I heard laughing.
It was soft and she was trying to hold it in but the beautiful sound came out again. I opened my eyes to the early dawn, my eyes searched for the source of the laughter.
She knelt by the bed her unusually light eyes shone in the
early morning light. Her uncommonly pallid complexion was dotted with the
physical manifestations of a terrible nightmare. The skirt of her blue sundress spread neatly on the floor. I blinked again at the morning light.
She looked up at me, her hands wrapped around her favorite doll.
“It’s too early to be awake”, I said
“But I’m not sleepy, Mommy”, she said stubborn as always
“Well, I am. Come lay down.”
She pouted but gave in and with her doll securely in her grasp she climbed in with me.I pulled her close, her dark curls tickling the edge of my nose.
"shhh", she said as to quiet my laugh.
"Why", I whispered
She pointed across my shoulder. I turned around and for the first time I became aware of the strong arms around my waist. Rosalie crawled beneath the blanket between us, pressing herself to my chest. I reached out running a hand along his cheek till his eyes opened.
For a second we silently lingered in the reality of our treachery, his eyes wavered from mine as if to hold a secret.I 'd forgotten I was supposed to feel anything as I lightly touched his skin and lips. If I never thought about it maybe the guilt would go away.
I leaned over offering him a small kiss. He pressed a finger to his lips looking down quickly at Rosalie. I fell gently back into my pillow our hands safely entwined in the center.
I closed my eyes and fell peacefully back to sleep.
