The house was silent, a peaceful kind of quiet that settled in every night when Mom went to bed really early, as she always did. I had been lying on my bed for a long time, just thinking about things, the stillness wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. My thoughts drifted aimlessly until a soft knock broke through the silence. The door creaked open slightly, and Diana peeked in. Realizing I had noticed her, she opened the door fully.
"Hey," she said softly, pausing for a moment. "Can I come in?"
My heart skipped a beat, and I sat up quickly, feeling my palms grow clammy. "Uh, yeah, sure... come on in."
Diana stepped inside and made her way to the bed, sitting down at the edge. She looked around the room, her fingers twisting a strand of hair. It was clear she felt uncomfortable, not knowing what to do next.
Noticing her unease, I racked my brain for something to say. "Do you want to watch a show or something?" I suggested, hoping it would help her relax.
Her face brightened a bit, and she nodded. "Yeah, that sounds good."
We found a show to watch, and as it played, the tension in the room eased. The soft glow of the TV cast a warm light over the room. Diana gradually felt more at ease, her shoulders relaxing and a genuine laugh escaping her lips at the funny parts. When the show ended, we looked at the time and realized it was already late; the outside world was cloaked in darkness. The outside was eerily quiet, as if the entire neighborhood was in a deep slumber. No cars passed by, and the street lights had already turned off. It was just us, alone in the quiet, with only the faint hum of the TV filling the otherwise still air.
Diana stretched, her eyes suddenly widening in realization. She bolted upright, her hand clutching the sheets tightly. "Oh no, no, no," she muttered, her voice tight with worry. "I completely forgot—I needed to take a shower," she exclaimed, her fingers gripping the blanket.
I glanced at the clock and then back at her. "You can still take one now if you want," I offered.
She hesitated, biting her lip. "You think it's okay?"
"Yeah, of course," I assured her. "Go ahead."
In the bathroom, I stood in front of the mirror. My heart raced as I undressed slowly, avoiding looking down. My chest tightened with each piece of clothing I removed, but I took a deep breath and reminded myself, I can't stay like this forever. Just take it one step at a time. With determination, I stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over me.
As the water washed over me, I kept my eyes closed, letting the sensation help me relax. The steam filled the room, the scent of the shampoo mingling with the warmth of the water. I shampooed my hair, the familiar routine helping to steady my nerves. Throughout the shower, I focused on the feel of the water, the scent of the soap, anything to keep my mind from spiraling into anxiety. By the time I finished, I felt a bit more at ease.
I dried off, the heat from the shower making my movements slow and sluggish. Each step felt heavy, and my legs wobbled slightly as I reached for the blow dryer. It took a bit longer to dry my hair, but I was used to it since my hair had always been pretty long. Finally, I dressed in the oversized t-shirt and shorts Daniel had given me. The clothes were comfortable, but I could barely keep my eyes open as I made my way back to Daniel's room.
When I returned, Daniel was already fast asleep on the bed, the late hour evident in the quiet house. I smiled softly, feeling a warmth in my chest. Carefully, I moved him into a more comfortable sleeping position and pulled the covers over him.
"Ugh..." I muttered, feeling dizzy. My legs felt heavy, and my eyes struggled to stay open. I yawned, fell into bed beside him, and snuggled close, already half asleep.
The room was dark, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon outside. In the quiet, they lay side by side, their chests rising and falling gently. The night wrapped around them like a soft blanket, and for the first time in a long while, they both slept soundly.