Nervous.
I was a wreck of emotions as I stood in the heart of a playground. Draping my sticky and dirty hair in a ponytail, I heaved in a shaky breath of hope as my body shook from the heated cold the night blustered.
For the first time in my life, I was going to be corny, mushy and stupid. But it’s going to be worth it. I told myself over and over again. Shuddering from the cold wind that announced the snowfall’s proximity, I couldn’t help but smile up at the night, blue sky that shone with gorgeousness.
Impatiently, I tapped my boot against the muddy ground that surrounded the swings—our secret spot. I held my coat tighter as the grip of the picture I clutched squeezed.
Did Teresa tell him about the papers? Did he open it up? Will he forgive me and come?
Groaning out of frustration, I looked up at the night and took in my surrounding. Briefly closing my eyes, I felt a soft yet cold trickle delighting the tip of my nose. When I untied my eyes, I saw a snowflake resting there as countless of others began to whirl down around me.
It was beautiful.
Snowfall came and in the perfect moment—the time that I gave my macadamias to a man. A girl that’s a feminist shows how much she loves a man by spending hours in the kitchen and baking. And hell, he better like those cookies because I’d never do it again. It was degrading to see myself with an apron and letting Olivia and Alexis tease me because of it.
But as soon as I saw the building’s lights that sparkled across the midst of falling snowflakes, a smile fenced my sneering mouth. “It’s so beautiful,” I whispered as I raised my free hand, letting little snow creatures land on my palm and rest there with its cold yet tingling sensation. Glancing up at the snow-covered scrawny trees that surrounded the park, I fought a smile as I felt swooning away, leaving my worried self in the core of a winter wonderland.
But it was just beautiful.
And soon, I found myself within the haze the beauty that winter spelled on. Twirling around with my hands aside, I closed my eyes and heard my own laughter blending with some sweet chuckles.
“Charming as always, Butch.”
Snappily, I stopped and turned around to see a slightly panting Andrew with huge cocky grin on his tempting face.
“You came,” I breathed as my heart raced off.
“Duh,” his smirk grew wider as he crossed the breathtaking wintry scenario. “Or… maybe I’m not here and I’m just a product of your imagination.”
But his taunts didn’t affect me. He came! And all that I could do was to stare at him and to glance at his loosened black tie that messily hung on his blouse—a white dressing blouse that cleaved from his every muscle. Captivatingly, his enchanting smirk lightened the snowflakes brighter as they whirled around him, but he seemed not to notice that it was snowfall. Andrew just narrowed his eyes at me with a glint of amusement.
“Macadamias are my favorite,” he mentioned nonchalantly as he walked closer to me.
Shaking my head, I had to reason whether he was real or not. “Um.”
“I missed this place,” he glanced around the swings and smirked as he came closer and closer. “So, Miss Riley Butch Michelle Benjamin, I’m here,” Andrew threw his arms at his sides and innocently shrugged while his chest heaved, “What is it?”
Looking up at him, I saw how the snowy dusty particles swirled around him and rested upon his thick and boyish eyelashes. He blinked a few times, smirking down at me, and clearly controlling his breathing.
“You ran here?”
“I—uh, well, there was a swollen traffic near the office and it was getting late,” he nervously stuttered, thing that made me feel more confident in my chose of words. “But I’m here, now… what was it that you wanted to tell me.”
“Who says that I have to tell you something?” I grinned up at him as his face became paler and his cheeks flushed.
“Oh, well, then, if that’s the case then I have nothing to do here—plus, it’s freezing cold,” he flashed a sarcastic smile and spun on his heels to walk away; but I had to stop him.
“It’s Octember, Boba.”
Andrew tilted his head in confusion and rotated back around to step closer to me. “What?”
“You remember when we became best friends and I told you I was going to fall for you in Octember?”
His eyes dazed off for a second until his frown softened into a foolish grin. “Y-yeah!” he almost shouted.
I looked down at the picture I held before stretching it out to him, “I stole it from you when you left a year ago.”
Andrew slowly grasped the picture of him with the grinning couple and his smirk was so big I thought it hurt him. “Why?”
Looking at the swings, I inhaled in to tell him something he might use to mock me for the rest of my life. “When you left, that was the only thing that made me smile. You were right… I missed you.”
