"Yeah, but not like this! Why are you naked?" I looked over my shoulder at the door. There was a tiny window off to the right. I couldn't see anyone walking by, which was a relief.
"Ain't gonna wear that thing. Makes me look like an old woman," Merle complained. I had to agree with him. The robes were paper thin and crinkly and easily the most uncomfortable article of clothing in existence.
"Well that else are you gonna wear?" I looked from Merle to the door. Anne would no doubt be back soon and even though Merle clearly wouldn't mind her seeing him naked it made me uncomfortable.
"Don't you worry your lil' heart, sugar. I ain't gonna defile your virgin eyes," He was riffling through the closet, carelessly dropping thing onto the floor.
"You would be if my hand were a little lower," I grumbled.
"Sounds like you got it under control then," I rolled my eyes.
Merle wriggled into a pair of green scrubs and I dropped my hand. I felt like I was babysitting a drunk, which was something I had some experience with. It was usually more fun than this.
"Go back to bed," I shooed him out of the way and started picking things up off the floor.
"You commin' too?" Merle winked at me and I grimaced.
"No," I said gravely as I folded a fluffy white towel.
Merle didn't walk to the bed. He stood and stared at me and I tried to ignore him. I knew what he was thinking and I didn't want to talk about it. Sam was dead and no part of him was going to live on in this world. Not if I had a say.
"He's dead," Merle spoke calmly. I looked over at him. His face was dead serious and he was staring at me intensely.
"Yes, he is," I responded in an as a matter of fact tone.
"What he did to you won't ever happen again," I cracked a smile at this.
"There are more bad men in the world, Merle. Especially this world," I may not have always made the wisest decisions, but I like to think I was a pretty intelligent person. I also liked to think I was brave enough to be honest with myself. Oftentimes, the truth is hard to face.
Merle took a few steps towards me and grabbed my arm. He probably would have said something, but the door opened and Anne interrupted him.
"What did I tell you?" She set the food tray down and grossed the room with a huff. Merle went to his bed without complaint and made himself comfortable, looking happy as a clam to be being served up a hot meal.
"And didn't I ask you to make sure he didn't get up?" Anne shook her head. "When I was your age women used to have better control over their men," My face heated and I looked away from her. Even though she was wrong I didn't want to say anything. We didn't know any of these people. We didn't know if they could be trusted. Maybe this way they would keep us together.
Anne left, Merle ate, and I picked up all the towels and boxes of bandages and gloves. The silence and repetitive movement made me tired again. Merle wasn't doing anything he wasn't supposed to be doing, so, once again, there was nothing to worry about. After closing the closet I went back to the chair I'd pulled up to the bed. I propped my legs up on the bed and leaned back comfortably in my chair.
"What do you think you're doin? This bed's small enough and I'm the one who's missin' a hand," Merle whined and pouted dramatically.
"I don't see what that has to do with your legs," I closed my eyes and turned my head away from him.
"I can't believe this. Ol' Merle saves your damn life and this is the thinks I get? Can't even get a damn bed to myself," My only response was a half-hearted grunt. Sleep took me as quickly as I hoped death someday would.