Chapter 17
WEEK 2 + 2 DAYS
I draw a flower on Nora’s back with my finger, softly, giving her goose-bumps.
“Is it a tree?”
Nora asks.
“Close!”
“A flower.”
I turn her back round to me and kiss her lips.
“Ding, ding, ding, you got it right!”
Nora fist bumps the air and we laugh, the laughs almost harmonising together. Nora’s face drops again. It’s as if the realisation we don’t have more time together keeps hitting her.
“Shower?”
I ask. Nora nods, offering a small,shy smile. Ever since our first shower together, most of our showers have been together. Nora’s learnt my hair care routine and insists she does it. To be fair, my curls look better, but maybe it’s just because she’s helped. We get in the shower and are drawn together like magnets, our hands exploring each other, our lips craving more kisses, and our tongues finding places they should or shouldn’t be. When we get out, Nora applies the handful of hair products to my hair. Individually twirling each strand of curl with the hairbrush, her face fuelled with so much concentration. Then she scrunches my curls into her hands, taking such caution with how and what she’s doing. I bring my hand up to my mouth, trying to stifle my giggles.
“You look almost scared.”
I laugh harder.
*
“I just don’t want to do anything wrong, especially with this beautiful load of hair.”
Nora’s hand came over my neck, pulling me backwards towards her. I lean back onto her, closing my eyes and letting out a sigh of relief.
Here with Nora, I feel safe. I feel cared for. When I open my eyes again, I stare at her in the mirror, appreciating her beauty. There seems to be both delicacy and strength on her face. Her faintly rose mouth, slightly wet from before, was so tempting. It was her hair I was obsessed with and never quite knew why, wisps of hair framing her face. Nora peering at me intently. Although we just had sex, a sense of urgency drove me to want to do it again. The touch of her hand on my throat was suddenly unbearable in tenderness. I turn to face Nora and kiss her, the kiss singing through my veins. Although my head and heart wanted to go again, my body was begging me to go to sleep. Fatigue settling in the pockets of my eyes.
“I think we best go to sleep.”
“I agree,”
Nora replies in a silky voice, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.
We wake up in the morning to Nora’s phone ringing loudly. I squint my face over to the bright light of her phone screen. Nora rubs her eyes and picks it up.
“Hello?”
Her voice is husky and then she jolts up with concern. My once tired self is now awake and anxious, wondering what’s happening. Nora strokes my hair.
“Go to sleep, baby.”
She whispers softly, going onto the balcony and closing the door behind her. Nora’s face was screwed up, and it seemed like she was giving an earful to whoever was on the other end. Nora hangs up the phone and leans her muscular arms on the railing, clearly stressed. I get up out of bed, wrapping the bed sheet around me. I open the door gently and Nora shoots round to turn to me. A glazed look of despair spread over her face.
“What is it?”
My voice is still scratchy and tired.
“I have to leave tomorrow.”
A tear rolled down her cheek. Suddenly, all the
calmness about this situation left my body. The only thing left was the raw
sores of my aching heart.
“What? Why?”
I stutter.
BEYOND THE BLUES
“Our manager wants us out on tour earlier. I tried to negotiate, but they weren’t budging.”
Nora gulped hard, biting her lips, trying to control her emotions. The silence between us grew with tension. I am okay for this to end in a week, but not tomorrow. Tomorrow is too soon. I can’t quite bear the fact we have more to do, more planned, and now she’s leaving. Suddenly, the upset was stronger. This hurts a lot more than I was planning.
“I’m not ready for you to go.”
A hot tear rolling down my cheek. I wipe the back of my hand on my face, trying to remain cool.
“I know. I don’t want to go, but I have to.”
Nora’s voice breaks miserably. We stand opposite each other, unsure where we stand. Like a magnetic force, I fall into her chest, letting the tears pour out. All I keep thinking about is the what ifs. What if we spoke sooner? What if I go with Nora? What if we never meet again? Nora clings to my body, holding me like she’ll never let go, but I know she will. She’ll have to. The world seems silent, and all I can hear is our tears and hitched breathing.
“I hate seeing you cry,”
Nora says, lifting my chin to look at her. The bloodshot whites of her eyes bringing out the icy blue colour.
“You’ve seen it enough times. I’m surprised you’re not used to it.”
I smile through the pain, but Nora’s face remains saddened.
“It’s like the world wants us to be apart.”
Nora says. In a way it feels true, there have been plenty of chances we could’ve met, had the chance to be in love for longer, but the world gave us a short amount of time together. But there must be a reason. These things don’t happen for no reason. People that come into your life are always there for a reason.
“If it’s meant to be, it will be.”
I whisper to Nora. Our lips were just a breath apart, grazing gently.
“If I have to search for you in every lifetime, I will, happily.”
Nora laces a hand into my hair. I place my lips on Nora’s, a kiss as tender and light as Santorini’s breeze. If I can make the ending of us sweet and dreamy, I will. I don’t want to leave this behind feeling regretful that we didn’t do more. Because I feel that way with Coco. If only we did more. I wish we did so much more, but unfortunately that was all the time we had, although it was cruel and unfair. I am determined to make this the best last night together by doing
*
everything in my power. Whether it’s laying in bed all night, interrupted by regular sex, or exploring a bit more of Greece. As long as we’re together.