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“Matt!” I groaned, rolling over, to him obsessing over scrolls. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to wake you,” he said walking away from the room.
Damn. I didn’t mean to do that.
“No wait! Come ba-“ and the door was shut in my face. Rude. so unlike Matt too. I wonder what that’s about.
I walked across the halls, stumbling into different rooms, fully taking in the place. Just got sentimental I guess. But something felt off. I couldn’t place it, but the general air shifted. It just wasn’t…right. And that made me a tad more paranoid than the usual amount.
“Hey uh… What’s up with Matt?” I asked the room in general. “I don’t know,” Lilliah said, “Probably went to the library though.” “Thanks,” I said before, absolutely bolting.
And then a realization came to me, and my idiotic brain. And so I made a mad dash back,
“That was quick, he threaten to turn you into a toad?” Lilliah asked. “No, I just need the date,” I said, in no calm manner. Very kingly of me. “uh…September 5?” Lilliah said. “Thanks!” I said doing a mad dash through the halls, something Harlow witnessed. I could feel his glare.
Mental note: Do not run through the halls, and trip on a loose carpet. You WILL roll into the library. and if your spouse is anything like mine, they WILL witness it. And They WILL burst into laughter.
“Hey stop it!” I said in protest, but that didn’t seem to stop him at all. To my horror, he continued. “How does that even happen?!” Matt asks. “I tripped,” I replied. “You aren’t even wearing a robe,” Matt said. “In defense of me, I ran here,” I said. “What brings you in here?” Matt asked. “You,” I replied. Okay, I think that was pretty slick, Matt’s face turned to one that’s unimpressed, “oh, why’s that?” he asked, backing away, looking like a pained animal. “Are you okay?!” I asked at the same time, stepping forward.
We did an awkward exchange, going forward and backward, like dancing or something. “Why wouldn’t I be?” Matt asked. “I don’t think you’ve forgotten,” I said my arms crossed. Matt sighed, shook his head. “I’m fine, I have so much research to keep me busy,” he said. “You don’t even want a hug?” I asked. “Arek,” he said. which was how I knew I was in trouble. Matt just sighed. “I’m sorry,” I said taking a seat. I gestured for Matt to sit as well. Matt raised an eyebrow. “You have an entire floor,” I pointed out. Matt sat.
“How are you doing today? Like actually. Don’t give me the BS,” I said, stared very insensitively, Great job me. Spirits. Matt stared at the floor and shrugged. Today was always a hard day for him. I sighed. “C’mere,” I said pulling him into me. “Thanks, doofus,” he said. I just hugged him tighter. Matt rested his head on my shoulder. I would’ve made a joke that Matt is normally the one who’s level headed, but I thought that now wasn’t the time. Progress! “Just so you know, I’m not pulling away first,” I said.
Matt basically went limp just lying there accepting the hug. Like a dead fish. I can’t tell the time that passed, but it seemed like both a large and a small amount at the same time. So forty-five minutes?
Matt pulled away, but he was still shaking. His eyes turned slightly red. “Oh no you don’t,” I said, pulling him back in. “If you need you can cry on my shoulder,” I said. Matt didn’t even consider it for a moment, tears fell silently from his face. This took a while.
Matt mumbled, “I’m sorry.” “Matt, you’re only seventeen. And we’re married,” I reminded him. Matt tried to lift his head up, but he was weighed down by grief, I think. He just lied there on my shoulder. “Hey, I love you,” I said. “I love you too,” he replied. Before going back to drenching my sleeve. With one arm in a hug, I took my other and started patting his hair.
“Alright come here,” I said picking Matt up.
We were both standing now, me hugging his waist with one arm, allowing him to walk. Matt just followed my lead. His brain kaputt from the grief he was feeling. It’s hard to lose a parent so young.
We walked until we reached our room, I sat him down. “I’m going to get you some water,” I said. I left the room to go grab him some.
When I returned Matt was muttering furiously to himself. “Here’s water,” I handed the glass to Matt, sitting next to him. “Thanks,” He managed to get out. Grief is a powerful thing. But love is equally powerful isn’t it.