Disclaimer: The wonderful characters are the brainchildren of Thomas Harris and unfortunately too complex for my small brain.
The physical exertion had reduced a significant level of Clarice's anger, but she was still not ready to forgive. Hannibal still had a long way to go.
"Now, here we are." Clarice seemed happy with herself and the bed she made on the sofa for Hannibal, a couple of blankets and some pillows created a cosy nest.
Hannibal looked at her with incredulity.
"Surely not the couch? How about a guest bed or, I don't know, maybe your bed?"
Clarice snorted. "You've got a long way to go yet, sweetpea. First step to forgiveness: sleeping on the couch." She wanted to bring him down to her level; her life. The feelings of loneliness, despair and emptiness swallowed her whole for too long for her to just forgive him. She needed time to heal. Time to forgive.
He, of course, knew this, as he knew her. Hannibal was a reader of people. He could discover all aspects of a person's personality by spending limited time with them. He unpicked Clarice's personality in those meetings in the basement. She was a strong woman, who saw emotion as weakness. Her way of recovering was to express how he made her feel in these actions towards him.
"Whatever you say, Clarice. Anything for you, my love."
She hid her smile. He would not leave, not again. No matter what she said, or did, to him, she would not push him away. He would take it all for her, because he loved her. Hannibal loved her. She felt light at the thought. Suddenly, those months of darkness disappeared and all she could see in her future was light. Pure, bright light for the first time in her life.
"Sleep tight, then. Don't let the bed bugs bite." As she left the living room, she switched off the light.
"Bugs?" She heard him ask. As if she thought, knowing she had disinfected the sofa only last week during one of her episodes.
She trudged up the stairs, stopping at Ardelia's door, which was ajar, and saw Ardelia sitting on her bed after sneaking in during her and Hannibal's fight.
"Night, Dee." Clarice smiled. She's actually smiling, Ardelia thought to herself. A genuine smile! What a man.
"G'night Clarice. I hope I did right by you."
Clarice looked her friend in the eyes. "More than right, Ardelia. Thank you." She closed the door and entered her own bedroom, shut the door and collapsed onto the bed.
That night, for the first night in months, Clarice slept soundly.
A/N: Look who's back! I feel like no apology will suffice for this hiatus BUT I am currently in my final year of college (dying) and have decided that this is the best outlet for my thoughts as I enter the next few months of my life. So, even if no-one reads this, I'll keep going (famous last words).
If anybody is there, a review would be absolutely lovely!
Till next time,
Chloe x