One Minute

Chapter Five- Wake-up Calls

I woke up, heaving and panting. Cool drops of sweat clung to my brow.

“Another nightmare…” I whispered to myself. Looking over I checked to see what time it was. It was two o’clock in the morning.

Damn.

I didn’t want to go back to sleep—not again, at least, not after that. I sat up and opened my black and white curtains, sweeping away the mess with my bare feet. I looked out my large window out into the darkness and empty streets of downtown. I could see Raymond’s house, and that just made me feel worse than before. I could see the kitchen lights on, and his parents were at the table. His mother was sitting at the table, her face in her hands. His father was standing beside her, his hands on her shoulders. They were both in extreme pain.

One or two convertibles whizzed by and I rubbed my eyes. There was nothing but darkness and the tiny strands of light coming from the fish tank on the other side of my door.

With a soft sigh, I tiptoed past the living room where you slept and through the kitchen to get to my backyard. Walking down the four steps, I laid down on the turf and looked up at the sky. The stars were always so beautiful—large, gaseous balls that mesmerize billions of people. The way they twinkle and shine, it’s baffling.

“Stargazing?” You asked.

“Yeah, I just—whoa! You were just—and now you’re—” I blinked, multiple times.

“Shh… You’re going to wake the neighbors. I’m sorry for scaring you… You left the door open, and I felt the chill. I went to go close the door, and I saw you. Wait here a sec, okay? I’ll get some blankets and make some hot cocoa.” You smiled softly and jogged into the house. I couldn’t help but to smile a little—the way you said hot cocoa was just so darn cute.

It didn’t take long before you came back and wrapped me up in a warm blanket, handing me my hot cocoa. I take a sip and I set it down immediately. “Ah…! I burnt my tongue!”

You clicked your tongue and laughed faintly, taking a sip from your cup. “Be more careful next time, silly.”

I blushed slightly before looking up into the sky again, hands folded across my stomach. “Do you think… there’s a bigger world out there? That there’s more of them?”

You laid down next to me and looked up at the sky too. “Out there?” You asked.

“Yeah, you know, outside of our world.” I looked over at you for a second.

“Yeah, out there, there are more worlds bigger and smaller than ours. There’s an infinite amount as to what you could possibly find.” You stroked the fabric of your jeans slowly.“The door to darkness is inside the light.” You mumbled.

“So it means that no matter what, there is always darkness inside of us?”

You nodded, “Mmhmm.”

I thought about it for a good while before shivering.

“You’re cold?” You half laughed at me. I couldn't help but to nod and you took off your blanket, revealing your bare chest. I blushed deeply. I had never seen a man with his shirt off—except for those underwear models or the models that you see on the Hollister bags. You were pretty muscular—bit it wasn’t super outrageous—just enough to compliment your dark flesh.

“I-It feels like I’m going to freeze to d-death…” My teeth were chattering. You smiled softly, wrapping the blanket around me. “How’re you not cold?” I cried out.

“Weather used to be like this back in Washington… Cold mornings. Foggy. Pines and mountains are taller than the buildings… drizzled with blankets of snow…” Your hair falls in your face as you start to doze off.