Withering Daydream

V: Bohemian Togetherness

Dinners outside, shopping, late nights cozying about.

Late mornings too, full of breakfast and love.

I awoke, late for my body's clock.

He was not in bed.

Did he go already? I panicked.

The slim fabric on my body rustled. 

The sheets on the bed fell to the floor.

His black shirt was all that I had worn.

I ran out of my room, troubled even more.

And then, I heard the crackle of frying eggs.

My heart was relieved.

I slowly walked in the kitchen, traipsing leisurely.

My eyes wandering all over him.

"Good morning, darling. Breakfast?"

He leaned into me and had a smooch.

His upper body was naked, bare.

Apparently, I had given him some tattoos.

Light pink and purple bruises.

"Last night was fun, perhaps," I shrugged.

The eggs smelled nice.

He bent down and kissed my jaw. "That it was."

I had a bite. "New recipe?"

I looked around the kitchen, and noticed my thrifted cookbook in a corner.

He'd been using it.

"Like it?" he asked, and I gave him a bite of it.

"Perfect, just like you," he said aloud, once he was done.

"Am I not a good cook?" he and I both laughed.

My husband.

~ 

Seven months were to pass now, but I was a newlywed still.

The doorbell rang. I ran towards the door.

He didn't say he'd be here so soon...

I tied up my hair, opened the door.

"Parcel for you, ma'am," a man with cap said.

His hands had a bouquet larger than life.

"Thank you," I mumbled absent-mindedly, and took it in,

Then closed the door.

Deep red tulips, a bouquet the size of a painting.

A white card in the center.

I sat on the floor I had just mopped down, opening it up.

'I'm really sorry, darling, sweetie, wife-

I won't be able to come until late next week.

Work doesn't let me.

These tulips are a mere sorry, nothing compared to my love for you...

Until we meet again. Kisses, your loving husband.'

I was not angry. Never had been. In fact, I was worried.

He would be so tired. If only...if only, I was there for him.

I kissed the typewritten card, then kept it in a drawer.

The tulips would grace my little drawing room.

~

He was very late this time.