Bought for him

While she slept

Zack kept knocking on the bathroom door.

"Chris, come out. She's not crying anymore."

Chris slowly opened the door. His face was red. His hands were still shaking.

Zack whispered, "She fell asleep crying, man. Just... don't be weird."

Chris stepped out of the bathroom.

Channelle was curled up on the far corner of his huge bed. She had finally cried herself to sleep, still holding his black shirt tight. Her red hair was spread over the pillow, her face peaceful for the first time that night. A little tear still on her cheek.

Chris just stood there. Staring.

For five years he only saw her from across the café. Now she was here. Asleep in his room.

He walked slowly toward the bed — not to touch her, just to look. He stopped a few feet away.

She looked so small. So beautiful.

He wanted to fix her hair. He wanted to cover her with a blanket. But he was too shy to even do that. He was scared he would wake her and she would start begging again.

So he turned and sat on the couch beside the bed. Far enough that she would feel safe. Close enough that he could still see her.

Zack sighed and sat on the floor. "You're really just going to sit there and watch her sleep?"

Chris didn't answer. He leaned back on the couch, eyes still on her, and slowly — after the longest night of his life — fell asleep too.

---

Morning.

KNOCK KNOCK.

"Young master? Breakfast is ready. Mr. Isaac asked you to come down with... your guest."

A maid opened the door. She paused when she saw Channelle still asleep on the bed and Chris already awake on the couch, staring at her.

Chris put a finger to his lips. "Shhh."

The maid nodded and left quietly.

Chris stood up. He looked at Channelle one more time — sleeping, breathing softly, safe for now.

Then he walked downstairs to get her breakfast himself. For the first time in five years, he was going to bring her something, not just watch her from a corner table.