He crossed his arms around his strong chest and arched up an eyebrow. “Okay,” he said awkwardly, but I knew he was enjoying this—his smirk was proof of it. Teasingly, he motioned me to carry on.
“I-I think I fell for you, Boba,” I confessed. His other brow joined its twin in an arched position as his cheeks glowed and the tip of his nose flushed from the harsh weather. “Correction—I fell for you. Because stopping you was the hardest thing I did in my life.”
Yes, stopping him in the make-out session we had, was the hardest thing I did. And I’d make sure to never stop it again. Not as long as I am alive and Andrew’s with me.
Suddenly, Andrew stepped even closer while the dusts whirled at his command—making him more attractive at the second. I wanted him—let me be selfish for a second and have you, Boba, please. Andrew Lukewood was any woman’s dream in flesh. And I was the only stupid one to not notice his charming and cute exquisiteness…until now.
His cheeks were chiseled like a finely-carved Michelangelo statue. His nose was perfectly symmetrical. His lips were slightly full: the kind that end in a cute little smirk at the corners. And the rays of the streetlights highlighted the dimples in his cheeks, melting my yearning senses to his feet.
A painful flicker on my temple brought me back from my contemplation. “Ouch! What was that for?” I snapped at him, slowly yet unwillingly glaring at him.
“Itsy bitsy stupid little spider, Riley,” he huskily said as he flickered my forehead again, a teasing and tempting smile dangled from his mouth.
My glare softened into louds chuckles of bliss as I tried to turn serious. Abruptly, Andrew turned grave and I couldn’t help but smile a sheepish cheeky beam. His hand slowly reached out for mine and he gently placed it on his chest, flattening my palm on top of his robust sternum.
“Can you feel it?”
I felt the erratic beating heart that drummed with power and as it was meant to be, mine joined his beating, cavorting together in unity. Docilely, I nodded at him, trying to hide from his scrutinizing and consuming gaze.
“It beats for you, Riley. It has always beaten for you. I’m sorry for everything.” His contralto, dulcet tone embraced the air like the evening perfume of night flowers. Everything about him was simply irresistible.
That mellifluous voice of his made my heart swell with pride and at the same time made it shrunk. I was so stupid for rejecting him or for even choosing Ayden over him. I was stupid for not begging him to stay, for freaking out when he confessed, and for waiting another second to claim him for me.
Not wanting to ruin the moment with words, I flung myself around him, bounding my arms around his neck. Hesitantly yet warmly, he wrapped his resilient arms around my waist and leaned closer, enfolding me in his blissful grip.
“I love you too,” he smoothly whispered on my ear; frissons conquering and erupting on my body as he brushed his lips against my earlobe.
The sweet cold breeze fanned my face and I closed my eyes in the enjoyment until a hot breath wafted my face instead of the cold wind. Unsealing my eyes, I found light nut-brown eyes staring back at me affectionately. Caringly, I felt his hands tightening above the hem of my jacket as he pulled me closer to his passionate warmth. He gave me that quirky smile that he knew that I’d loved; it gave me the feeling that he knew something that I didn’t. I could feel the warmth of his breath brushing the top of my lip, teasing and joshing me.
“Kiss me already,” I breathed out in an intensifying second.
I was stretching up on my toes and he was leaning down at the same time, until our lips were delightfully stroking against each other. Finally, we kissed again and I wasn’t going to stop him.
Ayden was right, if we love each other why aren’t we together?
My heart beat even faster when I felt Andrew smiling against the sugarcoated kiss. A blissed shriek was muffled by his lips as he lifted me up to deepen our kiss. He started to smoothly move his lips and I followed suit—since I’m not an expert.
When we parted our lips, I saw the smog his panting blew; but still, the quirky smile never left his face. My fingers traveled deep inside his silky, curly russet hair, feeling the velvetiness and coldness on his skin. But even though he was freezing, he was still warm.
We kept on staring at each other’s eyes, engulfing ourselves in a deep connection that’d seal us for the rest of our lives. A twinkling snowflake appeared in between the small gap between our faces, landing on Boba’s red nose. He chuckled as his eyes crossed together to look at it. And out of the impulse, I reached over and kissed it, lingering my lips on his cold, rosy nose.
Andrew’s eyes widened with a glint I’d never seen before—is it happiness? Maybe. I’ll never know; the only thing I do know is that I’m feeling happiness myself.
