Sleeping was awkward.

I didn't know how a Perfect woman slept, so I tried my best. I lay sideways, and my back was towards him. He slipped in beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist. I could hear him hesitate.

"What?" I whispered.

"It's just… just that I know that Perfect women sleep like this, but for some reason, I want to see your face," he claimed honestly. "I know it's dumb, but-"

He stopped as soon as I turned over and faced his chest.

"Better?" I asked.

I could hear him nod. "But now I want to see your eyes."

I glanced up at his eyes for a second before looking away. He wrapped his arms around me, and for some reason, my head was against his chest.

And the only thing in my life that was perfect was how right it felt.

X

The next morning, I began to cook. It was simple, but doable. Toast with eggs and orange juice.

Fabian came in, wearing a suit, and leather shoes. He looked incredibly handsome.

"Thank you," he said, entering.

Did I saw that out loud?

"This food, looks amazing," he complimented. He grabbed my hand as I sat down, "Like something else I see."

I blushed, and laced my fingers into his. The actions felt natural and warming. But, this wasn't The Council's action upon me since they couldn't control me.

Was Fabian actually becoming my friend?

His actions of course, are to be blamed on The Council. Last night, though that was odd-Perfect men never ask to see a woman's face- was obviously The Council, commanding him, telling what to say, and how to act. And this, this was definitely, added to The Council's Faults List. Fabian's words were just something every Perfect man says to his wife in the morning. Yet for some reason, I did recall the fact that they would on occasion kiss their wife as a form of affection.

Was Fabian actually defying the system?

Did this mean he wasn't controlled?

That he acts this way out of… out of care for me?

We finished eating, and he headed for the door. Like the "Perfect" wife I was, I followed him, and handed him his briefcase. He hugged me, before hesitating again.

"You do that a lot," I commented.

"What?" he questioned.

"Think," I replied. "You keep thinking about every next move. You should just relax and do what you want to."

He sighed, "But if it's a mistake?"

I didn't realize that I was talking to a government official until I finished, "The way the make people perfect is a mistake. Everyone is special the way they are, mistakes are common. We just see so little of them now, we don't notice."

I gasped, and tears sprung at my eyes. Before he could understand what I said, I bid him farewell and shut the door. I leaned against it, and fell to the floor. I just admitted to my husband that everything he lives for, I hate. That the way he lives is disgusting and that it should be taken down. Ok, not that much, but enough for him to realize that I hate the government he works for.

He's going to turn me in and who knows what they do to Chosens? Maybe they kill them and turn them into a symbol to never to defy The Council? Or place his or her heads in the City Square, where everyone goes?

All I know is the Fabian who I thought would be my friend would never look at me the same again.

And that was enough to break my heart again.

X

When my husband came home, I was a mess. I wore the most ugly clothes I could find in the wardrobe provided by The Council, which was hard. My shirt was faded and blue, and sweatpants that were grey and baggy. I wore my hair on top of my head, in a freakishly messy bun. Fabian didn't need to worry about me being perfect anymore; he had already seen my true colors.

I didn't bother getting up from my position on the couch, sprawled across the cold leather, my feet tucked under a blanket, when he knocked on the door. I could hear him fumbling with his keys, and him calling, "Nina?" as he opened the door.

I could his footsteps get closer, and suddenly, I turned around my back facing him. I couldn't look him in the eye the second he began to yell at me, I would break into tears and he'd force me to look his eyes and I'd break even more.

"Nina?" he whispered as he kneeled beside me. He gently shook me, and lightly turned me around. My eyes were still puffy, from crying all day, at the different things he could have done to me. "Oh my God, Nina, what happened?"

I just sniffled and turned over, my back to him again. I could feel him lift me up, my head back to its previous position last night, in his chest, and carry me upstairs.

"Fabian…."

"Nina, don't talk, ok?" he said, "Just wait until your in bed."

Once he tucked me in, he laid down beside me, still in his work clothes. "Is this about this morning?"

I started breathing heavily, and my head was spinning even though I was on a flat surface.

"Nina," he breathed, "Nina, I'm not mad."

This caused me to turn over.

"Nina, I get where you're coming from. I understand that as a child the government was unfair to you. They never erased or locked away all those old memories of yours. I get it. I told you I would always understand what you're going through, I promised."

Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"Don't cry," he begged. He began to wipe away the tears, as I stared up at him, directly in the eyes.

"Thank you," I told him, as his concrete blue eyes stared at me.

