disappeared.
I closed the door and ran into the bedroom.
I stopped in front of the bed and let myself fall forward.
"Oh! My! God!" I shouted in my pillow.
I couldn't believe what had happened.
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1224 words.
Good night.
