<figure style="text-align: center"></figure>
Day…
…
What fucking day was it again?
These are such a pain to keep track of.
Steam is wiped from the mirror with the gentle rub of a bath towel, revealing the slightly less blurry reflection of Kaira.
Can’t see properly… maybe try wiping once more?
… A little better. She spends a good few seconds staring at the reflection – leaning closer, then away from the mirror, only to go back to her starting position, all with that usual deadpan look of hers. Looking for something, maybe? No, she just does this sometimes, for whatever reason she’s not yet aware of. She leans her face to the side a little while getting her wet hair out of the way, revealing the secured square of gauze attached to her neck. “this thing is definitely weird to get used to” she mutters, her finger instinctively poking it a couple of times.
“... it’s like clothing, but for wounds. wait, is that why it’s called ‘dressing’?”
Holy shit, you’re right.
“...”
“i should probably dry my hair.”
???
Up, then down, then up, then down. Her leg bounces to the rhythm of silence, her mind clouded by hard-hitting nothings. Why is this so goddamn nerve-racking? You’ve seen her, like, three whole times before, surely you can handle her presence a fourth time, right?
Kaira’s chin rests on her right hand, her left hand bouncing along with the thigh it’s resting upon, as she watches the entrance door from the couch across the room like she’s ready to kill whoever dares to cross the line between the outside world and this residence.
Knock knock…
…no, that’s not her. is it? no, i think… is it? is it her? is it real? is any of this real? am i real? am i…
“Hello?”
…Oh. Yeah, it’s just her. Goddamn, Kaira.
“h-... uh…” The words hardly seem to come out. “shit,” she mumbles to herself, “get it together, damn it.”
“Kaira?” Though muffled, her voice is very easily recognizable. Come on, Kaira, she’s waiting.
– – –
On the other side of the door, Chloe impatiently taps her left foot in sync with the pace of her mind’s inquiries. “Was I too loud?” “Did I mispronounce her name and come off as disrespectful?” “Is my hair okay?” “Crap, I’m tapping my foot, that’s rude.” “She’s taking a bit too long, maybe I was too quiet and she didn’t hear me, or maybe she interpreted it as me not wanting to be here and therefore she’s indicating to me that I should go home through her demeanor and I’m taking too long to decipher what she’s trying to convey.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
…That’s a bit tiresome. In an attempt to get her mind to focus on something else, she takes off her glasses and grabs a small microfibre cloth from her bag, then goes on to wipe the lenses clean, even if they don’t actually need cleaning.
“...hey.”
The sudden opening of the door followed by the reveal of another person immediately startles Chloe, who drops her glasses and almost falls back, down the small staircase leading to the entrance. Her puny attempt at catching her glasses serves not only to make a bigger fool of herself, but also to send them flying farther than they would have otherwise – through the door, right past Kaira and inside the house.
Clack, Clack, Clack… Clack…
“...S-sorry, uh, may I, uh…”
“...i’ll go grab them for you.”
???
The light clacking of dishes plays in unison with the sound of running water. Cozy linen cushions Kaira’s weight on the main couch, and although it feels comfier than usual, it still could be better than this. Kaira mumbles incomprehensible words under her breath. How much longer will she take? It surely has been at least…
“I’m almost done, Kaira, it’s only been two minutes. I can hear you complaining.”
“what? no, i didn’t say anything. what are you talking about?” Kaira sits up to peek over the couch and have a look at her partner in the kitchen, then lies back down, looking all grumpy.
“fuck, sorry. i just don''t like being left with my thoughts like this.”
While Kaira spends a good few seconds fidgeting with her sweater, her partner has enough time to finish doing the (admittedly small amount of) dishes and make her way to the couch, unbeknownst to Kaira.
“...”
“fucking hell… just try to relax. yeah. relax, stay calm. don’t forget to breathe–”
“...Could you make some space for me?”
“shit, sorry–” she sits up so that Chloe actually has somewhere to sit. Somewhere near Kaira. “sorry, i don’t mean to complain like that, i usually do that loudly but you’re here and i figured i’d try to be quiet, and–”
“No, no. No need for that. You’re okay.”
Chloe claims her spot on the couch. Kaira’s rushing mind slows down to a halt.
“...yeah. alright.”
It’s quiet. Both of them can faintly hear each other’s breathing and beating heart – Kaira’s are noticeably more agitated than Chloe’s, but with each consecutive exhale the uncertainty fades away, until it’s almost completely gone. Almost. Kaira rests her aching head on Chloe’s left shoulder.
“...How have you been?”
“i don’t know.”
That’s not very helpful, Kaira.
“...it’s been a little easier since you showed up,” she tries her best to fill the awkward silence. “that’s usually how it goes, but… maybe it’s different this time?”
“...Is it really just you here?”
“and buddy.” Kaira adds.
“...And Buddy.”
“even he doesn’t show up most of the time, though. so… it’s mostly just me. just… me.” She stops. Her breathing deepens ever so slightly. “i don’t know, i don’t like thinking too hard about it. even though… i still do that. i can’t help but be thinking about it.”
“You don’t have to think about it, then…” but Chloe didn’t know exactly how to reassure her. “I’ll try to be here sometimes, too.”
“hey.” Kaira looks up at Chloe. It’s a little weird looking up at someone who’s supposed to be shorter.
“Yes?” Chloe looks back. It’s… very weird looking down at someone who’s supposed to be taller. She… could get used to this, though.
Kaira can see her own reflection in Chloe’s eyes. Though blurry, she can still – barely – make it out.
Maybe try wiping once more?
???
There, much better. Steam still distorts some of the image painted by the mirror, but… It’s her, undeniably.
“...oh, yeah, my hair. i was about to dry it.”
Wringing her long, dull-black hair, she’s able to get the excess water out and down the sink drain – so it’s not dripping so much all over the damn bathroom floor. With that, and the quick rub of a towel, her hair is finally in a more manageable state – wet hair feels incredibly uncomfortable on her face, shoulders and back. Well… Where were we…?
Where…
It’s like that very word is desperately trying to climb out of her throat.
“w–... wh–...”
where’s chloe?
Kaira bolts out of the bathroom and checks the living room – looking around, double-triple-checking. Wasn’t she here, just now?
Oh.
“right… she’s gone home.”