As I blinked a few times to hide the sheepish blush that attacked my cheeks, he laughed his sweet chuckle and pressed his lips against my left heated cheek.
“You’re so cute when you blush,” he stated while he continued to kiss my other cheek and my forehead. “You’re just simply beautiful…Riley.”
“You’re not that bad yourself,” I ended up letting out a soft giggle as his lips lowered to my chin.
He abruptly backed away, to smirk down at me, quickly attacking me with an embrace. “Ah! I can’t believe this is happening,” Andrew began to hold me tighter and to twirl his body around, swinging me with him.
It was truly magical. Me, in his arms; while he twirled us underneath the magical heavens that threw down snowflakes around us, blessing us with pouring snow of beauty that sealed our perfect night.
“Hey,” he suddenly stopped spinning us around to put me on my feet. “Do you want me dead or something? I know this is good and all, but I’m freezing.”
I chuckled as my eyes saw his wet dressing blouse and his hair covered in white particles. “Come,” I said breathlessly as I grasped his cold hand and ran to the park’s enter to catch a cab.
“Where are we going?” he asked; I could sense his amusement underneath his bewildered tone.
“Home,” I simply answered, glancing back at him to see his mischievous smirk.
♦♥♦
“Here, use this.” I handed him one of my football jerseys that was huge and some large pajama trousers. “What?” I enquired when I saw his arched up eyebrow. “Just try it on, Andrew.”
“Okay,” he chuckled as he went inside the bathroom.
While he changed, I took the moment to giggle up and change too. Thankfully, Skittles wasn’t home and I assume she was visiting her parents. So that means the whole night was for us. It took me more than two minutes to change in an oversized jersey and baggy pants—that’s why I love being a simple girl.
Cautiously, I closed my room’s door behind me and tiptoed to the living room. “What’s taking that boy so long?” I huffed as I placed my hands on my hips.
“You know why I love that you’re a tomboy?” a husky voice said behind me as I spun around to see the most dazzling man alive. “Because we can share clothes and still look sexy.”
“I agree,” I winked at him and randomly, smacked his forehead. “Tag! You can’t catch me!”
His face looked puzzled before he pulled out a smirk and grabbed my waist. “I already have you under my spell, Riley—what’s there to catch?”
Clearing my throat nervously, I glanced up at him and smiled. “I thought you’d chase me around the room—you know…like in the movies.”
His nose scrunched up in distaste as he hugged me, “Nah, let’s do something better.”
I swallowed hard. “W-w-what?”
Please be not what I’m thinking! Please! I’m not ready!
“Bake some cookies for me, I want to see you doing it,” he requested boyishly.
What?! Are you crazy? Again?
But there was a velvety urge under his tone, and I couldn’t help to pull myself away from his arms.
“What do you say, Riley?” Andrew ignored my flinch and frown as he tortured me with a beautiful and exciting grin.
No! Hell, no! “Y-yes. Why not?”
“Awesome!” Boba fist pumped in the air, spun around, and dashed to the breakfast bar, settling himself on the nearby stool. “So…I’m just going to watch, okay?”
“Did your Mom actually bake a lot for you?” I asked. Rolling my eyes at his boyish grin that was accompanied by two adorable dimples at the sides; I gave him my back and started to gather all the supplies and ingredients needed.
“Yes.” The tone he used always came along with a enthusiastic nod. “When I was a kid, she’d always baked goodies and dance with me while they were ready. Are you going to make Macadamias?”
“Do I have another option?” I retorted wittily over my shoulder as I poured the amount of flour needed unto a bowl. “Pass me the eggs.”
A restrained snicker suddenly pulled my attention. “Sure. Do you want me to hop on the counter or lay down on the floor?”
Puzzled, I turned around to see Andrew in the midst of the kitchen, tucking down his trousers, “Oh, God! No! What on earth are you doing?”
“You ordered me to pass you some eggs, I’ll pass you mine.”
“Andrew Lukewood! You’re disgusting! Forget it!” I burst forth, dashing to the fridge to draw out the eggs. “And don’t even think about moving your pants any lower—or I’ll kick your balls.”
“Come on,” he said, laughing and stretching his hands aside in an innocent way. “I was just kidding with the woman I love. Can’t I do that?”
Stiffing a grin, I continued to prepare the mix. “You’re such a silly idiot.”
