You Are What You Eat

You Are What You Eat

She sat alone at the dinner table, the small yellow candlelight illuminating the table, her meal, the cup and unopened bottle on the table.

Looking at the clock on the wall opposite her, a smile slowly manifested on her face as the clock struck 10pm; the exact time she met her beloved all those years ago.

Pressing her palms against one another, she whispered a small prayer, thanking God for allowing her to meet her beloved, before picking up the knife and fork on the sides of her place and eating.

Taking the first bite, tears immediately ran down her cheeks as she was reminded of the first meal they shared in this very house. The second mouthful brought memories of them relaxing in the living room either watching TV or just wrapped in each others embrace, listening to the beating of each others hearts.

Each mouthful caused a memory to resurface and each resurfaced memory caused tears to fall from her eyes. Reaching for the bottle next to her, she unscrewed the cork and poured out a thick dark red liquid into the cup next to her, filling it to the brim. Raising the cup in a toast to her beloved, she emptied it in a single breath, careful not to let any spill.

Wiping her lips with the back of her hand, she looked down at the almost empty plate and with a heavy heart took the next bite. As the taste filled her mouth, her eyes rolling to the back of her head in ecstasy as a memory surfaced, but it wasn't one of hers; it was a memory that belonged to her beloved.

She watched through his eyes as her beloved took his very first steps, feeling the fear and excitement he felt as he tottered towards the smiling woman; his mother. The memory faded several moments later, leaving her with a sense of longing. Looking at the last piece of food on her plate, she reluctantly placed it in her mouth and slowly chewed, more tears falling from her eyes as she relived their first kiss but from the eyes of her beloved. Her heart fluttered as she felt the fear and worry in her beloved; fear that he would disappoint her with the kiss. However she didn't care. He was her beloved, he was perfect.

Sorrow flooded her heart as the experience faded away, causing her to stare at the empty plate. Pouring the remainder of the of the drink into her cup, she drained it in a single breath again before getting up and placing the plate and cup in the sink.

Walking to the bedroom that she and her beloved shared, she stopped in front of the thick steel door. Taking the key from her pocket, she unlocked the door and stepped in, the hallway light illuminating the room, revealing the inhabitant of the room; a man tied to the bed, his entire left arm and leg missing with a slim tube running from his right arm to the bag filled with glucose solution next to him.

"Bear with me just a little bit longer my beloved" she cooed as she climbed onto the bed, wrapping her arms around his unconscious body. "I will soon be done and then you and I will he one, inseparable forever" her finger traces the bandaged area where his left shoulder used to be, a look of hunger and longing in her eyes.

"I'm seeing more of your memories my beloved. Soon you will be me and I will be you, no longer two separate beings, but one flesh" her finger traces his chest as she pulled closer to him, inhaling his scent and listening to his gentle heartbeat as she rested her head on his chest "After all, you are what you eat" she murmured as sleep overtook her.