Page 48 of A Perfect World
“No more drugs,” I agreed, slanting my mouth over hers. Her kiss chased the shadows back, her taste an anesthetic for my wounds.
“Don’t leave me again,” she whispered. I tightened my arms around her.
“I won’t if you promise the same.”
Looking into eyes I couldn’t break through, I saw more than any thought or image- I sawher.
“I promise.”
We were kissing again as she laid me back. Kissing as she molded into me. Tangled in each other. Despite the fever and endless frayed nerve endings shrieking for narcotics, I’d never been more relaxed. But fear kept my tired eyes open.
“I’m scared to dream,” I admitted.
“Close your eyes,” she said softly. I reluctantly obeyed. “Picture us. Where are we?”
An image bloomed with the smallest prompt.
“The beach, we’re walking.”
“Where?” she asked, drawing circles on my back.
I smiled sleepily. “We’re going somewhere special. It’s not a long walk, but you’re complaining it’s too hot,” I continued as if seeing it all in real time, feeling the sand between my toes and the sun warming my skin. Waves lapping at the wood, the scent of brine and salt filling my nose. “I take you to the dock my dad and I built when I turned ten. It's the only good memory I have of him.”
She stalled her gentle caresses.
“What do we do when we get there?”
“I take you up the steps, you have to be careful on the third one, it’s kind of rotted through now, but you’re holding my hand, so you don’t fall. We sit at the edge and watch the sunset.”
“It sounds perfect.” She sniffled.
“In a perfect world, we’d be like that always.”
Her mouth brushed mine. “Sleep, Beautiful Monster, and dream of a perfect world for you and me.”
23
Courtney
ItwasamiracleI passed my finals. BetweenOllie Watch, as Jack called it, and soothing him when he woke in the middle of the night screaming or accidentally blasting something into the wall, I was exhausted. But I wouldn’t trade any of it for restfulness. I’d happily never sleep again if it meant he was safe, alive andmine.
I dropped my dance bag and shuffled through the kitchen with a bag of food- something enticing enough that maybe he’d eat. Hannah sat at the table with her legs crossed on the seat, eyes like lasers burning into me. I didn’t have the energy for her lecture. She was adamantly against Ollie at this point. To be fair, he hadn’t left the greatest impression after puking in her favorite cereal bowl.
“Jack left, the dog is here,” she snapped. I nodded, numbly walking past her. “After break, he better be gone.”
In all the chaos, I’d completely lost track of time.Find a ride home for winter break.I’d forgotten all about mom’s command. The burgeoning happiness flowering in my chest wilted.
“I’ll talk to him,” I mumbled.And mom. There had to be a loophole to avoid returning home.
“No, like, he has to go. I’m not putting up with him another fucking day,” she demanded. I bristled, hand tightening on the bag of food. She glared at me. “He’s a leech.”
“He’s sick, Hannah.”
“Yea, and you’re not a doctor,” she argued.
I didn’t dignify her with a response as I continued to my room. Her voice rang out once more.
“You were more fun before him.”
