Heaven Knows

20: Dominic

“My parents told me to follow my dreams. So I did.” I prompted.

She scooted so that she could make room for me in her bed. She tapped the space beside her. My eyes widened at her and she immediately read my mind and she chuckled.

“Relax. I’m not doing anything to you.”

She laid her head back on her pillow. “Love and loss share the same unmade bed.”

I looked back at her. “What?”

“Michael Faudet.”

“No. My name’s Dominic Savio.”

She pinched my arm. “No, silly. It’s the poet who wrote that line.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What line?”

She sighed in surrender as she looked up the ceiling of word constellations. “The one written on top of your head.”

I faced the ceiling to see for myself. And when I looked back at her, she was looking right back at me.

“I’m sorry I dropped the ice creams.” She said.

I snickered. “Screw the ice creams. I don’t care about them.”

“Do you care about me?” she whispered.

My eyes traced the outline of her eyes, her nose and they stopped on her lips.

“More than you know.”

She sighed as she pouted her lips like a child.

“Why does my heart beat like this when I look at you?”

“Maybe because we feel the same way.”

“Can I feel your heartbeat? Cause mine, boy, it sure does could run like a cheetah.”

I laughed and then she pulled me to sit up with her. She took my hand and she directed it to rest on top of her chest. I felt fire on my cheeks the moment she did that.

“Don’t give malice on this or else I’ll kill you.” she narrowed her eyes at me and I swallowed hard.

She let out a heavy breath. “Can you feel it? My heartbeat.”

I felt its normal thump on the palm of my hand. “Yes.”

I tried to pull it away from her but she pulled it back.

“Say something.”

“Like what?”

“Anything.” her hand warmed on my hold and I felt myself drift away. I wanted to look at the ceiling and search for words to say but they were too many. So I focused down on her face.

Sometimes, I wish I could just draw her, write her, and play her like the notes on my musical sheet. In that way I could keep her. At least there, beneath the strokes, the written words, and the melody… she’s with me. She’s alive. I could keep her forever.

My free hand made its way to her face. My fingers caressed the soft contours of her cheek. Slowly, her heartbeat took a few steps to speed.

“I love you.” I whispered.

I felt her chest rise with the words as she breathed and her heart trotted like horses on the run. She smiled up at me as she released my hand from the shackle of her hand. She tentatively leaned into me. She cupped my face with her hands and she closed the space between our waiting lips.

“Your heartbeat accelerated speed.” she grinned at me as she put a hand to my chest.

It was a soft short kiss that was meant to respond to my earlier words. But it sent more meaning to me than it should be. I kissed her again and when she responded, I pulled her closer to me that no space could come in-between. I thought time itself would stop. And when she pulled away, my lips followed her anyway.

She put a hand on my chest to stop me. Her eyes met mine and she giggled.

“If you want me to live longer, at least let me breathe.”

She flopped back to the comforts of her pillow. My head obliged to my own body and it rested its passions and deep concerns on her other pillow.

Her eyes flickered sleepily at me. “Good night, Dom.”

She placed three fingers to her lips and she whispered soft kisses to them; then she sent them down to mine before she turned her back to me.

I found myself laughing inside as I watched her back.

“I can still feel you looking at Me.” she said.

 “I’m not.” I prompted.

“Liar.” She immediately turned to face me with a wide smile plastered on her delicate face. She attacked me with a kiss. I was caught on her fire and I’ve matched hers with mine. She pinched my cheeks before she pulled herself away from me.

“Anna—” Mrs. H opened the door and we were both glad we were out of trouble.

Anna smiled at her awkwardly for almost being caught making out with me. Mrs. H sighed in relief.

“Please get some rest.” she told her before turning to me. “And you, make sure she sleeps well tonight.”

I exhaled. “Yes, ma’am.”

After Mrs. H closed the door, Anna laughed beside me.

“You heard your mom.” I chided. “Get some sleep.”

“Yes, commander.” She teased as she closed her eyes. I leaned in to kiss her nose.

“Dom,” she said, although her eyes remained shut. “How will I get some sleep when you’re that sweet?”

I chuckled. “Good night, Anna. Don’t worry I’ll still be here when you wake up.”

She peeked at me. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes, I am.” I whispered and she opened her eyes to my smile.

She sighed. “Are you huggable?”

“Why don’t you find out?” I smirked at her.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and she dropped her head down to rest on my chest.

“I can sleep like this.” she said. I could feel her smile in my heart.

I kissed the top of her head and we both drifted into a peaceful sleep not worrying about brain tumors and forgetting things.