"That one afternoon, I kissed you. In the middle of the street, where a white truck zoomed past our connected lips. And boy, it caused problems we couldn't have seen, but wasn't it also amazing?"
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It was my birthday. Except for I was in a new state and instead of waking up to family, I woke up beside Paislee. It wasn't bad, just new. She sacrificed her sleep and opted to get up earlier so that we could stay in bed and talk for a little bit. Like water to a desert, it was refreshing. This entire week she slept with a distance from me and in the morning simply slid out the bed and downstairs to fix breakfast like a robot. I told myself she was just having a bad week.
I forced myself into thinking that was true because she was right here with me, wasn't she? That's all that mattered.
After talking with Paislee, I got ready for work. It was freezing here and way colder than I was used to in Mississippi where December weather was bearable. Paislee remained in bed, tossing around and covering herself with the fluffy sheets. Her sheer nightgown did little to protect her from the cold environment and goosebumps poked her skin.
She watched me get ready, I felt her eyes lazily. I slipped on my undershirt, underwear, my uniform, socks, and boots. When I looked at her she smiled and waved with tired eyes. She looked like she did in high school. She looked so young, like the Paislee I used to see across the street from Lenin High.
"What?" I questioned. I walked over to her and leaned down to her level.
She shook her head and tucked herself under the covers more. "Nothing. What do you want for breakfast, birthday boy?"
"I don't know." I hummed and tapped my lips in thought. "Something with potatoes."
"You love potatoes, geez. I got you covered though. I'll be fixing breakfast right now as you finish getting ready."
She smiled and I couldn't help but pull her onto my lap. I wish it was my birthday every day if I got to see this side of Paislee. Paislee squirmed in my lap and giggled loudly even though I wasn't tickling her. Maybe she was just as happy as I was right now.
"It's so cold!" She exclaimed.
"I know." I wrapped her in my arms and attempted to rub the goose pimples away from her arms. I sighed looking past Paislee and out the frosted window that was across from our bed. "I wish I had the day off. I don't feel like doing work."
"Like you always say, it's for your country," Paislee replied, singing the latter part. "Alright enough playing around. I'm going to cook breakfast and you need to brush your hair and get finished."
"You're right. Let's get this morning on the move," I said.
I placed Paislee on the ground and watched as she hysterically looked for her slippers. The pads of her toes alternated between hitting the floor as she complained of how cold it was and bent down only to find her slippers beneath the bed. Once she had both her feet slipped in her slippers, she released a happy sigh and proceeded out of the bedroom.
