Not quite sure why I'm posting it...
Okay. I really don’t know where that came from. Especially considering English is not my native language. So be prepared for stupid and not so stupid mistakes.
First time it happened, she was too tired to fully appreciate it. She fell asleep, long before Bill’s shift ended and he came home. Sound of the opening hatch woke her up, but never made her open her eyes. Laura heard approaching footsteps, felt herself being tucked in, felt a kiss to her forehead, and then the footsteps retreated. She just lay there, listening to Bill getting ready for bed (Couch, since she had actually taken his bed for the time being). Had he really just kissed her? To the forehead, yes, but still. He had just kissed her. And he obviously thought she was asleep. Her silent debate whether she should indicate she was actually awake, came to an end, when Laura heard Bill’s gentle snoring. Not that she would ever admit it, but she felt actually relieved.
Next evening, Laura was busy convincing herself, she didn’t leave her blanket askew at purpose, hoping for the repeat of yesterday events. Still, as soon as she heard Bill exit the head, she closed her eyes and tried to even her breathing. Once again, she heard his footsteps, felt his hands on her blanket and then his lips on her forehead. And once again, she couldn’t find the nerve to reveal she wasn’t really sleeping.
As time went, it almost became the routine. Her “falling asleep”, him kissing her good night. On the forehead. The man was obviously too noble to see what was right in front of him. Should she put up a sign? “Hey, you know, my lips are actually quite available too”. Laura preferred not to think of her own cowardice. It was all Bill’s fault and period.
One day the routine was broken by Quorum meeting run too late. Laura felt as if it was already morning when she came home. Obviously, Bill was long asleep at the couch. No good night kiss today. At least from him. Before she could change her mind, Laura quickly knelt down before the sleeping man and briefly touched her lips to his. “See, Bill? That’s how it’s done”, she whispered, before moving away. Halfway to the bed, Laura suddenly turned, almost expecting to see half-smile play at Bill’s lips. Nothing. She actually felt a pang of disappointment, at the though that he was really sleeping. Not that she hoped that he wasn’t of course. Utterly confused, Laura sighed. “Men”, she thought, “are so much trouble. Even the best of them”.
First time it happened, she was too tired to fully appreciate it. She fell asleep, long before Bill’s shift ended and he came home. Sound of the opening hatch woke her up, but never made her open her eyes. Laura heard approaching footsteps, felt herself being tucked in, felt a kiss to her forehead, and then the footsteps retreated. She just lay there, listening to Bill getting ready for bed (Couch, since she had actually taken his bed for the time being). Had he really just kissed her? To the forehead, yes, but still. He had just kissed her. And he obviously thought she was asleep. Her silent debate whether she should indicate she was actually awake, came to an end, when Laura heard Bill’s gentle snoring. Not that she would ever admit it, but she felt actually relieved.
Next evening, Laura was busy convincing herself, she didn’t leave her blanket askew at purpose, hoping for the repeat of yesterday events. Still, as soon as she heard Bill exit the head, she closed her eyes and tried to even her breathing. Once again, she heard his footsteps, felt his hands on her blanket and then his lips on her forehead. And once again, she couldn’t find the nerve to reveal she wasn’t really sleeping.
As time went, it almost became the routine. Her “falling asleep”, him kissing her good night. On the forehead. The man was obviously too noble to see what was right in front of him. Should she put up a sign? “Hey, you know, my lips are actually quite available too”. Laura preferred not to think of her own cowardice. It was all Bill’s fault and period.
One day the routine was broken by Quorum meeting run too late. Laura felt as if it was already morning when she came home. Obviously, Bill was long asleep at the couch. No good night kiss today. At least from him. Before she could change her mind, Laura quickly knelt down before the sleeping man and briefly touched her lips to his. “See, Bill? That’s how it’s done”, she whispered, before moving away. Halfway to the bed, Laura suddenly turned, almost expecting to see half-smile play at Bill’s lips. Nothing. She actually felt a pang of disappointment, at the though that he was really sleeping. Not that she hoped that he wasn’t of course. Utterly confused, Laura sighed. “Men”, she thought, “are so much trouble. Even the best of them”.