Momentary Bliss | Dark A.I|

Chapter 3

 I felt his presence before I could see it. A large dark shadow much too big for this tube curled up behind me. At first I thought his presence might be threatening. Maybe a weird man looking for some food, or the mean man from the apartment. 

At first I just waited , seeing if he would make the first move. Hopefully he would just leave on his own. This was my tube, I had claimed it long before him. He had right to just shove himself inside and expect to stay. But he just laid there silently, and awkwardly might I add. We both laid their in silence, judging, waiting. Until finally he began to move. 

Slowly a long slender finger started coming towards me, ever so slowly, before it finally reached its destination. My shoulder. Before I could stop myself a scream left my mouth. You would scream too if a weird man invaded your sleeping tube! He just looked at me for a second, I could see the shock and contemplation in his eyes. We just stared at each other for a while. Each of us caught up in the inherent weirdness of the situation. 

I finally had the courage to look at him, to study his appearance. The more I looked at him the less scary he became. Though he was big, a lot bigger than I am, he had kind eyes and gentle features. I know looks can be deceiving but he gave off a sort of vibe that you couldn't help but just fall into. 

Finally he worked up enough courage to speak. " Hi" he began clearing his throat " um I'm Ashton, and uh... what's your name?" Ashton, I thought about that name for a second, it sounded friendly enough, though he was still a stranger and this was still a deserted park. " Sage" I began, my resolve strengthening " Sage Mae Evans and I'm 10 years old." I told him, maybe if he thought I was a big girl he would leave me alone. 

" Well Sage Mae Evans, it's nice to make your acquaintance" he said reaching his hand out. " And yours as well" I mumbled, placing my hand into his. " And who is this?" he asked, pointing to Mr.Snuggles. "That's Mr.Snuggles he's also 10" I said pulling the bunny out from under my head. " Well it's nice to make his acquaintance as well" he said shaking his paw. 

Slowly he started shimmying his way out of the tube, only getting stuck once to my surprise. Against my better judgement I followed, collecting my belongings as I went. There was something just so warm about this man, something that instantly made me want to like him. 

Slowly he lead me over to a park bench sitting down and patting the space beside him "I'd like to chat a little bit if that's alright with you little miss." he said offering me a helping hand up "this park is kinda lonely and I'm new in town so any company is greatly appreciated." I grabbed his hand hopping up onto the bench beside him. It couldn't hurt to talk, plus I was lonely as well and that wasn't a feeling that I wanted him to be familiar with as well.

 " So miss Sage, why are you at the park at this" he looked down at his watch " early 2am hour?" He asked with a look of surprise on his face as he read the time. Readjusting Mr.Snuggles onto my lap I looked up at him " Why are YOU at the park at this hour" I asked, raising my eyebrows. I hadn't thought about it before but it was a little weird that this fully grown adult was in the park at this hour. "Well," he started " I just needed a little fresh air, and though I love my roommates, they were getting just a little too rowdy." I nodded my head in approval, that made sense I guess. 

"Now how about you, it's your turn to answer" he said looking over to me. "I didn't know where else to go" I started "the mean man at the apartment complex said I had to pay my rent and well since I'm 10 I had a hard time making that happen." His eyes widened looking at me in what looked like surprise "So it was time for me and Mr.Snuggles to make do somewhere else, and well I thought the tube would be a good spot" I continued holding Mr.Snuggles closer to my chest.

 "What about your parents?" he asked "where are they?" At this question he turned to face me fully, his full attention on my answer. "Daddy's at the hospital" I looked away, "getting better so that he can come back home soon." 

Right after saying that my stomach began to grumble. Heat filled my face, why did I have to be so embarrassing around him. "Well" he said standing up " seems to me like you're hungry. How about we go get some food and figure out where you're going to wait for them." He proposed dusting the dirt off his jeans. 

I was hungry and he seemed nice enough but could I really trust a stranger? I'm 10 not an idiot, I know what strangers can do. But I had this feeling that I could trust him, maybe just maybe he would be the missing piece that I had been looking for. "Well I guess that sounds ok" I said getting up beside him " food and then plan." I said putting my pinky towards him. 

"Promise?" I asked slowly, starting to get hopeful. "Promise" he said, wrapping his pinky around mine.