The blackness of the night enveloped itself around me, smothering me. I couldn't see. Couldn't move. The heavy sound of breathing was coming closer, the closer it came the greater the stench of alcohol became until it was almost unbearable. I slumped down the cold wall of the alley, my head in my hands. Tears spilled out and streamed down my cheeks. But I couldn't make a noise. Silent crying. The kind of crying I was used to.
"WHERE ARE YOU?" I could hear him spitting out the words in a drunken slur.
I was choking on my own tears, trying to hold my sobs back. The footsteps came closer. I could no longer hold back the scream which came flooding out of my mouth in a wave of volume.
"Delph, delph" a soft reassuring voice broke through. This voice seemed to portray a beam of light which melted the dark alley, taking me away from the danger. Keeping me safe.
I felt my shoulder being gently shaken awake.
"Oui?" I mumbled sleepily.
"Hey there" I saw a softly smiling face looking down at me through the gloom. Cosima placed her hand on my cheek and brushed my face softly with her thumb.
"You ok?" She looked concerned.
"Oui, why?"
"Well you were kind of screaming in your sleep" my face dropped in horror at the realisation of the dream. The scream must have been more vocal than I though.
"Merde, did I wake anyone else?
"No,no it wasn't that loud" she reassured. There didn't seem to be any movement or sound from behind me.
"Come on sleepy head, now your awake I've got something to show you"
I looked up to see her above me holding out her hand. I grasped it as she pulled me upwards. Leaving the tangled sheets and bad dreams behind. She took me by the hand and lead me down a series of twisting and turning corridors, all dimly lit. Each one different from the next, with large entrances to different exhibits looming down, looking menacing in the dark. I grabbed her hand a little tighter as the dark shapes brought out childish fear. We arrived at an old, rusting stair well leading up to a cast iron door. Cosima began to climb, the stairs creaked beneath her. She gestured for me to follow her. I waited behind her patiently, trying not to portray how nervous the creaking stairs were making me. The great door swung open with a massive thud making me jump and Cosima laugh.
We stepped out onto the roof of the museum. The icy air swirled around us, dancing on our skin as it pulled up the hairs on our arms to join its merry dance.
I looked around, taking in our surroundings. The whole of San Francisco could be seen from up her. A city of lights glistening in the dark. A flood light lit up the place where we stood. I gazed in awe at the Golden Gate Bridge, which looked even more magnificent from up here.
"Pretty cool huh?" Cosima was wrapping her cardigan around her a little tighter against the icy breeze. I was in nothing but my short pyjama bottoms and a thin vest. I clutched my arms around me, hugging my self for warmth. The wind stung at the cuts and bruises on my body.
Cosima was taking something out of her pocket, a golden flame rose up at the flick of the lighter. Cosima brought the joint up to her lips, inhaled deeply and waited a while before exhaling slowly, the pale smoke spiralling upwards. She smiled and leant back against the door.
She held out the joint to me. I wanted to have it between my lips. To have what she had between her lips between mine. I took it from her, not knowing what to expect. I placed it between my lips and inhaled deeply, I could feel the smoke going into my lungs, I exhaled, letting the smoke drift slowly out of my parted lips. I felt relieved and satisfied. Much like after I had a cigarette, but there was something else there. Something which made it so much better and so much scarier at the same time. I began to feel a little light headed, feeling like I needed to let this feeling escape, I began to giggle. I could see Cosima watching me out of the corner of her eye. The twinkle, oh yes, the mischievous Cosima twinkle.
She was grinning when I handed it back to her.
"Your new to this right?" She laughed at me.
"How did you guess?" I giggled.
We sat there in silence, passing the slowly disappearing joint between us. Watching her place it between her lips before placing it between mine.
She tossed away the smouldering stub, sending a rush of embers cascading into the air. Floating away, disappearing on he breeze. Cosima stood up and began to sway about to non existent music.
"Wanna dance?" She turned to me and grinned.
I was slightly wobbly standing up, the world around me becoming a dizzy blur of lights mixing into patterns and colours.
I grabbed her hand for support which made her laugh. She gently took hold of both my arms and held me steady.
"You ok now?" She loosened her grip a little.
I nodded back in response, She let go and held out her hand.
"Will you, miss Delphine Cormier take this dance?" She smiled.
"Oui" I giggled taking her hand in mine. She pulled me forward. She moved my hand to her waist and placed her hand on my shoulder. Clasping our other hands together. She moved up and down in a waltzing movement, I mimicked her every move until we came together in a steady rhythm. Moving around on the deserted rooftop. I smiled at how bizarre this was, yet how perfect. Gazing into her eyes she smiled back at me. I leaned forward pressing our foreheads together as we both grinned. She pulled her hand up to my face, pulling me towards her in the process. Our lips came together, she kissed me again and again, each time I could feel her smile widen. Her kisses became more passionate and I felt myself wrap my arms around her. I could taste the joint on her lips, her soft lips colliding with mine.
She pulled away softly and just stood there for a while gazing into my eyes, me gazing into hers. Her eyes clouded over, just for a second, a flicker of sadness. But as quickly as it had appeared it had disappeared.
She winked at me and began to giggle as she started to turn us around. Until we began spinning, in our own little tornado. Her laughter singing out above all else. I began laughing with her as we span around.I had her grasped in my hands so we were both leant back and spinning. Carefree and childlike.
We fell into a giggling heap on the floor. Barely being able to breathe through the fits of laughter. I lay down on the floor looking up at the night sky. She lay her head on my stomach. I took a strand of her dreadlocks in my hand and began playing with it between my thumb and finger, twisting it around. We lay there, catching our breath. Blissfully happy.
A church bell struck 3 in the distance, the alarm bell cutting through our peace.
"Holy crap we better get back, the night guard does another check round at 10 past"
Cosima stood up brushing herself off. I half propped myself up either my elbows.
"How can you possibly know that?"
"Let's just say it not the first time I have picked that lock" she grinned at me looking quite proud of herself.
I hauled myself up off the ground, the world still seemed to be moving a bit too quickly. I opened my mouth to protest the move but she had already jumped through the door. I walked gingerly towards her, following her every move.
"Cosima" I mumbled, unable to yell, feeling dizzy and slight nauseous. I tripped over stone column which caused me to tumblr over the threshold of an exhibit. Alarm bells immediately began going off. The shrill piercing sound deafening my ears. I felt like I was falling unable to stop. A hand grasped mine, pulling me upwards. The strong, safe grip.
"Get ready to run" Cosima whispered in my ear.
Grabbing me by her hand we ran. Through a maze of corridors, we ran and ran. I could feel the blood pumping through my veins at such a tremendous I rate I thought I might burst, but somehow this gave me more power. More drive. Her grip on me tightened as she brought us to a sudden halt, she looked around for any sign of life. Another bell rang through the first. The collision of the two making my ears ring. I turned around to find myself being pulled through a fire escape. We ran down the steps until we came out on to the street
She turned to grin at me, clearly she was getting the same buzz as I was getting. I grinned back at her. She loosened her grip and stood by me, hand in hand.
"Ready to run again?" She began to laugh.
"Most definitely" I grinned.