Ascent into Sunshine
Chapter II
Over the next few weeks, my person had improved so greatly that I was fully capable of having a legitimate conversation with another human... and by "another human", I mean Jack. He was by my side, day and night, waking me up in the morning, and tucking me in in the evening. Yes, I was improving at such a rapid pace, that he would even carry me into the living space, and put me on the couch while he went about his daily life. Words couldn't describe the joy I felt in this time.
"Jack!" I would cry to him.
"Em?" he had shortened my appointed name thus.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to give this d-" grunt "Koala a bath!"
I would always laugh at the antics he had with those animals.
"How's that going for you?"
"How do you think?"
"you'll manage, you always do."
At the time, I never thought to delve into the character of my caretaker. In hindsight, it was always quite apparent; despite his rough shell, he was a lover, not a fighter. He was never happy unless he had something or someone to care for. If thoroughly examined, this proves to be a sign of low self esteem, and the perceived notion that one is only worth while where there is another in need of his presence. Judging by the timing of everything, I was probably doing him as much good as he was me. The relationship between he and his brother had been deteriorating for years, I'm sure, and all either of them needed was a slight nudge to fall into the abyss of estrangement, and I was glad to oblige.
I would recline upon the couch, listening to books on tape while Jack would cook and clean. We would speak about anything, everything, and nothing, all in the same moment. We both knew everything about each other, but neither knew a thing about the others past. I knew his favourite colour was green, he loved hiking, swimming, and everything out doors, and he soon learned that I loved everything to do with words. The poems and sonnets he recited for me melted my heart, and, without knowing what I did, I fell in love with the Aussie.
I couldn't know how he felt for me, since I didn't know love, nor did I know why my heart sped up when I saw him, all I knew was that I wanted to be what he wanted me to be. In addition to other things, like how I wanted to be near him, but when I was near him, I wanted to be away, and when I was away, I wanted to be near him again. Indeed, I was so confused during this period of time, that my angel noticed. He grabbed me one day and held me close to his chest, and said,
"Em, whad'd'I do?"
"W-what? I... you didn't do anything."
"well, why're you avoidin'me, mate?"
"I'm not!"
"now yer' lyin' to me."
"I!... I..."
he simply sat in silence, waiting for me to continue. At last, after quite a bit of time, I had decided that I could in no way avoid the truth, I told him-
"I'm not mad at you, I'm confused... you make me happy and scared and nervous, and when I'm with you, I want to hide, and at night, when I can't hear you, I want you with me."
I hid my face in his chest, so that he wouldn't see me. I didn't hear anything from him for some time, but when I looked up, I had noticed that he had been snoring.
