A Wild Flower Among Wolves

Morning After.

My bathroom light was already on thankfully since I frequently use it as a night light. I hesitantly pulled back the shower curtain, I’ve seen one too many horror movies. Just as I suspected.. empty.

Phew

That nightmare has me rattled.

I turned the shower on and closed the curtain to let the water get warm. Slowly I peel off my sweaty clothes and pile them on the floor next to the door. I take a quick look in the mirror to assess myself before I wash this dream off of me. My hair looks completely disheveled and my mascara made dark circles under my eyes. My skin looks entirely too pale, I need to start getting out more. I step into the shower and let the hot water consume me. This is exactly what I needed.

After I accomplished all the basics, I just let the water run over me. I could tell I had stayed in a little too long because my fingers were pruning and the entire bathroom was fogged in steam.

Alright. Get out.

I step out onto my egg shaped bath mat and twirl my hair up into one of my bath towels and wrap another one around my chest. Unfortunately it doesn’t stay up well due to my.. well.. lack of chest. It used to be my biggest insecurity but now that I’m in my twenties I couldn’t care less. I let the towel fall to the floor since the bathroom was warm from the steam. The mirror was slowly de-fogging but not fast enough.

Wiping it it clear, I take a look at my now fresh face. Smooth and clear with a few scattered freckles and thankfully devoid of those gross black circles.

I walk back into the darkness of my bedroom and reach for my phone to check the time again.

Across my screen I see a text from an unknown number.

‘Good morning Clover, I apologize for the time but I was out for a run and you were all I could think of. I can’t wait to see you again. -Kieran’

I looked at the time, it was almost 5:30 at this point. Out for a run this early? You couldn’t pay me to go for a run let alone do it before the sun is up. I start to type a response,

‘Good morning to you! …’

No that’s stupid.

‘Hey there…’

Nope.

Oh my god I sound like an i***t.

…

…

‘I couldn’t imagine being up this early by choice.. but I’ll admit I’ve been thinking about you too.’

I hit send.

Welp now I sound desperate. I can’t flirt over text..

‘If you couldn’t imagine it, what has you up so early? Just your endless thoughts of me? ;)’

I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks.

‘Unfortunately for you it was just a bad dream. But seeing a text from you made it a little bit better.’

I pause and remember the feeling of that hand on my leg, it still felt so real.

I shiver and realize I’m still naked on my bed. I walk to my dresser and pull out my softest sweatshirt with my old college logo on it and the matching sweatpants. I throw everything on and start towel drying my hair. I see in the corner of my eye my phone light up again.

‘I’m sorry to hear you didn’t sleep well, could I interest you in breakfast with a lot of coffee? My treat.’

The corners of my mouth turn up with excitement.

‘I think I could squeeze you into my schedule.. when and where?’

‘How bout I pick you up at 7 and you can show me the best spot’

‘Deal.’

My cheeks went red and I could feel butterflies in my stomach. I run back into my bathroom and pull out my hair dryer. I manage to get it relatively dry in a few minutes and I decide to put it into two loose Dutch braids. I leave out a few pieces to frame my face and then I realize I stupidly left on my hoodie. Well.. it’s just breakfast I’m just going to have to commit to the comfy look. I glance around my room until I find my favorite t-shirt bra partially sticking out from under my bed and shimmy it on under my sweatshirt. My sweatpants then join the chair next to my bathroom which has accumulated an over whelming amount of unfolded clean clothes over the past few weeks. Under my sweats I see a pair of jean shorts I can make work for this outfit so I put them on and head back to the bathroom.

My sister Poppy was always buying things that remind her of me so I have every type of jewelry with either my birthstone or a clover on it. I clasp on my favorite gold necklace with a tiny gold clover charm and put some stackable gold rings on a few of my fingers. Taking a look at my unpolished fingers really makes me second guess my choices.

Too late.

The distinct subtle sound of gravel crunching outside on my front door made my heart rate elevate.

Two quick knocks on the door and immediately all of the moisture in my mouth evaporates.

I wipe my hands on my jean shorts and head towards my door. Letting out a quick breath I swing open my front door fully expecting to see them man of my dreams and instead… there’s nothing.

What the f**k?

I look left and right before closing the door and latching my locks.

I heard that.

I heard the footsteps.

I heard the knocks.

I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!

…

Am I seriously going crazy?

Out of the corner of my eye I see my phone lighting up from across the room.

I swipe open the home screen and notice the time. 6:48 A.M.

3 missed calls from Kieran.