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Seven
Clementine
Papers.Words. All strewn together to create my future. Tennyson’s future. I breathe out a sigh of misery.
Gabriel Prince doesn’t care if I’m miserable. The man has no feelings. He’s too busy being gorgeous. And controlling. He’s just a god-like statue of broodiness bending people like me to his will.
“Mommy,” Tennyson’s light voice says from behind me.
I turn around to see Tennyson in his Batman pajamas holding his yellow blanket close to his chest. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a monster in my room.”
I push the papers aside, knowing all too well about evil doings. “Let’s go check it out.” I grab Tennyson’s hand and lead him back down the hall to his room. “Where is he?” I ask, flicking on the bedside lamp.
He points to the closet while still holding strong to his yellow blankie. This yellow blanket has been his crutch since he was a baby, and I don’t have any plans of taking it away anytime soon. Let him grow up to always have his blankie with him. If he needs it, then I will make sure it always stays around. “He’s in there.”
I open the closet door, knowing full well the umbrella hanging against his shoe rack is the monster in question. I turn on the light to the closet. “Is this your big bad monster?” I ask, pulling the umbrella down and showing it to him.
“Can you lay with me?” He rubs his tired eyes with the palm of his hands.
“Ok.”
I pull back his covers and we both climb in. I sing him a soft lullaby and his eyes drift closed. His light brown hair falls in his eyes, and I push the strands off his forehead.
We lay in silence once my song has ended, and his breathing is soft and slow. He’s asleep.
A knock at the door startles me a few minutes later, or I think it’s a few minutes later.
I move through the hallway, trying my best to smooth down my hair from the sleep I was gently pulled under.
“One second,” I say to the door, staring at the mirror before checking the peephole.
Ronin.
I open the door. “Why are you here so late?”
“It’s not even ten pm yet.”
Well, it feels late. “Come on in,” I say, remembering my manners. I shake off the last bit of sleep as I open the door wider for him to step through.
“I’ve come by to...”
I hold up my hand. “I’m sure I know why you’re here. You can tell him I have his papers and we can go ahead with this ridiculous marriage thing.”
He laughs, his smile spreading from cheek to cheek. “I’m sure Gabriel will be pleased to hear that.”
I cross my arms. “I don’t really care all too much about pleasing him.”
He rubs the back of his neck as he moves into the living room. “I know what you mean.”
“Do you? You’re not the one forced into this stupid…” Ugh, I can’t even get the words out. And I shouldn’t be taking this resentment out on Ronin. Even though he’s bred from the same cloth, it isn’t his fault I’m where I am now.
“No, listen. I get it. That’s why I came over.” He pauses before continuing, “I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.” He steps closer, real concern lacing the edges of his eyes.
I shoo the notion away that anything could ever be anything but alright. “I’m fine.”
He stares at me. “Are you really, though?”