It brought me down to notice how silent Boba grew. But nevertheless, I continued to crack the eggs, pour milk and water, and stir. While I prepared the cookies, I could feel his searing gaze on my every move—those warm light brown eyes of his…
After twisting the oven on, inserting the platter with dough of cookies inside and kicking the door closed, I turned around, slapping my hands in satisfaction. “Well, all he have to do is wait for—,” oddly, Boba was nowhere in sight. “Boba?”
Suddenly, a slow music began to emerge throughout the room. Curious, I walked deeper until I was on the edge that divided the kitchen and the living room. “Boba?”
“There’s a butch…” his deep voice began to sing. He was still hiding somewhere; therefore I placed my hands on my hips, and pursed a goofy smile that kicked my lips.
“Boba, where are you?”
Some dark curls behind the couch caught my eyes, and he slowly straightened up with a wooden spoon in hands. “Once she was hitting a cute kid in the face…” he used the spoon as a microphone as he began to sway to the slow instrumental music. “And he didn’t like her face. But a deal reunited them... You say deal, I say destiny. It was a beautiful and torturing butch that made my life worthwhile…”
Blushing, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “What are you doing?”
“And Boba is my name… She baptized me during a Star Wars age. She thought Darth Vader sent me… but it turn out to be the very same trendy… a cupid hit us both. We fell into the court of love—but I hit the ground first! Knowing she won’t take me, I decided to let her be… But everything that goes up… has to go down… and tonight… Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight…” he paused gracefully to lock gazes with me before adding suavely, “Tonight… she fell into my arms.”
Flattered, I applauded and walked to him. “Didn’t take you for a singer, Boba.”
“We have a lot to learn from each other because I didn’t take you for an excellent baker,” he smirked, pulling me to him with grinning eyes.
Looking up at my happiness, I pouted my lips, longing for one mesmerizing kiss. But booming sounds rumbled through the walls, interrupting our moment. “Oh, great.”
“What?” Boba asked, glancing at the vibrating walls. “Some party?”
“Yes. Seems like the next door neighbor threw another big party.” I explained sarcastically how the freshman kid liked to imitate frat parties. What a joy! “…It happens at least once a week.”
Andrew’s frowning face soon softened into a quirky smile. “Come,” he said excitedly.
“What are you thinking now?” I inquired. Without prior notice, he grabbed my hand, entwining his fingers between mine as he started to dart us to the door. “Boba!”
“Come, it’ll be fun,” he continued to drag me, almost to the point of crashing us against the closed door.
Boba opened the door, practically shoving me out of the apartment. “I do not like this,” I grumbled.
“Gees, Butch, you don’t even know what I have in mind,” he muttered, slightly annoyed.
Not wanting to ruin our night, I sighed and allowed him to drag me. “Sorry, just take me. Take the wheel, Boba Fett.”
Boba chuckled, closing the door and gently squeezing our entwined hands. “Let’s go.”
We basically jogged to our neighbor’s door like two rascals running away after clowning around. Charmingly, Boba threw me a breathtaking smile over his shoulder as he led me to the door, seizing my heart every second that passed.
Stepping in front of the door, he continued to squeeze soothingly my hand, making my heart thump louder and faster at the feeling of his warm hand intertwined with mine. Smirking, Boba glanced at me before knocking at the door.
Because of the loud music I doubted they heard the knocks, but suddenly Boba said, “Free beer.”
Surprisingly, the door was unlocked open and a scrawny kid smiled at Andrew. “Whoa, are you—?”
“Yeah, kid,” Andrew muttered, stepping inside and leading me with him. “You don’t mind if we join?”
“What about the free beer?” the kid frowned, a mischievous smile growing on his acned face.
“What about the free company of police officers? How old are you—eighteen, nineteen? Old enough to drink? I don’t think so,” Boba retorted, proudly smirking down at the sweaty and stunned face of the kid.
“No! There’s no problem. Come on in,” he ushered us inside, closing the door behind me. “Mi casa es tu casa. Please, enjoy.”
“Thanks,” Boba snorted. Then, he glanced around the small living room jam-packed with hormonal teenagers.
“Andrew, what are we doing here?” I whispered loudly, stretching up on my toes so he could listen over the music.
He leaned closer and smirked, “You’ll see. Stay here, okay, babe?”
