**Disclaimer, read this chapter at your own discretion**
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He reached over and brushed away Coraline's hair that covered her forehead.
From then on, she didn't know when they both fell asleep. But when she woke up—Armaan was still asleep.
She lightly snickered at the sight she saw with the light of the sun, 'Does he hate shirts or something?'
Her heart matched the tempo of his after laying on him.
Before she knew it Coraline had spent her morning first view on watching Armaan.
She rested her head on his shoulder and with the hand of his she could see—Coraline began to play with his lifeless like fingers.
Going through the wedges of his fingers and tracing his cubicles.
"Coraline."
"Yeah?"
He heard his soft laughter once more, "We got to get up."
She stretched out her legs and exaggerated her long stretches while slowly falling from the bed until her upper back made contact with the floor.
Armaan deeply sighed before grabbing out her ankle and shifting her leg off of him, "You got cold feet."
Coraline held up her waist and stuck her feet on his stomach, "Really?"
Armaan sat up and placed her legs on either side of his, "Go freshen up I'll make us something quickly before we have to leave."
Coraline agreed and rolled over to go to her closet for a change of clothes. She could hear Armaan get up from the bed and back into her kitchen. Before scavenging for a dress, Coraline took out black ink and paper to lay out on her table.
After placing it down she walked near Armaan, "What's your favorite color?"
"Your eyes."
She slapped the wall in annoyance, "Hurry up and tell me."
He grinned at her and didn't ask for her reasoning to know, "Purple."
Coraline nodded at him and went to her closet. She took out a lavender dress and the frame of it to go under. It was similar to a dress meant for a banquet.
After it was decided what she'd wear, Coraline made her way into the bathtub again. The water was filled and still warm, 'When did he do this?'
She looked at the petals that surfaced in the warm water.
Traces of Armaan.
Further proving her point of how he slipped from the bed to set up a bath for her and went back without her waking or noticing.
'A silent loverman,' she recalled the fresh scent he had—meaning he had already got cleaned up and prepared the bath for Coraline.
Once she took off her nightgown and garments she entered the bath. Relaxing her shoulders, she decided to not wet her hair this time so that they could leave as soon as possible.
Coraline brushed her teeth until her hand felt sore and took to positioning the sleeves on her shoulders. It exposed her shoulders and chest but complimented her skin and facial features.
She knew this since her partner in shopping was Vivianne. Her friend had an eye out for clothing that was the best suited for Coraline.
Vivianne was the one to tell her that if you need to find a good shade then dresses that match your eye color could never do you wrong.
But since they weren't in dire need of an attire—the two tried on each dress they both enjoyed. Soon enough they acted as if they were contestants in a beauty contest. Striking a pose in the presence of the other.
The dressing room was filled with their laughter as they made their judgment on the dresses. Twenty options were lowered down to them purchasing five of the favorites.
If a dress of Coraline's needed to have readjustments made or to be patched up—Coraline would gather all the dresses of hers that needed it and head over to her aunt's.
An older woman named, Leilani Clover. In truth, she had adopted Coraline when she was stripped of her parents.
After seeing how attached she was to her own parents—Leilani decided to become Coraline's 'aunt.'
However, with time her hands became full of her own children, and she could no longer give the same care she used to provide for Coraline. In silence, they both unanimously agreed to be distant helpers in the other's lives.
Coraline couldn't bring herself to take her aunt away from her life since the memories they made were sufficient for her.
From the time she was little—Leilani's face will come into her consciousness. She'd come sometimes when she was a young girl.
Except, that was the moment when Coraline was pushed into being more independent.
Leilani gave that young girl her own place before she knew how to address letters properly. A place that was once Leilani's parent's space.
Vivianne would say she did it to erase Coraline out of her family picture since her children would have hateful envy against their adopted sister. It was only a matter of time before one acted on their bitterness.
So, she agreed to the new life she was given, later with the knowledge that she'd be in charge of her own bills when Coraline was of age.
'The least that woman can do is stitch up some of my clothes,' when Coraline visited the house that should've housed her too—any of Leilani's children that were also there would scatter at the sight of Coraline.
'None of them grew up.'
She takes a seat next to Leilani while handing her a sewing kit. The woman must've still remembered her time with Coraline since she'd put up no fights to any of her visits.
The air above them held such emotions that Coraline would let go of all her grudges towards Leilani.
At the end of the day, she wasn't getting any younger and what was done—is done. It'd be useless of her to put any bad blood between her or any of her children who ridiculed her behind her back.
She decided to focus on having forgiveness and being grateful for the time they did spend.
Despite the older woman and the young lady beside her—there was once a young girl and her aunt.
The only woman to have a nickname for Coraline like she was a bird was none other than Leilani.
"Coo-coo," and like the stupid girl she was Coraline would come to her.
Leilani would put her hair into two ponytails and tie it with a red ribbon. She always made sure she took her showers.
Whenever she came into her home with any kind of dirt, Leilani was unable to keep her composure. She'd grab her by the armpits and have her take a shower.
At first, she found it as a funny joke but then Leilani's underlying resonance convinced Coraline otherwise.
Her nails would dig into her skin and she'd scrub her until her skin reddened.
When Coraline would look up at her with tears welling in her eyes, all Leilani would say to her was, "Coo-coo, a woman needs to be clean." That was when she began to understand the sides of one person.
One could act adoring to their lover.
They could hate the ones closest to them.
And they could unintentionally hurt someone else just because their brain said it was okay.
Each time water would run on Coraline's skin, she couldn't help but think of those times with Leilani. And it wasn't like the woman was under substance, therefore each time her face looked more worn than the day before.
Leilani felt regret and shame when looking at Coraline.
Since she wasn't her 'real' daughter, she had more privilege to act unrighteous when she wanted. Anything that Mrs. Clover had built up from one of her other children will always end up on the shoulders of Coraline.
But to Coraline, it all melted off of her.
For the one fond moment she shared with Leilani, stood before the other darker memories. One not even Vivianne was aware of since it wasn't something major or gravitating to know.
It was the day Mrs. Clover brought Coraline out for a stroll with Mr. Clover. A man who wasn't much taller than his wife was. He was quick to tempermental outbursts but Coraline was never there for his rumored many anger fits.
That day was one of those 'perfect' ones where even her 'uncle' joined the occasion. The couple had no disputes and it was almost like they were a trio of their own.
Something Coraline wanted to keep as her cherished memories.
As they walked through the streets the mood between them all was cheery. Mrs. Clover took Coraline's left hand and Mr. Clover took her right.
They raised her up so each time she took a large stride—it was like she was floating.
When Coraline began jumping the couple swung her in unison leaving everyone in laughter. And when they returned home, Coraline knew Leilani was aware of her dirtied knees but she didn't cling her fingernails in her arms and screech at her to take a shower.
She was normal, she acted as a normal aunt that day.
It made Coraline wish Mrs. Clover was a normal aunt for all those days they had spent together.