The first thing I heard as consciousness came back to me was birds chirping. I could feel the sun on my face, beaming at me through the large, open window behind my desk. It warmed me, wrapping my whole body in a comforting embrace. Then a soft sigh that came from beneath me tickled my baby hairs and my eyes shot wide open.

My head slowly tilted up until I could see the face of the man under me. His eyes were closed and his lips parted slightly as he breathed in slowly - so slowly in fact that it seemed inhuman, as if he were barely alive. The sun reflected off his face, making the shimmer of his fair skin even more noticeable. It didn't shimmer like a diamond or a gem would though - it mimicked the way light reflects in a clear pool of water, ever moving and rippling along the surface.

When he let out another gentle sigh, I fully realized I was laying directly on top of a stranger on my bedroom floor, my hands burrowed inside his leather jacket, gripping the sides of his shirt with clenched fists. Our legs were intertwined and both of his arms were around me, holding me to him. 

A scarlet flush rose up my cheeks as I thought about last night. I had tackled him out of my desk chair, clung to him while sobbing, and then fell asleep on top of him. Then I remembered that he took all of the damage from the car accident that was meant for me, and hurried to move off of him. My sudden movement stirred him awake, and he began to rub his eyes while squinting into the sunlight filtering through the window.

He licked his lips before asking, "What time is it?" I blinked in confusion for a second, not fully registering the question, as my mind lingered on the sound of his deep voice. Shaking my head to clear the thought, I looked to the P.C. on my desk and narrowed my eyes to see the time.

"It's 9:51 A.M.," I said softly, not really sure how to act around him. Then my eyes widened as I took in the time. "Fuck! I'm late for work!" I exclaimed and began to flit around the room, gathering clean work clothes to change into before I could head into the bathroom to attempt a 45 second shower. It was only as I was making my way into the adjoined bathroom that he spoke again.

"You were involved in a car accident last night and your car was totaled. Work isn't expecting you in today," he said, his eyes still hooded from sleep, head tilting inquisitively to the side. 

That's right. I called last night on the way to the hospital to let my manager know what was going on. They told me to take the day off and take care of myself, then come back after the weekend. 

"Right," I said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "I have off until Monday now." I looked to the man who had now moved back to the desk chair. He just looked back at me and we stared in silence for a few minutes, before I found the nerve to ask what was weighing on my mind.

"Why did you save me?" He just looked at me with a blank expression. I sighed and tried again. "I've gotten hurt before. Been in accidents. Had other people hurt me." I shivered at the memories that still haunted the deep recesses of my mind. "Why now?" Still silence. "Don't get me wrong, I am grateful, but why put yourself in harm's way for me now? You've been here with me for as long as I can remember. Asking about you is my first memory. Why save me?"

He remained silent, looking at me with an unreadable expression. I sighed heavily and laid back on my bed, closing my eyes and remembering every other bad thing I wished he had saved me from. 

His voice startled me out of my bad memories. "I was only allowed to intervene because your life was in mortal danger. If you had been in the accident without my protection, you would have died." He sighed and rested his head in his hands - he looked defeated.

"...Are you okay?" Lifting his head slightly, he looked at me quizzically. "You took the full force of the crash for me," I continued. "Are you hurt? Do you need anything?"

He blinked slowly for a few moments before a soft smile spread across his full, light mauve lips. Breathtaking was the only word I had to describe it. He shook his head lightly, that small smile still present. "I tell you that you would have died last night, and you're concerned for me? Even last night, you asked me why I put myself in harm's way for you. You are and always have been a very uniquely kind person." The chuckle that followed was low and undulating, like waves crashing against the rocky shore, and I glimpsed the prominent canine fangs he possessed. "I am fine, Aisling. Weakened slightly, but I will recover with a bit more rest."

I exhaled quickly in a small laugh, giving him a half smile. "You can sleep in my bed until you're recovered." He went to object but I stopped him with a raised hand. "You are the only reason I'm alive. Please just rest as much as you need." I got up and gathered some comfy, non-work clothes. "I'm going to go shower and make some breakfast. Are you hungry?" Again, he just stared at me, blinking confusedly, before bursting into a fit of laughter. It was my turn to stare at him incredulously until the laughter finally subsided enough for him to speak.

"I am the shadow that has been following you, watching you, for 27 years, never speaking or allowing myself to be seen straight on. Last night, I shield you from certain death, materialize in your bedroom, obviously not originally from this plane of existence-...and you cry for me, cling to me, offer me your bed and to make me breakfast." He paused to grin at me, revealing another set of sharp canines behind the first, and it was like the moon itself acknowledged me. "You are the most interesting being I've ever seen. I'd love some breakfast."