Alec sat inside his study, only a table lamp dimly lightened the space.
He even turned it off, he sat motionless in the dark room hoping for the darkness to consume him.
When he heard El calling for him again, he felt agitated
"Go away, El" he seethed.
A couple of minutes later, he turned on the lamp light and checked the time.
It was late midnight and El hadn't called out for him since he asked her to leave. He got up from his seat and walked out of the study.
To his surprise, El was seated on the floor, leaning her head on the wall.
Seeing that she was asleep, Alec picked her up in his arms and walked upstairs to their room.
He tried to be slow and careful to not wake her up, yet she felt some movement around her and opened her eyes.
"Alec" she said in a very low voice, he didn't reply to her and laid her on the bed.
He slept on the other side of the bed away from her and faced his back to her.
El felt disheartened at Alec's distant nature. She knew it wasn't his usual indifference. Right now, he was acting out of his grief however, that hurt El in a manner she couldn't explain.
She moved close to him and hugged him from behind, she got further closer and tightened her hug.
She buried her head on his back and hoped he wouldn't push her away for him and fortunately, he didn't.
When El hugged him he felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and warmth submerging him.
The feeling he didn't think he deserved, but didn't want to let it go.
He couldn't push El away, was it because he didn't want to hurt her or because he cherished the way she made him feel?
Alec wasn't able to reach a conclusion for his inaction. He closed his eyes and let his exhaustion consume him.
The next day when Alec woke up, he saw that El's hand was still on his waist.
He turned around to look at her. Her sleeping face bore ethereal peace and calmness in it.
His hand involuntarily moved to caress her face. For a moment he was in a state of serene bliss.
Suddenly his phone rang, breaking his trance and bringing him back into reality.
All events of the previous day flooded his mind, his feelings changed from bliss to agony as he remembered that the person whom he loved the most in this world has left him, once again his mind drowned into a trance like state however this time, it was melancholic.
His phone kept ringing,
"Alec." El said softly,
breaking him from his trance.
He blankly looked at her.
"Your phone." she said, he continued to look at her.
"Your phone is ringing Alec." she said pointing at the phone.
He turned around and received it. It was Carolyn who had called Alec. She informed him that they'll be having Emilia's funeral on the next day.
An hour later,
El bought a bowl of porridge for Alec in their room. She knew he hadn't eaten anything substantial yesterday and would refuse to eat today too.
So she made him porridge by herself, hoping that he wouldn't refuse something prepared by her.
"Alec, I made you porridge for breakfast." She said, offering him the bowl.
"Please have it", she requested.
"You made it?", Alec asked.
El nodded and further pushed the bowl for him to hold it.
Although Alec didn't feel like eating, he couldn't refuse her so he took the bowl from her.
"Don't you have to go to work?", Alec asked.
"I've applied for leave stating personal reasons", she answered.
Alec started eating the porridge, it was bland yet slightly tasteful.
El sat beside him. When Alec was done, he showered and went towards the study.
"Alec" El stopped him and said "Not again, Alec please".
"I just want to be alone," he said coldly.
El didn't want him to lock himself up again.
"Fine, but I'll be there as well. I'll sit in another corner and I won't disturb you. I've got some work to do, I'll do that. I won't be a trouble, I promise" she said in a single breath.
Unwilling to deny her, Alec nodded.
The whole day Alec and El sat in silence doing their respective work. Even though she didn't say anything to him, her presence was enough for him to make him feel at peace.
A sense of tranquility enveloped the space around them unlike the turmoil Alec felt the previous day being there all alone in the dark.
Although the study was dimly lit, Alec stole glances at El to see her face glowing entrancingly under the light of the table lamp beside her.
El had Patty send their food to the study and insisted Alec on eating it,
Alec reluctantly agreed.
Soon it was night time, El was trying hard to stay awake, seeing her Alec said,
"Go to sleep."
But she felt reluctant to leave his side. Seeing that she was adamant to stay, he walked to her and offered her his hand and softly said
"Come".
El kept her hand on his and walked with him to their room.
When they laid beside each other, El asked,
"Are you feeling fine? "
Alec nodded.
Unwilling to confront more about his current feelings, he turned around and closed his eyes.
Similar to the previous day, El again got closer and hugged him from behind.
Seeing that Alec didn't push her away, she asked,
"You are very close to Grandma Emmy aren't you?"
"Yes," Alec said in a low voice.
"She raised me, I would spend all my days with her when I was young. I'd accompany her everywhere. It was just us both for a long while before I left south-hills for business studies. I wish I had spent more time with her, accompanied her more during the holidays."
El hugged him tighter when he started to get
regretful.
"She liked you, did she ask you to call her Grandma Emmy?"
El stiffened at his question, she had been calling Emilia 'Grandma Emmy' for a long time.
"Ye.. yes" she answered.
"She only lets her favourite people call her that" Alec said and smiled.
He turned to face El,
"Thank you El", he said and kissed her forehead.
He rested his chin on her head and hugged her back.