It was not until the bathwater turned a degree too cool that Patience was forced out. It had been a pleasant evening, but all good things must draw to a close. She wrapped herself in a linen towel and stoked the stove once more, drawing the last ounce of life from the fire.

“Anax,” she said sweetly, “since you’ve been such a gentleman tonight, could I ask you for one more favor?”

“What is it?”

“Could you possibly take the tub and dump the water outside?”

“Simple enough.”

Patience delighted in having skirted the banal task of bailing out the tub until it was light enough to tip over. She opened the front door, buckling in the blast of cold night air. Although a convenient floor plan, it was difficult to stay warm with the front door opening directly into the kitchen. She ran over to the tub and Anax formed his two thick arms. He was misty in consistency once more, the cold outside air having dispersed any remaining steam in the room. Without so much as a grunt, he hauled the tub and its contents to the door and tossed the dirty water in a clean flourish, not a single drop crossing the threshold back inside.

“Thank you!” she cooed, slamming the door shut.

Refusing to leave puddles in the kitchen, Patience quickly mopped the floor as she had intended. As with any menial task, her mind began to wander. She had regarded Anax as a gentleman, this creature a man. Initially she did not give her words much thought, but now she wondered if they revealed a shifting perception of the skull. Certainly this creature could think for itself, he had a personality, a history. It did not seem much of a stretch to consider it a man. But then if it were a man, it would make the past hour very awkward. No, he was no more than an enchanted beast. She undid the towel around herself and attempted to dry her hair as best she could. Alas it was to no avail. However, there were still a couple of hours before Patience had to retire for the night, enough time for her hair to dry.

Feeling lighter than she had in days, a waltz overcame her feet and carried her around her bedroom. Perhaps it was the feeling of accomplishment, getting paid for her dolls, having the garden done in a day, the quiche, or it was the relaxing bath. No matter the reason, she felt good. Stopping in front of her dresser, she lovingly stared at all her earthly possessions, reminiscing about each trinket and bauble. There was the ring her mother struck for her out of an old nail, too small for her fingers now, she kept it in a tray made from a damaged turtle shell her father salvaged. Patience guided her fingertips over the red threads running along the edge of a handkerchief laying beside the tray.

Memories of a day long past flashed before her mind. She was sitting on her bed, head firmly planted against the chest of a man. Tears streamed down her face, mouth agape to softly wail and breathe in place of her congested nose. It was the day after her mother was interred. Her one closest confidant held fast by her side, the only person left to comfort her in the world. With him, she released the flood of emotions that she had damned up behind immutable expressions between her father’s passing and her mother’s burial, exactly a year apart. He had spent the entire day with her simply providing company in the house. As she bade him farewell come nightfall, he pressed his handkerchief in her hands.

“Something of mine, should you need a piece of me to cry on while I’m away,” he had said.

Patience rubbed the muslin between her fingers, wondering where her friend was now. As well as she could rely on herself, she ultimately despised being alone. However, being with others was tricky, the most difficult part being the search for people one could get along and desire to be with. In a way, she was thankful Anax did not have a worse personality.

Exhausted, Patience flopped onto her bed. The room was warm enough she did not even bother to dress in her nightgown. She adjusted the old kerosene lamp on her nightstand. Misty tendrils crested and fell over her chest with the weight of a fine silk robe. They sparkled in the lamplight and were almost beautiful. Anax’s vapor stretched around her, investigating her form.

“What are you doing?” murmured the girl.

“Examining. Humans are fascinating!”

“I—suppose.”

[Warning: Next update will be Mature!]