Speechless, I slowly nodded. Babe…? I’ve never been called that before and the way he said it…so proud and happy, elated my swollen chest with a secure feeling of protection. I was his…I’m his babe.
The slow and torturing feeling of our hands untying, brought me to my senses. Andrew walked forward, glancing sideways and avoiding any intoxicating dancing partners. He continued to walk deeper into the room until he drifted to reach a small disk jockey booth. He leaned closer and shouted something to the deejay; consequently the man with dreadlocks gave his attention to what Boba was going to say to him.
The room was slightly uncomfortable. You could feel the heat in every corner since there were people kissing, dancing, or talking and laughing all over the place. A group of girls—that were cornered at my left side—whispered and murmured between them, staring and frowning at me. I shrugged their gawks off. After all, I was in pajamas. And somehow I didn’t feel embarrassed, Boba was here and he was in pajamas too. And for the first time, I didn’t felt alone.
“Hey, there,” the zit-kid slurred, walking around me, “You’re my neighbor, right?”
“No,” I spat sarcastically. “I’m Freddy Krueger.”
“I’ve seen you…”
“Good, keep it that way. And what you see you can’t touch,” I added severely, sneering at him.
“Aw,” he cooed, “You’re so feisty—“
“Move it, kid,” a baritone voice interrupted the kid’s moves. “Don’t you get near her, you hear me?”
Andrew stood intimidatingly next to me. I don’t know when he arrived but seems he walked here fast. A grin appeared on my face when I felt the warmness once again, intertwining my hand with his.
“Just because you look like the famous businessman, doesn’t mean you can come here and treat me—“
Before the kid could finish, Andrew grappled his collar and hauled him behind the sofa, shoving him down. “Sit down and relax, okay?”
The kid was so wasted he swooned from the impact. “Poor kid.”
Brusquely, Andrew snapped his head back to me. “Oh, so you wanted to keep talking to him?”
Rolling my eyes at his sudden jealousy, I flashed him a smile. “Sure! I have the hottest man in pajamas and I want to talk to pizza face—that’s wasted. Not the best brainwave you’ve had, Andrew.”
A smirk grew on his mouth. “Come,” he said quickly and dragged me to the center of the living room. “You remember when we danced?”
Frowning at his back, I nodded. “Yes, why?”
Boba turned around, settling his hands on my waist and pulling me closer. “Follow my lead, Riley.” His tantalizing grin made me nod like a robot. Andrew glanced at the deejay and they exchanged nods.
All of a sudden, a sweet, mid-slow, pop music emerged and swam around the room. I looked at my sides and all eyes were on us. “Andrew…”
Andrew leaned closer to me and placed my hands around his neck. “It’s all about us,” he huskily whispered over the music.
Gracefully, he began to sway us to the music, slowly and delightfully shifting our feet in unison. Everybody was watching us and I felt my face burning when some girls gasped and others awed.
“This is embarrassing,” I muttered, chuckling to myself at the peculiar situation I was in.
“Nope,” Andrew smirked down at me, piercing me with those eyes. “This is just perfect.”
Biting my lip, I smiled at him and pressed my head against his strong and caring chest. Clumsily, I stepped on his bared feet and whispered an apology. “Sorry,” I said, searching for his gaze in the blurriness of the embarrassment.
“You can step on my feet, Riley. I won’t let you fall down,” Andrew chuckled soothingly, provoking a relieved smile on my heated face.
Placing a hand on the back of my head, he pressed my head against his chest. While his hand traveled down my back to accompany his other one on my lower back, he nuzzled his chin on the bridge of my neck and shoulder.
My heart melted at the deliciousness of his comforting presence so close to me. “Now we’re dancing our second dance—our song,” he whispered on my ear, his hot breath tickling me with elation.
“It’s perfect,” I closed my eyes and bounded my arms tighter. “Never let me go, Andrew. Or I’ll kick your balls.”
Boba laughed and wrapped me closer to him, slaying the painful gap between us. “Believe me, now that I have you, it’ll take an army to separate me from you.”
I grinned. Smoothly, Boba straightened, beaming down at me with pride. My bare toes curled in bliss as I stretched up on them to kiss his warm cheek. “Did I tell you that I love you?”
His boyish grin twisted into a masculine smirk decorated with sexy dimples. “No, Miss. Please, tell me.”
