The dawn of a new day came with a symphony of songbirds singing away. Lee woke up feeling as if he didn’t sleep a wink. Bags accumulated under his eyes as he laid right next to a passed-out Monique. He had the chance to leave as soon as he awoke but couldn’t due to her ravishing sleeping face. The sweet scent of roses tickled his senses. As the skies were dipped in rosy-peach sunrise, he took it upon himself to utilize the opportunity to leave. He didn’t know if she’d wake up or not, but he didn’t want to chance her waking up with the situation as it was. Once he succeeded, he noticed her panicked state. Shit, fuck, shit. He saw the dark shroud that plagued her head last night. He hadn’t seen it when he woke up, so why was it there now? He quickly ran into his room, grabbing the softest, plushie, of a brown bear that stood about four feet tall that he apparently owned. He then ran to the living room and saw the bags that were delivered from the shop yesterday and plucked out his jacket that was in one of the bags. He proceeded dressing the bear in his jacket, the sleeves were too big for it as the bottom of the jacket practically covered all of it’s bottom parts. He then dashed back to her room, placing the bear in between her arms. When he glanced at the mirror, the dark shroud conjured all about her room. It swayed oh so close to her which caused her much discomfort. As swiftly as it came, it vanished, dissipating as the sun arose. The entire situation he had noted in the back of his mind, perhaps Lilith can give answer to what went on. Before he left the room, he took one last look at her. Peace once again reigned over her sleeping state. With a sigh of relief, he left, closing the door, and entering on his own as he prepared to get ready for the day.

Every corner of her mind plagued itself with eerie dark clouds. Everywhere she tried to run to, she was stopped by shackles holding her down. Stopped by the darkness all around. There were no walls, no ceilings, just a floor for her to stand on. She wasn’t initially afraid of the dark but being held down like this in a room filled with nothingness scared her more than anything. And Ezekiel knew it. He somehow always knew it. This is where they would imprison her if she did anything against the team’s wishes. Her arms would reach out, yet it was denied any form of comfort. Everyone would always look at her with a mixture of pity and joy as they felt she got what she deserved. As if they knew if she kept screwing up like this, she would no longer be the apple of Doctor B’s eyes. She would cry out all the time, yet no one would ever listen. Ignoring her was their pleasure. Watching her suffer filled them with such satisfaction it was indescribable.

Monique: Please don’t leave me!

Imagery broke away as she reached out for assistance. As if visions were blurring with one another, she saw distant memories. Were they hers or someone else’s? She saw people dressed in old fashioned dresses and scenery that felt as if they popped out of history textbooks. She felt as if she were watching an old movie flick with holes in it. Yet, all of it felt so surreal. As if all of these images were tangible with a touch of familiarity. When she reached out to them, they would run through her like water. Slowly, yet surely, evaporating. Dark spots in her past that she can’t seem to remember and all she saw was Ezekiel. Like signs were pointing to him. She called out for answers, yet no one responded. In the silence, she stood, until suddenly she too vanished from it all. She woke up to the sun rays blaring down at her face. In her immediate view, she saw something she wasn’t expecting. A brown bear that felt so soft to touch. She smelled the warm familiar vanilla scent with hints of cinnamon. She recognized that the bear had something quite odd with it: Lee’s jacket. Why does it have Lee’s jacket? She pondered her thought as she examined the thing. Soon the smells of breakfast leaked into her room. Heavily nostalgic for a past that slowly uncovered itself. It occurred to her that this wasn’t the first time someone had made breakfast. She couldn’t remember who it was or where it had happened, but she remembered the first thing she woke up to was chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and scrambled eggs. She wandered around the hallways till she made it into the kitchen. Lee was in gym shorts, a raggedy t-shirt, and a black apron when he heard her approaching.

Lee: Good morning, sunshine. How are you feeling?
Monique: Uh? Good? Am I supposed to not feel good?
Lee: Well, I didn’t see you hydrate at all yesterday till you got home…so I wasn’t sure if you were going to have a hangover or not.

She shook her head and to his delight, she looked fine. Acted fine. But something was off. She had felt some sort of intensity coming from Lee. Was it something she did? She couldn’t remember much after dancing with whomever and out drinking Ben.  

Monique: Oh…well…d-did I do anything inappropriate last night?
Lee: What do you mean? Don’t you remember anything?
Monique: Last I remembered was Ben miraculously paying the band slow songs and dancing with you.

Lee blushed as she stood there reminiscing about last night as if she forgot one tiny little detail.

Monique: I feel like I did something else too…
Lee: NOPE. Nope. N-not at all. You did not do anything else.
Monique: Why do I feel like I did do something else?
Lee: I don’t know. How do you like your eggs, by the way?
Monique: Scrambled. But it feels like I do. You’re making it look really obvious I did.
Lee: Naaah. Here, eat something before we go to the hospital today.

Lee handed her a plate with exactly what she smelled in her room. Chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon.

Lee: I hope you like it.

She examined it with much curiosity. She’d never told him what she liked or disliked, so how could he know about this?

Lee: Is it to your liking?

She didn’t want to tell him about her favorite breakfast cause she didn’t know how to explain someone she couldn’t remember making it for her every morning. She took a bite and tried to hide her delight from him.

Monique: It’s better than eating stuff out of a dumpster.

He smiled.

Lee: I’ll take that as a compliment.
Monique: So, listen…I don’t do well with getting free handouts.
Lee: Even though you’ve been dumpster diving?
Monique: That’s different! People throw that stuff out! But you’re literally handing something you made and bought me something yesterday and you’re practically letting me live her for free so I’m trying to say what can I do for you in return.

Lee was taken aback. No one had ever asked what he had wanted. He’d always gave to people, yet no one ever gave back.

Monique: I’m really good at household chores...I think?
Lee: I don’t know if I should trust you with that…
Monique: I feel like you’re challenging me.
Lee: No, I just don’t trust a dumpster diver to know how to cook and clean.

She quickly finished her meal, taking her plate and the pans that were used. In a spiteful rush, she washed the dishes, cleaning every spec of dirt she could find. He
watched in amazement.

Lee: Where’d you learn how to be a busser?
Monique: Hell, if I know.
Lee: You are just full of surprises aren’t you? Just promise me you won’t burn the house down.
Ben: OY! Can y’all keep it down out there some people have raging headaches.

Ben cried out from a distant room as Lee and Monique laughed.

~