I wrapped my arm around his neck, and slowly but surely hooked the other around the other. "Thank you," I muttered repeating the phrase. My face was in the space in his neck, where he smelt like fresh books and the ocean. I closed my eyes and smiled, as tears seeped into my mouth.

"As for you looking like that," he chuckled as he wrapped his arms around me.

I popped my eyes open, and let go of him, but he didn't let go of me.

"Hey," he whispered. "Hey, look at me. Look at me."

My eyes looked up at him as soon as he placed two fingers under my chin. "I still think you look perfect."

I gasped, as I crawled out of bed, breaking our moment. "I'll go get dinner ready," I declared.

"Nina-"

"And then I'm going for a walk."

I made an easy dinner of pasta, the recipe in the corner of a cabinet, steamed broccoli and sliced fruit for dessert. I placed it on the table, the portions as perfect as a Chosen could make it, on his plate, shiny enough that even with all the food, he could see his face in the outside rim. I placed a glass of water beside in, three ices cubes, the way he liked, or at least that what's I remember him saying.

I shrugged on a coat, so no one could see my hideous outfit underneath, and start rousing suspicions. I slipped on some fancy sneakers, and began to walk around the block.

Fabian's actions were nothing more than kind acts. Of course, The Council should have made sure he had the ability to show affection, like hugs and kisses. But so far, everything in that manner, he had given the control to me. And I had never had control.

It felt nice.

But, Fabian must be planning something big. He had to have told what had occurred this morning to his boss. Fabian was a high level employee; it was in his oath to tell the truth about his awkward encounters.

I had gone three times around the block, before the thought entered my brain that maybe he hadn't told them. But that idea was tossed out faster than the one that he was an alien and that's why he was acting different from a Perfect man.

By the time I had returned home, it was two in the morning, and I was tired. I slipped off my coat and shoes, and was about to head upstairs when the light flipped on. "Glad to see you're back."

I stopped and turned. Fabian was standing in the middle of the living room, his shadow dark, just like his face.

"You were gone for a while. Where?" he asked.

"Just around the block," I responded curtly.

"Why?"

"I had to clear my head," I replied.

"Really? Took you that long?"

"I had a lot on my mind," I snapped.

I bit back my tongue, stepped backward and looked down. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I want you to say what you think," he said.

I was ready to believe in the alien theory when he said that.

"I know, it's crazy but, I feel like I want you to be completely honest with me. Even when I don't agree, actually especially when I don't agree." He sighed, "I'm sorry, I interrogated you. I just… you were gone for a while… and I thought…."

"Hey," I called, reaching where he stood. I took his hands, "Don't you every think that. It will never happen. I promise."

He nodded, and I shifted my gaze to the dining table. The plate and the water were still there, untouched.

"You didn't eat?" I asked, worried.

He followed my gaze, and then looked everyone else. "Um… yeah, I was really worried, and-"

I wouldn't let him finish, as I dragged him over to the table. I sat him down, and plopped myself in the chair beside him. "I am going to stay here until you eat all of that mister. And don't even think of getting out of it."

He picked up the fork, before he turned to me, "Did you eat?"

I hesitated, before answering, "Yes, I did."

He looked at me suspiciously, before I opened my mouth, covering it with my hand and fake yawned.

It was enough for him.

"Go to sleep," he recommended. "I promise I'll eat it."

I obeyed, and headed upstairs for the bedroom. I brushed my teeth and wiped off the little makeup I wore. I dried my face, and left the bathroom. I went to the bed, where I laid down in the position I was in last night. I was about to drift off when someone grabbed my shoulder.

I bolted upright, ready to hit the person, when someone grabbed my hand.

Fabian.

"Fabian," I whispered. I cleared my throat before relaxing, "I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."

"No worries," he answered. He chuckled, "Remind me to never scare you again."

I laughed before realizing what was going on. "What's wrong? Is everything ok? Should I leave the room? Do you need something?"

"It's ok, you don't have to leave the room," he replied. "And something is wrong, and I do need you to do something."

I nodded, until he brought out the plate of food. "I need you to eat."

I shook my head immediately. He sighed, "Come on, Nina, did you even eat lunch earlier?"

I nodded, before I mistakenly looked at him. I shifted my gaze to my lap, and he said, "That's what I thought."

"I'm fine," I reassured.

"Nina, I can't let this go. You have to eat."

"No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Please?"

"No!"

"Nina," he begged, "please eat."

And just like that Fabian Rutter broke through my wall again. I went to bed with a full stomach, a warm blanket, and a good friend.

And my head was in his chest again, fitting perfectly.