“I love you,” I whispered, plating a kiss on his other cheek. “I love you.” I shifted my lips to his nose. “I love you.” And lowering my lips to his upper lip, I brushed them against his, lingering there in that position with him.
Feeling him smile against the kiss activated another smile within the kiss. “I love you more, Butch.”
Tenderly, he parted our lips and turned around, squatting down on his knees. “What are you doing?” I asked, laughing.
“Hop on, Butch,” Andrew chirped and I did as he ordered.
I sat on his back like in piggy rides. “You’re crazy, Boba, you know that?”
“Yep.” He nodded vigorously, standing up and casing my legs around his stout torso. “But you love my craziness. Don’t you dare deny it!”
“I won’t” I smiled, suddenly watching that people were staring at us. For a moment, I thought we were alone, dancing. Wow, talk about uncomfortable. But the first step Andrew took shook a laugh out of me.
“Uh,” Andrew said awkwardly, clearly looking at the gaping teenagers that surrounded us. “Don’t drink. Say no to drugs. Practice abstinence. And read a book. Good evening to all of you.”
Chuckling I sneaked my arms around Boba’s neck, and kissed his soft nape. “Good job, Mr. Lukewood.”
But he abruptly stopped. “Don’t do that, Riley,” Andrew hissed furiously and I whispered an apology. “Thanks for the song,” he said out loud to the dreadlock guy.
The deejay nodded at him with a grin. “No prob. You two was cute as a two button, mon.”
Chuckling, I saw how the door zoomed and wondered where he was taking me. “Where are we going, Boba?”
“Home” was his simple yet amusing answer.
♦♥♦
“Crap!” I cursed out loud as I opened up the oven.
“What happened?” Andrew said, peeping at the oven insides.
“We don’t have gas,” I grumbled. The cookie was still dough and it looked all pathetical and pitiable. “Sorry, Andrew.”
“It’s okay,” he shrugged it off happily, “Tomorrow I’ll call a friend of mine so he could change that old stove for a new one, okay?”
“Really?” my eyes began to bulge out of my sockets as I grinned at him. “Would you do that for me?”
“I’d do everything for you.”
“And I’d do everything for you too, Boba.” Smiling, I shrugged and sighed merrily. “So…what now?” Simultaneously, we both glanced at the kitchen’s clock.
It was ten past twelve.
♦♥♦
Oh…this is beyond awkward.
“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, bringing his fist up to his mouth to feign a cough.
“Um,” I mumbled incoherently, glancing at the queen size bed and at Boba—who stood at the other side.
“Riley, if you want I’ll sleep at the couch. I don’t have a problem with it.”
“No!” I quickly shook my hands at him. “That couch is uncomfortable. I insist. You must sleep here.”
An eyebrow arched up, and a sly smirk appeared on his spellbinding face. “I must?”
“You know what I mean!” I quickly slipped inside the quilt and shuffled the pillow underneath me. “Good night!”
Turning my back to him, I closed my eyes and prayed for sleep to come faster than other nights. Though, that’d be impossible with the man I love sleeping next to me.
“Uh,” he mumbled something under his breath and quickly, yet slowly I felt a weight next to me. “Night.”
A painful minute passed and none of us shifted nor moved a finger. The bed was stiff and the tension was so thick, it was suffocating.
“Riley?” his suave voice whispered.
Relieved that he cut the awkwardness, I rolled around to face him. “Yes?”
Andrew lounged casually, cradling a smirking face. “Could you sleep in my arms?”
His eyes shimmered, and I felt my lungs clasping a breath firmly. Exhaling, I nervously smiled at him. “Y-yes.”
Caringly, he shifted closer to me, “Come,” he said for the fiftieth time today.
My heart drummed erratically as I scooted closer to him until my back was against his chest. His comforting arms enclosed me in a peaceful embrace. While I was underneath the warm quilt, he was outside, caressing my arms and kissing the top of my head.
“There’s a butch…” Boba began to sing again, causing me to chuckle, half-asleep. “She once danced a last dance… and now she’ll rest in the arms of the boy she punched. Now, rest, my beloved. Rest and sleep. ‘Cause Boba will never leave your side…”
More soothing words were sung behind me, but my eyes hung heavy and I couldn’t stop the quick sleep the blinking provided. Soon…everything felt calmed and at peace. Everything felt right like it supposed to be.