The Longest Night
Her eyes pleaded with me to stay for just a bit longer. I turned to gaze into her face and saw the beginnings of tears threatening to break through the dams holding them back, and spill from those liquid pools filled with sorrow. In all the time we had been together, I still couldn’t refuse any request she made with those eyes.
“Alright, I’ll stay for just a little while longer, Sinky.”
It was a private joke between the two of us. It was a nickname that I had given her when she first started learning how to swim; a slight variation on “Pinky*” which she called me from time to time. During the first week of lessons, she sank like a rock every single time. She just couldn’t figure out how to consistently float.
A small smile cracked through her sad visage and she punched me in the arm. “I don’t sink anymore”, she declared. “Yes, I know,” and I kissed her forehead. We sat up all night talking about our plans and what we would try to keep in touch. We were kids and we thought that anything was possible. I sat there, holding and talking to her for most of the night, till she fell asleep. For the next few hours, I simply watched the rise and fall of her steady breathing, no stress or sadness creased her face any longer. She looked beautiful.
When morning arrived, I woke up and looked around. I was still half-sitting there, on the couch with her nestled in my arms. I had fallen asleep sometime during the night while still holding her, so I never left her side. It was what she wanted. Being careful not to disturb her, I tried to stretch my arm, since it had fallen asleep. My movement must have not gone unnoticed cause I heard her murmur something in her sleep. I stopped and leaned back to simply enjoy the comforting feeling that I wished would never leave.
Slowly the house awoke and I gently shook her awake. I didn’t want to wake such an angelic face, but I didn’t have much choice.
“I don’t wanna wake up. Pwwease can I sleep a lil bit more?,” she whined.
“You sleep too much, hun. So much that my arm and leg are asleep too. You’re contagious,” I chided playfully.
“But you’re not asleep. Why?”
“I don’t know. I’ve slept enough already. I’d rather be awake, knowing you are here with me.”
She looked up at my face and sighed; settling back down into my arms, squeezing my body tighter as she did so. “I don’t wanna go…”
“I know, I know, sweetie…neither do I.”
Part: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
*Pinky. It was the nickname she gave me due to the fact that I always told her not to mess with me because I had a pinky and I wasn’t afraid to use it.
