The lights were dimmed, and the room remained still, she was tired, and finally able to sleep. Half exhausted from the lack of sleep lately, half exhausted from a needless argument. The door remained cracked, a narrow stretch of light crept it's way in from the barely open door where he stood. His eyes searched her out for her familiar form which lay in the bunches of sweet smelling sheets, looking at her, reminding himself that she was a person too with a mind of her own. Her coffee colored hair lay gentely spilled among the sheets, bits of it grazing her cheeks and tangling around her long nimble fingers. Even laying there, quiet now, he realized it.
Cracking the door open slightly he crept inside the room and walked over to one of the window's who's curtains remained slightly parted, leaving in the dusty light. The light outside, clean and copper orange, he knew that this was her favorite time of the year. Autumn had always been her favorite, she found it as an excuse to litter the house with candles that smelled of spice, and to cook more down to earth things. Last night she had made chicken soup from scratch, even then they were arguing as she prepared the broth. The white of her cheeks could be seen from the corner, dark strands of hair floating over her berry flush red lips. Realizing how helpless and innocent she looked as she slept, the words he had spoken earlier now stung his toungue as well as his memory. Glad that now she was atleast able to sleep, she had said that he had gotten her so worked up that she hadn't been able to lay down and rest for more than an hour or two at time. He hadn't even noticed, that she came up stairs and layed down,
busy himself watching someting on t.v.
His attentions rested on the bed now, and the small rosewood night stand that stood beside it. The anitque hairbrush she had bought in some small antique shop a few miles out of town, on thier way to visit some old friends. The pure silver brush was solid and heavy, he thought it must of weighed two pounds if not more atleast. It came with a silver framed hand mirror too, that lay adjacent from the brush. The silence of the room settled into his mind, not even being able to hear the quiet whisper of the television downstairs anymore. He wasn't sure why, but he thought she wouldn't wake up. Not this time, but he still wanted to be silent as not to awake her.
Gentely the curtins were closed, snuffing out that vibrant light she loved so much, the room resting in it's dead silence, he could now hear the gentle sound of her breathing, the innocent sound of her life. Now that he realized, it had been days since he had seen her asleep, when he awoke, she was already awake, when he went to bed, she was still up. He noticed, but didn't think much of it till she had said she was so exhausted from not being able to sleep. Maybe that's why the arguing got to her finally, not sleeping meant that days ran together, and there was no yesterday or tomorrow for her. Just the constant arguing, they had made an agreement already not to argue with one another. She had held up her end of the deal pretty well, but he could still find things to scream about. Even when she said nothing in return, the thought almost angered him, as if she hadn't taken him seriously. But somwhere he knew she hand't said a word because it was 'easier that way'. How could she never realize that accidents
shouldn't happen if you're careful? Not taking the excuse that it had slipped her mind a little because she hadn't of slept, and couldn't.
Quietly he walked over and stood beside the bed, in front of the bedside table. His fingers gentely grazed the smooth, cool handle of the heavy silver hairbrush and he looked at her. She wouldn't be torn from her sleep as easially as before he thought, even the sound of a door opening was enough to wake her. But not this time, her body must already be extremely exhausted, helpess with itself until the sleep had taken effect. The weight of the brush weighed down his hand, as he took it in both and pulled the few strands of dark colored hair from it's pearl white bristles. His jade green eyes settled on the reflecton from the backside, making them look soft and blurred. A deep breath broke his concentration as he looked at her smooth face, it was hard for him to think that the little girl he saw in photos she once had were her now. Innocent and larged eyed, he could still see that child like face in her now. Taking a deep breath, he knew why he had came in here, even if he didn't want to admit it to himself. It was her fault he thought before, why should he feel remourse? Even though she had explained it much differently than that.
Firmly he grasped the solid weighted brush in his right hand and looked down at her, his shadow looming over her, hopefully she wouldn't wake up. Gentely he leaned down a little and squeezed the brush in his right hand what was done was already done, the words that were said had already been said and couldn't be taken back, as it was done in childhood. Taking a closer look at her he took a deep breath and exhaled, closing his eyes momentarily, he knew he couldn't sit in here forever building up courage to admit why he had came in. He knew it was what needed to be done, what could end all this constant bickering, it was only going to take a small part of himself to do so. Looking at her smooth face he gentely brushed strands away, this is what needed to be done and it was well worth it. The room was full of silence, and nothing stirred, this was the perfect time for it.
Pressing his lips against her own, she slightly opened her eyes in an exhausted haze, and looked at him. "What?" the low quiet tone of her voice broke the silence.
"I just wanted to come up here and check on you, I was worried about you. And I'm sorry about earlier." The comftroble honest feeling of finally being able to say it. His warm lips grazed her cheek as a small weary smile formed on her lips before falling back into a light sleep. Quietly he stepped out of the room and closed the door, feeling lighter than before now. The silver hairbrush resting on the table, right where it had been.
