Three Little Birds

Promises Pt. 1

"Hey, a falling star!" Mykel jumped at my exclamation, making a startled yelp as he jumped backward.

I looked behind me grinning, a slow chuckle escaping me at the look on his face. The startled shock slowly morphed into a slow, sleek smile that spread across his face.

He had been smiling more the past couple weeks, though only lately had his smiles been reaching his eyes. This smile though was the kind of smile that makes me melt. This smile reserved for me and one I had not seen in weeks.

"Look," he said. 

I looked back to the sky in time to see dozens more streak across the night, glowing trails lighting up the sky. I watched mesmerized, enraptured by the beauty of it all.

Mykel tightened his hold on me, squeezing lightly, as if reaffirming I was actually there with him. I smiled to myself as he watched me watch the meteor shower.

We sat in easy silence for what seemed like hours. There was no need to fill it. There was no need for words at all. As we sat together watching the last remaining meteors, coming slower now, wrapped up together and warm against the gathering cold, I found myself beginning to relax. 

The part of me that was always on guard, the part that waited for that flying fist, or that bathtub of freezing water, began to remit. I realized my chest wasn't a bundle of knots, I could breathe without feeling rising and choking anxiety. 

And I realized that for the first time in my pathetic existence, I felt safe.

I jumped slightly when Mykel spoke, his voice gentle in my ear.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He trailed his knuckle down my cheek and only then did it come to me I was crying.

I shook my head and smiled at the worried look on his face. "I'm just...happy. I've never...it's new."

He lightly kissed my cheek in response and I blushed deeply, scooting further back into his embrace. 

He chuckled as my stomach began to growl. "Hungry, mon bonheur?"

I smiled and looked down. "Yeah, a bit. I haven't eaten since about noon."

Mykel frowned and checked his watch. "Jesus, Mattie, it's midnight. Why didn't you say something sooner?"

I shrugged. "Old habits die hard. I fall back into not eating easily." The reality of that statement hit me and I frowned. 

"Hey." He turned my face to his, smoothing out the crease in my brow. "You're not there anymore, Mattie. You don't have to starve yourself..."

I looked away and shrugged. "I'm just...I...I'm not used to eating much." And I could see the wheels in his head turning. Going over the last months, remembering in his mind's eye how little I did actually eat.

"Come on. Let's get you fed." We stand and instantly I begin to shiver. I had not noticed how cold it had gotten while we had been cocooned within each others body heat. I wrapped my arms around myself, my teeth setting to chatter. Mykel chuckled and pulled off his jacket and helped me into it, before wrapping the blanket around my shoulders.

"Mattie," Mykel said after he had started the car. "I..." He frowned, pausing, considering an alternative to what he was about to say. "Listen, I want you to eat on a regular basis, and believe me when I say I'm gonna be up your a*s about it."

I chuckled at the expression and his jaw dropped. "Mattie!" He laughed. "Did your mind just go into the gutter?"

I laughed knowing I was blushing fiercely and looked down. I felt his palm against my cheek and I looked back up. His eyes were serious then, searching mine.

"Really though, Mattie. I'm sorry I didn't notice before. I..." He broke eye contact then, closing his eyes. "I wanna take care of you." He leaned forward then slightly, his eyes flicking quickly to my lips before looking back up. He was just inches from me, as if asking for permission before closing the space between us.

I made no move to retreat and, encouraged, closed the microscopic distance.

His kiss was soft, his lips like silk against mine. I felt something unfurl inside my soul the smallest bit. My heart cried out to my brain to allow it to happen. To allow Mykel to love me, and allow myself to love him. 

He pulled back and smiled before turning around and driving back toward town and civilization.

We pulled into a Waffle House about twenty minutes later, and I licked my lips. I smiled as I remembered his kiss. As we walked from the car, he gingerly slipped his hand in mine, careful not to look at me. I smiled as he opened the door for me, and I pulled him behind me, refusing the release of his hand.

"They have the best waffles here. The buttermilk ones are my favorite, and what I always order. Get anything you want, my treat."

I smiled and observed the menu and soon enough we both were digging into our plates. Our conversation was kept light and jovial, each enjoying our meals and company. The smile wouldn't leave my face and by the time he paid my cheeks hurt.

Mykel retook my hand as we set off on the road again and headed home. The ride was made with a peace filled quiet, my hand tucked in his, the music playing softly in the background.

When we got home, Liz was already asleep; or simply hiding in her room so as not to disturb us.

We made our way to my room and I collapsed on my bed, sprawled across the entirety of its surface. Mykel chuckled squeezing into the little bit of clear space left. He ran his fingers through my hair and I felt myself instantly relax, my eyes growing heavy.

"You're gonna put me to sleep if you keep doing that," I told him, my speech beginning to slur with approaching slumber.

He chuckled kissing the top of my head, but didn't stop his ministrations, and true to word I quickly fell asleep.

The next week went by in a blur and I was truly grateful for having the weekend off. I was exhausted and by the time Saturday rolled around, I felt just as tired as I had the night before. 

I padded through the kitchen rubbing the sleep from my eyes, yawning wide as I poured myself some coffee. I picked up the sheet of paper that had my name written across it. I smiled as I began to read the neat and flowing script.

Mon bonheur,

Forgive my not being able to wake with you this morning, as I had some last minute details to finish up at the shop. I made you a fresh pot, I'm sure you'll be up before it gets too cold. Just as sure as you didn't even see this until after your first sip. Or third or fourth.

Eat something, Mattie, coffee alone is not breakfast. 

If all goes like I plan, I'll be home before noon.

All my love

Mykel

I stared at those three words at the end completely obfuscated on if he meant those words literally, or if it was a simple salutation to sign notes with.

I smiled despite racing thoughts at the light humor, and his gentle prodding of me eating. Since he had made the connection of my terrible eating habits, he had been making sure I ate more than I pushed my food around. He didn't push me about finishing the plate, but he did keep on me to eat until I was full.

I finished my cup of coffee, forgoing breakfast for the moment. I needed to clean myself up. 

I made my way back upstairs and into my bathroom. I don't know really what came over me in that moment, but instead of laying down a couple towels and washing myself via the sink, I turned toward the shower. 

Mykel and I had been showering together and the panic I felt at the task had begun to wane the slightest bit. Not every shower, but little by little he was training me to overcome my greatest fear. There had never been anything s****l about these showers, but his presence kept me calm through it. I stripped and turned on the water, still moving on autopilot, and pulled the lever to turn on the shower head.

It wasn't until I stepped in that any wave of calm vanquished.