Familiarity

Adonai:

"You know, I thought it's time to go home, but I never expected you to be here."

"Why not? We're friends after all, nothing wrong with this."

"Oh but something is very wrong with this, you know." I retorted.

"Hmm? Oh my! I never perceived you as a beast, ready to jump on your female friend at the given occasion." She said with a hint of playfulness in her tone.

"I don't know if I should be pissed or grateful."

"Think about it, after such a romantic outing, it's only the natural course of development is it not?" She said.

"This is not a romcom, and you know it."

Well, this is an unexpected turn of events. After we left she just followed me back home and invited herself in. Surely I didn't question it considering how much she has been around, but now it seems like she's planning to stay the night, which is concerning.

"You know I only have one bed, so there are only two solutions to our predicament, and I'll choose to sleep on the floor." I started by establishing the rules, knowing fully well she doesn't intend to go home at this point.

"Well I intended to go home, but if you insist that I sleep here I will gladly accept your request." She said while holding a big smile, big to her ears, laughing almost. This bitch.

"Suit yourself, I'm going to prepare dinner."

"No can do." She interjected. "In moments like this it's time to show my feminine charm, I'll handle the dinner with whatever you have in your fridge and you can just wait."

Speaking of surprises, I never thought she's so considerate.

"Well thank you. I shall be as merciless as possible when judging your skills." I said as a matter of fact.

"Do so and you'll never see the light of day again." She responded as a matter of fact and she was on her way.

With nothing better to do, and no interesting books around I started scrolling my phone.

After a good 10 minutes of nothing but absolute brain damage I decided it's time to put it down, and I went to the kitchen.

There I found a maiden wearing an apron, the one my mother used. I don't know where she found it but I envisioned in this very moment the image of a housewife, imagining her older is something easier than I thought.

The image of older Kathlyn resembles a person I've met not so long ago, or at least that's how my head associates it, maybe because of the hair or the eye colors. The woman who kept me company while I visited the grave of one of my dear friends.

"If you're staring at my ass, you'll be thankful if you get to sleep outside." She stopped my train of thoughts with something that I guess makes sense to worry about as a young woman.

"It's my house you know."

"Say that again to my face."

*Snicker*

And so we both laughed at the situation until silence took the room again.

One hour later the food is ready, something she prepared and some stuff she found and heated it up. I'm not complaining, after all I didn't have to do any labor.

"Thanks for the meal."

*Munch*

"This is really good!"

I've eaten her cooking before, at Stella's house, but this time is different. I can't point out what's different but I'm sure of it.

It is a genuine feeling, not a compliment. Her food is delicious, even more so than what my mother used to cook.

Taking my eyes off my plate to look at Kathlyn's expression ... I saw a smile. A genuine sincere smile, her eyes brimming with happiness. This side of her left me speechless. I've never seen her like this, my playful, joyful, annoying at times, serious when needed Kath was now the perfect happiness picture. It is so genuine, so radiant.

"I'm glad." She said with a tear rolling down her cheek.

I can't make fun of this, I can't say a word. I don't dare to say a word, I don't want to be the reason for this smile's disappearance so I'll keep my mouth shut and I'll keep eating.

Some time after the dinner was gone we decided it's time to go to bed.

"Hey, so, uhm, why don't we just sleep together?"

"I beg you pardon?" Bewildered, I asked.

"Not like in a s-s-s-s-s-sexual way you know, we can just share the bed. I would feel really bad for making you sleep on the floor after I barged in." Kath said embarrassed, stuttering and her face bright red. I guess she truly is a maiden at heart.

Not wanting to prolong this situation I said: "Well, if you insist."

And so we found ourselves back to back. I don't know about her but I'm too nervous to sleep.. I found her always attractive and this situation is bound to be stimulating.

"Are you asleep?" She asked.

"I'm as awake as you are."

"How come you're so happy now? You used to be a lot more gloomy before." She asked in a shy tone.

"Well you know how we people are, sometimes we're happy, sometimes we're sad. We have our ups and downs and some things influence us more than the others."

"But you were the picture definition of sad." She said in a rather concerned small voice.

What she said left me speechless, it's true, I used to be more gloomy before. But I changed a bit myself. I can't say I don't harbor insecurities or overthinking along with concerns but I've tried to take a step for the better.

At that moment I don't know what took over me, but I stopped thinking.

"You know, I've always thought that life is in essence meaningless, and I'm always saying about how we should go with the flow. How things are working so underhanded that it's not even worth trying." 

*Silence*

"But in reality it's all just because I'm scared of the future. I don't know what to do. I don't know what I am supposed to do. I don't know what direction my life should take. I find myself in this continuous doom-spiral of uncertainty where all I know is the end of the road. I don't want to lose people dear to me anymore... I don't want to worry about what will happen... I just want to live peacefully with the people around me, I don't need a lot of money, or a lot of friends. No. I try to say that it will work out, it always does, but it doesn't you know. The uncertainty of tomorrow is what's holding me back today!"

Without realizing I turned around to find her already facing me standing half up, with teary eyes.

"After we had our little dispute I realized how selfish I was, thinking only about myself. I failed to realize how gravely the words I said back then affected you. And once again I'm sorry, I wanted to become more considerate towards everyone. I realized the need to cherish more the people close to me. Something that I should've been already aware of because life is short."

Am I good now? Is this the right decision? Is it the right approach? Questions I can't bring myself to ask her. Because she has no way of responding genuinely to them, the answers will always be within myself. Laying my heart bare right now, I responded instinctively. 

Her hand raised and was going in my direction, not knowing what to expect I stayed still. And her hand touched my head, patting me.

With a teary smile the only words that left her mouth were: "You did good. You are a good person."

At this display of affection I couldn't control myself anymore and I jumped to hug her. Crying.

With her hands embracing me I feel asleep, her presence, the sense of familiarity overwhelming me.

Kathlyn:

"You look so peaceful right now. Don't worry, you'll be fine. You'll not die, you'll know what you have to do. You just don't lose yourself in despair and I'll handle the rest. Now keep sleeping. Everything will be alright."

I will always be with you. So no need to worry. I will guide you.

While embracing my dearest person in the world I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror not so far from the bed. The pattern formed in my eyes glowing a white I'm so familiar with, extending down my neck is a floral pattern from my right eye. It is a 'forget-me-not'.

"It is almost set in stone. Not even the dragons themselves will be able to alter this future. It's close... The Point Of No Return."

I thank you once again Lady Saphira, thank you for this gift.

With these words said to myself, I fell asleep.

Adonai:

I haven't slept this well in ages, and it looks like she's still sleeping... Hell man, what was that situation even? I better go and clear my head and also prepare breakfast.

Some time later

"Breakfast in bed, my my, such a gentleman."

"It's the least I can do after you ...uhm... barged in my place."

It's a bit embarrassing to tell the truth right now, so let's leave it at this.

"I see, I see, you still have a long way to go."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, a bit annoyed.

"Oh I wonder." She said while flashing a smile.

"Anyway we should make our choice by the afternoon... I will pick the Leviathans, and I encourage you to do the same." She said.

Silence overtook me, questions made their way into my mind but nonetheless I trust her.

"Okay, shall we go out after this?" I asked.

"No, let's stay together like this for a bit more."

With a straight red face she said that to me, so I had no choice but to accept it, let's indulge her for a bit more.