Two Fangs Deep

Time to Say Goodbye

There she was, just sitting there staring into nothingness. The rising sun made her brown hair glisten showing its true underlying scarlet color. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen even covered in blood, dirt, scratches, and bruises. I don't deserve her. I know that. But I'm still standing here like an awkward teenage boy, unable to just walk away from this, from her.

I started to approach her. Not knowing what to do, simply acting on instinct... on emotion. I sat down behind her. 

"Alexandra, can I call you Alexandra?" I asked gently. She shook her head in response. 

"Scarlett, then?" she shook her head again.

 "I understand how you're feeling. You may not believe me but I do..." I paused and placed my hand on her shoulder to my surprise she leaned unto my touch.

I proceeded to slowly hug her balled-up body close to me. Using my body to cover her like a shield from the world. I could feel her body start to shake. I put my hand on her head, stroking her hair, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. Comforting her. 

"I know how you feel, Love. Because... we are one and the same." I whispered into her hair and kissed the top of her head. 

"The world has been unfair to us, all our lives." I hugged her tight as if I didn't she would disappear. I could feel her tears soaking my dirty clothes as I continued to stroke her hair. 

"But in the end, we found each other. And that is all that matters..." I said barely above a whisper.

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It felt like we sat there for an eternity before she stopped shaking and had fallen asleep in my arms. I dared not move in the fear of waking her. I sat there, holding her sleeping form for what felt like only minutes but it must have been hours. The clouds were dark in the sky. I ignored it for a long while, laying my head on top of hers my eyes closed, enjoying the moment but it didn't take long before I felt the first raindrop fall. 

"We have to get inside, Love," I told her in the softest voice I could muster. She didn't speak. She simply cuddled closer to my chest. The rain started to pour down. I needed to get her inside. I put one arm under her knees and one supporting her back. She put her arms around my neck for support as I lifted her. I was quick to get inside and up to her room. I opened the door, and the room appeared so empty. She hadn't spent a night here in a long, long time. I walked over to the bed and laid her down and tucked her in. I turned towards the window and shut the curtains. I was about to leave to let her get some well-deserved sleep when she spoke for the first time in hours. 

"Please don't leave..." She said barely above a whisper. I turned towards her she was looking at me with her big, pleading, ocean-blue eyes. 

"Okay, Love..." I replied softly and walked over to the other side of the bed, getting under the cover and sitting with my back against the headboard. She proceeded to scoot closer to me and I automatically put my arm around her. She laid her head on my chest, cuddling close to me, and was instantly out like a light. It didn't take long before I was out too. It had been a long day.

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I woke and stretched my arm out to the side only to find the spot where Scarlett had previously been, empty. For a moment I felt a panic rise in my chest as I quickly rose from the bed. As I scanned the room for her I heard the sound of the shower. I let out a sigh of relief and sat back down on the bed. 

It didn't take long before Scarlett came out of the bathroom wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, her long brown hair hanging over her shoulder looking damp. The hoodie was big on her, covering her hands as she used her arms to hold herself. She held her head down, not wanting to look at me.