Sticker Challenge, sphinx: Write about a riddle
Insane House Competition: bed
365 Prompts Challenge: amber
Word Count: 372
"I have a riddle for you," Anthony says.
Padma groans and rolls over in bed to look at her boyfriend, propping up on her elbow. It isn't that she doesn't like Anthony's little puzzles. They're always fun and give her something to think about. At midnight, however, when all she wants to do is sleep, she'd rather just let her mind relax. Still, she can never resist him, so she shrugs. "Okay. I'll bite."
Anthony grins at that. His amber eyes glimmer with excitement. "What is invisible and makes people suffer from symptoms like sweating and nausea, but we can't live without it?"
"Sounds like a disease."
Her boyfriend snorts and ruffles her dark hair affectionately. "Some might argue that it is."
Padma considers for a moment. She can think of plenty of illnesses with those symptoms, but nothing fits the second half. How is it possible to be unable to live without something that makes a person sick? "Air?"
"Nope."
"Okay… Back to my disease theory. Is there a cure?"
Anthony chuckles and lays back, sinking into the pillows. His copper curls form a halo around his head, and Padma shivers. It isn't fair that he expects her to figure this out when he's such a distraction.
"It can be cured, but it's never pretty," he confirms.
Padma purses her lips, pondering. She hates it when he finds a way to stump her. She's always taken pride in being able to figure out even his most complex riddles. Now, she's at a loss. "I give up."
Anthony's lips quirk into a soft smile that's only slightly smug. "Really? You give up? It hasn't even been five minutes, Padma."
"Yeah, yeah. You heard me. I give up," she says grudgingly. "What is it?"
Her boyfriend sits up again, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "Love," he murmurs, his lips tickling her neck. "The answer is love."
Padma pulls away, giggling. "That is so cheesy!"
"But good."
"Nope. Just cheesy," she laughs.
And with that, she pulls the blanket over them, curling up beside Anthony with her head on his chest and a smile on her lips. It really was a good one, but she'll never admit it to him.