Helga's Obsession, Chapter 1.
The clear evening sky made the perfect background against the city of Hillwood. The orange sun disappeared just behind the horizon, the few brightest stars just barely visible in the twilight. I rested my cheek in my palm, leaning over the fence at the end of the docks. I sighed, contently taking in the atmosphere. A gentle gust of wind teased my sandy blonde hair, pushing some into my face. I brushed it back before resting my hand back on the fence, on top of a smaller, more delicate one. There, with me, was my girlfriend of the last two years. Lila Sawyer. I glanced over at her; the same complacent smile on my face. The same smile appeared on her lips as we stood there, not saying a word. My grin widened some as I watched her, nearly as far as it could stretch my oddly shaped head, as I was told. It was hard to believe it had already been two years since our first date at this exact spot. Nothing about her changed. Her curvy, auburn hair draped to her shoulders, soaking up the last few streams of the sunset. Her green dress was the perfect contrast to her ginger hair. I felt my heart melt as I stared at her, her returning my gaze. I hadn't changed much either. I still wore a jeans and an untucked, checkered, button-up.
"I love you, Lila," I said softly. The water lapped against the wooden dock beneath them. I stared right at her, smiling longingly.
"Oh, Arnold, I love you ever so much." Lila leaned in closer to me, pushing herself up to my level, and placing a kiss on my lips
I returned her gesture, reaching up to stroke her cheek gently. The kiss lasted only briefly, leaving us looking right into one another's eyes. I draped my hand across her shoulders as we turned to watch the dusk fall into night around our hometown. The air cooled as the night came, no doubt making her feel colder now. I never minded the cold much, but the same couldn't be said for Lila. Whenever it got cold, she was always one to bundle up, to get cozy, especially when we lied together in bed on such a night. I watched her bring her shoulders in closer, folding her arms across her chest. I smirked again. I knew it was time to go.
"C'mon, Lila. Let's go home." Without another word, Lila turned, walking by my side as we departed for home. The wooden boards creaked under our feet with each step, showing the slight aging of the wood. My hand slithered up to hers, cupping it gently as we walked down the dock. It was relatively close to where we lived. I never needed a car to get there. Which was good, since I didn't even own one. Even so, I preferred to walk anyhow. I found it relaxing, even in a large city like Hillwood. When you live only a few blocks away from work, and with cheap mass transit available, why would I need one anyway? I guess I just thought it silly, for whatever reason.
We soon approached our home, a refurbished townhouse that we had bought almost a year ago. The interior had been renovated shortly before we moved in, leaving fresh, pasty walls and solid oak floors behind. It seemed like the perfect home for the two of us. The exterior was a different story, bearing the scars of years of weather and exposure to the city grit. The building itself had clearly been there long before either of us was born. But I think I adored that the most. The worn, brick exterior reminded me of my childhood, when I used to live in the boarding house with my grandparents. The concrete stoop leading to the front door was all too familiar to me. Every time I looked I couldn't help but stare at it, letting the memories of lives past rush my thoughts.
As we neared, I could see a little pink blob sitting on the front stoop. Abner. I remembered when he was just a little piglet. He had been my best buddy for as far back as I could remember. Lila would tease me about him sometimes. She said I always swore that Abner was the smartest pig you'd ever meet. And I do. And he is.
Abner squealed, running down the steps. I bent down on my knee to pick him up. His damp snout snorted as he sniffed me.
"Abner! Hey, buddy…" I hugged him against my shoulder, giving him a small kiss on the nose. Abner licked me back, forcing a chuckle out of me. Lila giggled at us as she opened the front door. Putting Abner down, I followed her, with Abner rushing in after. Lila disappeared down the hallway, heading to our bedroom. As I closed the door behind me I watched her. I held back a small chortle behind a shy grin. My life couldn't be any better. I had everything right here.
I made my way to the bedroom, pulling my shirt over my head and tossing it into the laundry basket in the corner. I emptied my jean pockets, tossing my wallet and keys onto my dresser. I pulled open the top drawer, pulling out my pajamas to change.
"Oh, hey Lila?" I called.
"Yes, Arnold?" came a delicate voice from the bathroom door.
"Gerald wants to meet up at the park for some basketball tomorrow." I heard the bathroom faucet turn on briefly.
"That's fine," Lila replied in a half-muffled tone. It wasn't easy to talk with a toothbrush in your mouth. I reached down to pull back the sheets of our bed before sitting down. I looked down at the glowing red numbers of my alarm clock. I reached over to it, setting it for the morning. Lila finally came out of the bathroom, walking over to her side of the bed. Her long, white nightgown was almost a homely-looking thing. But I liked it on her. It suited her country style.
"So I guess you won't be here when I get home?"
"Probably not," I replied with a half-smile. Lila crawled into the bed, slipping under the sheets. I reached up to turn out the light near our bed.
"Okay," she sighed contently, getting comfortable. I lied down next to her, facing her. We smiled at each other, Lila scooting a bit closer to me. I placed a kiss on her forehead. I slid my bare arm up, wrapping it around her shoulder, pulling her closer. Abner unexpectedly jumped up on the end of the bed, startling the two of us, bringing a chuckle from me. Abner curled up at the foot of the bed like he usually did and sighed contently. I could sense we were all slowly falling asleep. I turned back to Lila, resting my chin on her head.
"Goodnight, Lila," I murmured.
"Goodnight, Arnold."
We lied there, falling asleep in one another's arms. The crescent moon peeked into the room through the window, filling it with a gentle light as the three of us slept soundly. As perfect as the day had ended, I wondered to myself; what did tomorrow hold?