The cramped car, streaked with light in the black. The windows rolled down a crack, the air smells like old rain. Alice used to have a particular scent; succulent, wet mildewy flower, made you want to put your nose in the cusp of her neck and inhale deep. There's smells in this world I'm used to. My dads cigarettes. Acrid oil paints. The rarity of a scent like Alice's, quietly radiating from the strands of her hair - that is something to savor. I would never imagine getting used to her aroma, but that is exactly what happened. We have spent days together in the same little contained spaces, attached, same activities, (different emotions), same plans. During this time, our objects started blending together. In a hurry, her comb and books would be shoved into my bag, and my shirt in hers. I can't tell what is her and I anymore. She smells faded; still her, but you have to really try to see her. And that is the first sign she is blending into me.
"Your nose is pink." I slowly opened my blurry eyes. She was sitting opposite of me with her arms crossed, leaning against the car door.
"What?", I croaked. The air felt frosty. I shivered.
She leaned forward, laughing, "Your nose", she pinched my nose, "is pink. It's so cold outside."
The whole inside of the car was tainted pink by the sun anyways. I could hardly see a thing.
She was energetic today, totally oblivious to the night prior. First we sat in Mcdonalds, taking our time and planning out our day. We had decided to just keep driving north. We had no destination, but to escape.
The usual staring out the window for hours didn't happen today. She chatted about the most random memories; about her friends back at school. Remember school? She would look out the window, but then glance at me and smile.
We drove all day with the highway ahead, radio listening, the moments of silence peaceful.
At 9, we parked in the field again to the left. The blinker was going in the vast place, and then we were quiet.
The car lights above us illuminated her. She turned and I saw her tired, red eyes. Smiling. "I promise I'll keep my hands to myself, so could we please get in the back?"
Falling asleep was soft this time. Opulence in my arms.