Into the Dark - An Unplanned Encounter...

ELEVEN

I chose to sit on the very edge of Shelley's hotel bed and wait for her to wake up. Being creepy was not my plan and even less something she would throw back to my face and make me regret my attempt to even try to explain myself to her. I had prayed a great deal until sunset and had prepared my first astral travel just to be with her and finally share my feelings. Even went to Heaven council again and asked our Father for a special express training.

Since everything happened, I had never been outside of Paisley Park just because I never had a real purpose to be. Since I met Shelley, my limits had been pushed back a little bit more and I needed to explore what was possible. No one had ever approached me the way Shelley got into my space. She knew I wasn't made of flesh and blood anymore, but we could perceive each other in so many other ways.

I tried to play it hard to get at first but something told me to stop and accept this new experience. I quickly noticed that she couldn't be fooled. When she came back that second time, just by being her own true self, she made it clear she wanted to see me again. I got high hopes to relive something grand. It felt so unreal to watch her sleep there. I had done it before with other women in my past life, but my intentions were quite different this time. Of course, my first thought would have been to wake her up and tell her I was sorry of being a coward in the first place and that I really needed to apologize to have left her unnoticed. But it was definitely not the right way to do that.

I felt her shift a little in bed as if I had thought too loudly. The way she breathed made her look serene. I saw the screen of her cell phone lit up a couple of times on her bedside table but she had put it in silent mode. She didn't even budge. No, I wasn't that nosey to try and read her personal messages even though the thought had crossed my mind. I made it a rule not to get into other people's businesses a long time ago and I'd rather wait for them, only if they were willing, to share.
I looked out the window and the night was still young. I procrastinated for a few seconds and asked myself if I was better off leaving Shelley to her dreams and wait until she decides to visit again. But, after what had happened, I wasn't even sure if she would even try again. I started to panic thinking I was going to be left to myself and who knew when I was going to be able to repeat that experience with a lifer.
I looked around and saw her laptop open with personal documents strayed on the tiny desk in the corner of her bedroom. I stood up and lightly moved the kraft unsealed envelope with federal prepaid stamps on it addressed to Attorney Mark Brown - Divorce Cases. If I still had hair on the back of my neck they would be standing up. Shelley had told me very little about her actual marital situation but I didn't recall her mentioning she was actually going through all this.

I decided to leave it as that and spotted the notebook still open on the other corner. What I read caught my eyes and my fingers nervoulsy turned the pages following the flow of words written with a felt-tip pen. I tried not to make too much noise so I could concentrate on what I was reading.

My mind is set. A change is yet to come. I need this change.
I'm going to plunge back into my very first interests.
First, no more unwanted, toxic, relationships, just straight-up sincerity and fairness.
My migraines have diminished, my only true medicine is Music.
Prince is Music. His music swoons me, better than taking a sip of any fine wine...
I don't need alcohol to be intoxicated. Just hearing him sing and play his guitar makes me...

I suddenly felt some airy background movements. Shelley moaned and mumbled indistinctly in her sleep. I thanked her silently for stopping me from reading the rest of her deepest thoughts and feelings. I found out, not without irony, that I was actually part of it. I also suddenly felt I had literally trespassed some private territory there.

I looked at her hesitantly. She changed sides again and finally rolled on her back. The way she moved her feet made the bed sheets switch sides. Her pajama top was now rolled right up between her belly button and a little beneath her breasts' line.

-" Prince...? " She asked in a semi-loud tone quickly rubbing her eyes.

-" Yea...Yes..." I hovered and felt guilty for even being there and invading her privacy in the first place.

-" What are you doing here? " She inquired trying to raise herself on her elbows still half asleep.

-" I'm really sorry. Did I scare you? " I backed up sadly and looked for a corner to hide.

-" No, No..." She cleared her throat and extended her arm brushing my doubts with her hand.

-" I know I messed up. I'm not the best at..." I lost my words just by looking at her.

The crack of dawn was now passing through the curtains and making fascinating lightning tricks all over her upper body. I knew it wasn't cool to misbehave in such a manner. I had to rearrange a few ideas and come with a softer plan.

-" Prince, I'm not sure I'm getting your point here. You know, I haven't had my coffee yet." She pointed at the time on her cellphone.

-" Totally my fault. I was so worried you might not come back after what happened. So, my next best thing was finding a way to get back to you and apologize..." I hoped she wouldn't get mad watching her knitting her brows.

-"Oh...Well...I thought...Maybe...You probably had made up your mind in not wanting me around... anymore...? " She replied confused while rearranging her hair a bit.

-" What!? No!? I need to tell you what really happened. May I?... " I asked permission to sit back on her bed.

She leaned against the headboard, pulled the cover over her folded legs and joined her hands in the most precious manner.

I told her everything about the moment I left the bedroom like a thief hearing the first people coming inside Paisley Park, my retreat inside Studio A, me refusing to come out and be brave enough to let her know about the redundant searches since I passed away and finally my actual feelings since we met.

-" I'm happy you came. I was worried we would be ending things like this without even talking to each other again. " Shelley looked at me with compassionate eyes.

-" Absolutely not. I respect you too much already. Honesty has been pretty hard on me these past years so I owe it to you to have stuck with me until now. Thank you for your genuineness." I reached slowly for her hand.

-" I also still have to work on myself and be a little more...open. But I think it'll take some time." She tingled at my touch but never pulled back.

Shelley's eyes dropped with concern over the tiny desk. I moved slowly by her side and we both stared at the envelop.

- " It's OK. I understand. You don't even have to explain. " I attemped to pat and squeeze lightly her soft hand.

-" I want, I want to see you again." Shelley murmured without looking at me.

-" We're here now. No one can take that away from us. " I reassured her.

Shelley closed her eyes and rested her temple on my shoulder as I tried to stay as solid as possible.