He Left Me Alone

51

“I like my christmas presents,” He said.

“I’m glad that you do.”

We were laying still. I was resting my head on his chest. The cold winter weather didn’t seem interested to enter a little bubble we were in.

“Best christmas presents ever,” He rubbed my hair. I liked it. So I put my hands around his hips and pulled him in closer. “But I haven’t got you any present.

“You don’t have to.”

There was a thin blanket of silence, until he asked, “Tommy, can I ask a question?”

I nodded.

He paused for quite a long time, and said, in a deep, sincere voice, “Do you love me?”

I did pause, too. Not because I didn’t know the answer. I did know exactly the answer, I was sure about it. But because I was surprised to getting him asked me this question.

“You know the answer.”

“I do. I just had to ask it.”

“Well, some wise young man told me that love doesn’t have to be said. You know exactly who that wise young man is.”

He chuckled. I did too.

“I like that wise young man,” he still chuckled.

I could feel his breath. The way his chest move up and down. So steady and calm.