Mitigating Circumstances cont...

**ETA: I edited this part a bit, if anyone cares. (If anyone reads! HA!) But for the sake of accuracy, posterity, and perfection I correct.

I hate how blogger goes from most recent post then backward in time. Why can't I change my settings so you read my posts in order of their inception?

Part I.

The book sits on his lap while he leans his head back against the wall. It falls on top of the propped up pillows which support his neck. He put it down after realizing he'd read the same sentence three times without any comprehension. Any pretense of normalcy or relaxation was useless in the face of such anxiety. But what was done was done. He wasn't sure if he was more afraid of her coming or standing him up.

It is then the tumbler clicks announcing her arrival.

Of course she wouldn't knock, you gave her a key.

He held is breath.

She appeared in the threshold. She was fresh faced and lovely, wearing pajamas of all things, and she eyed him expectantly. Her lips were focused; pursed almost as if suppressing a smile. He felt like a deer trapped in the headlights.

"You're scared to death, aren't you?" She asked.

He looked down, guilty as charged. She padded over and sat at the foot of the bed.

"I don't understand; I'm so confused. Why did you ask me here? How did you know…" her voice trailed off and she looked away.

"I saw Sandra, she told me the news. I couldn't believe it." He paused a moment, but then pressed on. It was too late to hold back now. "I know what I said Sabi, I don’t mean to upset you on top of it all but I just had to see you. This is so… so devastating. I was in shock. The reasons, everything else that happened, suddenly seemed unimportant."

Her eyes looked like pools of liquid that shined, with little crinkles appearing at the corners. "I'm not upset," she said softly, "I'm just in shock myself I guess. I can't believe you did this. I'm glad you did." Her smile faded somewhat. "God that makes me such a shit."

"You're not a shit."

"He's now blaming everything on the tumor you know; my actions, my misjudgments," she said.

"Interesting. And you? What do you think Sabine?"

"I could never have made you up."

She looked uncomfortable all of a sudden, that initial boldness deflated. Levers and pulleys shifted as she surrendered authority.

"Please, just hold me tightly. Keep me safe, even for tonight."
He extended his arms and she crawled up the bed into their embrace, burying her face into his tee shirt. He encircled her entire body, and caressed her soft hair while she wept.