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“You’ll get cold.” He nods to the open hatch.
“The building is heated. After everything is closed up, it’ll be nice and toasty. Plus, look at the sky.” I turn my face toward the window above us. “Wouldn’t you like to sleep under the stars?”
“Yes. I used to… where I’m from. When I was a child…”
“Yeah?” I encourage, hoping for some info.
I’ve told Ellister so much about myself. I’ve bared it all, even sharing silly secrets I’ve never said to anyone before, like when I blurted out my fake weddings under the apple tree.
“It’s hard for me to recall memories from so long ago,” Ellister starts, sounding a bit distant as if he’s trying to remember, “but I lived in a place where the night sky was bright and untainted.”
“You grew up in a rural area,” I conclude, “with no city lights to drown out the stars?”
“You could say that, yes.” Glancing down at the sleeping kittens, Ellister sighs. “I suppose I can’t move anyway.”
I grin, happy to get my way.
After rolling the projector to the side, I close the hatch and settle back into my spot next to Ellister.
Now that I know he’s sticking around, the dread has left me. In its place is security and peace.
“I feel so good around you,” I finally admit out loud. “Isn’t that kind of weird because we just met?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Do I make you feel good, too?”
Pause. “Yes.” I think that’s all I’m going to get from him, but then he elaborates, “You are… a surprise to me, Hannah. Your humor, your wit, your kindness. Inside and out, you’re a rarity. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. All your features mesh into something… perfect. You’ve gotten under my skin. It’s as if you’re embedded into my… my soul.”
That might be the most words Ellister’s ever said to me all at once. At least, they’re the most touching, and every single one sends a thrill through me.
Apparently, his stilted confession isn’t over yet. “I hate the reason that I’m here… I absolutely loathe it. But at the same time, I’m honored to be a part of your life in any capacity. It’s selfish of me—wanting this experience with you.”
“I’d say it’s selfless,” I counter. “You might find me attractive now, but things are going to get ugly at some point. Death isn’t pretty.”
“Your death will be. I’ll make sure of it.”
What a strange thing to say. Morbid conversations with a new kinda boyfriend aren’t a normal occurrence for me, but since we’re on the topic…
As unsure as the future is, there’s something I know I want, and Ellister’s the only one who can make it happen.
“Can I ask you a favor?”
Instead of teasing me about all the favors I ask for, he says, “Anything.”
“After your boss has bought the farm, will you allow my parents to spread my ashes in the meadow?”
Ellister jolts like I just kicked him. “Ashes?”
“I want to be cremated.”
His expression turns furious. “I’m not going to let that happen. Do you know what it does to me when I think about you reduced to nothing but dust?”
Flustered, I shake my head. “You’ve only known me since yesterday.”
“It’s enough.”
“Enough for what?”
