4:40am, shouldn’t she be in the shower by now?’ he thought lazily eying scrupulously the girl lying next to him. His eyes were still heavy with sleep but he knew even if he tried he was not able to sleep anymore. ‘She’s probably exhausted poor girl, it’s her own fault for staying up so late she didn’t have to… Perhaps I should wake her up, but if I don’t she’ll miss her first class and then,…’
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Her alarm sounded once again breaking his thoughts in such a god awful racket he was surprised the neighbours didn’t complain. ‘Of course everything sounds loud after silence,’ he mused. Her face winkled in frustration and she shifted in wakefulness. Gradually, as she became more aware her hand ever so slowly snaked out of the blanket and hovered to the alarm by the bed side. He watched as she probed the air finally settling on the alarm and clicking down the snooze alarm as she had done 10 minutes earlier.
Silence.
Her face smoothed over and a slow lazy smile broke across her face as she eased her arm back under the covers. A moment of slight panic before he felt her hand brush against his thigh and calmness once again washed over her face as she settled it against his flesh. He wondered just how aware she was of this morning ritual. “I guess your right, there’s no need to go to UNI, just sleep. Wasting your time there anyways,” he taunted. ‘Even my voice sounds like thunder after the silence,’
Sarah moaned incomprehensibly shifting to and fro. “Well, I’ll be going to work soon at least one of us has to make a living,” She whined in frustration a cute sound that brought a smile to his lips and as she started to squirm in a mock tantrum he stifled a laugh. Finally those eyes opened. An ocean of darkness locked onto him and he found himself drowning in its shadowed depths. He forced himself away from the depths and back to the waking world. Luke was used to the hazards of Sarah’s eyes. She’d been talking. Luke wondered how long he was lost for and thought about how to respond in a manner that might make it seem as if he was listening.
“I guess I’ll get breakfast ready then,” he said. Her expression blank, she just looked at him and he wondered if he’d missed something important. ‘Is she mad? Is she hurt?’ he sighed, ‘ Regardless, she’s awake now,’ he slipped his hand around hers giving it an affectionate squeeze before lifting it of his leg and placing it softly against the mattress. Her eyes were looking at him almost expectantly now. He let out a sigh as he forced himself to break eye contact and he got out of bed.
This world was so quiet first thing in the morning that the only sounds, those made by Sarah’s shower and his self made it easy to believe there was no one else alive. The distant spray of the shower roared in his ears proof at least he wasn’t alone. Checking to make sure there was water in the kettle he flicked the power on and proceeded to rub his hands together in pathetic effort to warm up his icy hands. ‘A day like any other, another day in a series of countless days repeating themselves again and again conceivably without end,’ he thought as cracked the eggs on the fry pan spilling its contents on the hot surface. Watching it sizzle he let his mind drift to times so long ago they seemed more a story he’d read in some book then a real event in his life.
Hiding behind her mothers legs she peeked out at him her midnight eyes wide with curiosity conflicting with fear. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Clutching his own mothers hand he smiled at her warmly to which she blushed and retreated behind her mother’s skirts once again. He looked up to his mother but she was busy talking to the other lady. He knew by now not to interrupt his mother with other adults so he held his tongue and tried to see this mysterious girl once more. It wasn’t often mother would take him with her but never before had she ever taken him to where there was other children and he was filled with excitement.
“Oh, this is my son, Luke,” his mother said.
“Oh my, he’s adorable; this shy little kitten is…”
“No bacon?” Sarah asked.
“No sorry,” Luke told her absently. Sarah stared glumly at the eggs on toast on the plate in front of her. “Will you not accept my cooking made with love?”
She smiled at him. “Is that all your love is worth?”
‘It’s too early in the morning for this,’ he thought, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t of woken her up after all,’ He stared at her levelly. She narrowed those dark eyes at him before returning her attention to her food. He watched her for awhile in silence. Amazingly, even his thoughts were empty. The silence hung heavy and the soft sound of her eating was somehow entrancing him. He yawned deeply and made his way to the shower.
His breath turned into midst in the frosty early winter’s morning air. The bus stop was covered in darkness it’s other occupants huddled into the shelter in a effort to retain their body warmth, Sarah, her body tight up against his own was staring of into the darkness. It seemed surreal that thinking this really was morning.
“Commute together you say, that will be nice. I can have you to keep me warm,” The way she talked she could have been speaking to anyone. He thought of the mornings to come, her using him as a pillow from that day forth. He wouldn’t mind it really.
Watching the bus leave he started to think of his last trip to Perth. He was relieved to find out that he’d gotten the job. The man doing the interview was really friendly if not maybe a little too friendly. Some people try to be your friend after only just meeting. It’s a manner that’s suppose to make people feel more relaxed in stressful situations but this young man seemed more earnest then the other Human Resources people he’d met applying for other jobs. The guy was almost genuine and he felt that somehow, it wouldn’t be hard to be friends with him despite the fact he’s more then likely gay. ‘Perth people are….,’
He held her tight against him. She’d stopped talking possibly from shock. Her body went rigid and he suddenly realized he’d made a terrible mistake. He released her slowly and she pulled away looking him the eyes but not completely letting go. He expected to see anger, he expected to see outrage. What he saw… His eyes focused on her lips. They looked inviting and he suddenly felt like kissing her. He forced his eyes back up to hers and she was staring at him. ‘Did she know what I was thinking,’ She kissed him.
Startled all he could do is stare at her. As she turn and fled he slowly raised his hand to his lips where he could still feel the faint tingle from her kiss.
“Perth people are fucken nuts,”