⠀“The 𝕯𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖑 & 𝐈 get along just fine.”⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀ My mother thought I was a monster. ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀She was right. ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀
— keep finishing the Doritos when you think I don’t know about it.”
A joke, of course. He tapped his his temple, then pointed at her with amusement.
“I know.”
“I count the days I can’t go outside. It… gives me something to do. But that day was pretty important.”
While he knew he didn’t need to explain himself, he felt he had to for his own benefit. He had told her nothing but the truth - that he did keep track of the days that he —
I studied him for a moment before giving a small shrug.
I was comfortable and had no desire to move; I was certain my expression said as much.
My attention drifted back to the cases, skimming over them until his voice pulled me away again.
His focus had shifted to the rain >
— make her think he was over-thinking it. He was thankful for her, grateful for her presence, but he didn’t want to put any pressure on her.
Which was why he flopped backward on the couch, arms thrown over the back of it, head lolling to the side to look at her.
“Unless you —
Sam's mom was a very sweet, caring, and warm lady. Of course, her gesture brought a smile to my lips.
I nodded slowly as a way to show gratitude.
But then the words formed, coming out slowly and softly.
"Thank you."
Pride wasn’t strong enough of a word for what spread through him at that moment he heard her voice. Those two small words meant so much to him.
“You’re welcome.”
Sam's mom was a very sweet, caring, and warm lady. Of course, her gesture brought a smile to my lips.
I nodded slowly as a way to show gratitude.
But then the words formed, coming out slowly and softly.
"Thank you."
— on the glass. Reaching for a handful of popcorn, he chewed pieces slowly, letting his mind wander back to when she had first appeared in the kitchen.
“It was raining like that when you got here. Last time I remember it raining like that. I couldn’t go out that day, either.”
He couldn’t help but snicker under his breath as the box slid toward the two of them. Getting to see her use her power, even just the littlest hint of it, made him smile.
It also brought him the same thought that he could hammer home to himself —
He wasn’t the only one. —
I followed Sam's gaze to the window when he spoke again. Something about the tone of his voice drew my attention, a certain... quietness that he seemed to hold from time to time.
I shrugged my shoulders, not caring for going outside. I liked the rain anyway.
I reached for the >
— He nudged the box with his elbow, looking at her.
“That thing was like twelve steps away.”
But the amusement in his tone was clear: had he had the same power, he would have done the exact same thing.
He looked back at the window again, watching large raindrops batter down —
i'm surrounded by death, all day long, at all hours of the day. everything indicates that my destiny is in there. or do you think we won't have to pay for this?
“She makes me one every year. It’s one of those things she does.”
He smiled at her, brushing a hand through his hair.
“She figured you didn’t have one.”
I couldn't help but snicker at his silly expression. Mine, in turn, said more than enough. ( Why me first? )
Hands moved skyward to run fingers through the knitted stitches before my gaze moved to his hands.
A hand-made gift?
He scrunched up his nose in the exact same way she had after the poke to his head.
“Mom’s making mine right now.”
He moved his hands in the way he had seen his mother do. Not that he was sure she knew what knitting was, but he tried anyway.
“She knitted yours first.”
True. Although I was used to the cold by now.
Never wore a hat before, though.
I screwed up my nose briefly, finding the item a bit strange.
I poked his forehead.
Why wasn't ( he ) wearing one of these, then?