Page 73 of Chemistry: The Chemist

Burn the city.

Fight a bull.

Shoot anything moving.

Open up.

Entertain the possibilities of love.

Consider the rest of my life with you.

Admit what’s mine has become yours.

Fall.

And fall swiftly.

Kill.

Conquer.

Destroy.

Die… preciously.

Anything.

I’d do whatever for those lips to form a smile in the end.

Instead of dwelling with words, I decided to rely on my actions. Choc would understand that it wasn’t me against her. It was us against everything and everyone if it ever came to it.

We rode quietly for some time. Eden’s hand roamed, in search of mine. I curled my fingers around hers and brought the back of her hand to my cheek where it rested.

“Can you play something soft?” Her voice was riddled with sadness.

It hacked away at my resolve. Discomfort lingered.

“What’s wrong?” I needed to know.

“Nothing,” she lied.

“If you’re dishonest, I can’t fix it.”

Pushing out warm air, she exhaled. “Not everything can be fixed, baby.”

That last word, I clung to it. It clung to me. A new height had summoned us. We weren’t all bad, it seemed. We were on our way. To where, I wasn’t sure, but it had to be somewhere good.

“Then, you don’t know me, Choc.”

She turned in my direction as if she could see through the eye mask on her face. Her mouth opened, ready to spill, but then it closed shortly after. Whatever was going on in that head of hers, she wanted to divulge but simply wasn’t ready.

I granted her request. Gentle, voiceless music flowed through the speakers. I watched as she melted into the seat, softening against my hand.

We reached my home by the time the eighth song ended. I helped Choc out of the car and into the house where she shed her blindfold. Distressed eyes stared back at me, forcing a smile.

What’s the matter, baby?

Her beauty was present, but it was overshadowed by the despair that radiated from her. It was silent but obnoxious. Invisible but holding more space than it deserved. Until we both felt better, I’d plant my head between her legs. Maybe that would strip away her stress.

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