JANUARY PROMPT: MOTORCYCLES/FRESH STARTS/LEATHER JACKETS/HANGOVERS/MEMORY LOSS/PHOTOGRAPHY
OPTIONAL GENRE/THEMES: ACTION/ANGST/ROMANCE
Synopsis: Claire finds something that Leon kept hidden which belongs to Sherry.
#not beta read #Post-Resident Evil: Death Island
Notes:
Is forgetting things considered memory loss? Okay, I just want to clarify for the context of the story, Claire just forgot things like the time when we forget where we put our keys, not like a total memory loss. Hope everyone gets what I mean.
Claire carefully grasped a stack of disc cases from the shelf of the built-in cabinet. The scale of Leon's collection of DVDs and Blu-rays was something. His dedication to his free time was not his fault entirely. She did encourage him to build the mini home theater room. The truth was she did it because she did not want him to get tunneled vision on what he does for a living. She was completely aware of what it did to himself. At least when he got home he had something in mind other than work stuff. So if he liked watching movies, alone in the dark; she argued why not put ambiance to it. However, she did not expect was in the span of five years he could collect this many movies of collection. When asked why, he answered with another question.
-What good having own a theater at home without quality films to watch?-
It made sense, his reasoning was logical. Squatting over, she put the stack of disc cases in hand into the box next to her feet. Just as she stood again, taking out the next batch of disc cases her mind drifted to Leon again. The recent outbreak that nearly took her life has stirred him to make changes in his life, whether it was transparent or subtle. She did notice some of it. Even so, she did not want to point it out. It would make both of them uncomfortable.
For instance, the way he interacted with her felt different. It became more careful and delicate. She hoped this new momentum would not affect much of their friendship because it was too valuable to her. Therefore, she tried her best to accommodate his new way and to get used to his new self. Another example was this room. Leon loved all of this, his mini home theater. His idea of wanting to dismantle the whole room and make it a guest bedroom felt alien to her.
She could not comprehend how revamping his mini home theater to another bedroom would dubbed as a fresh start like he claimed to be. The wall that was once covered with soundproof panels was ripped off by Leon this morning. Afterward, they planned to paint the wall new with a soft shade of pink. The dimmed bulbs have been replaced with new natural lights.
There were no block curtains anymore. The new linen curtains that would hang later were a bright red that she chose earlier. The thick carpeting was removed, baring the original wooden floor. The look of the room started to shift more becoming a bedroom. Still, there was a lot that needed to be done. Currently, she was collecting his movies collection in boxes which would be stored away in his storage unit along with the cabinet, the audio system, and the sofa. The only salvage was his flat screen that has been relocated to the living room.
Maybe he just needed the change of environment. Nonetheless, she did not question him and continued to uphold his decision. After all, this was his house. Without wasting more time, she took another stack of disc cases; when one casing slipped off from her grip and dropped to the wooden floor. The casing was all opaque black with no movie label or writing whatsoever.
Oh no, Leon.
A giggle erupted from her amused self. She knew it. She called it before and he did not deny it. She was convinced among his movie collection he must have kept something explicit and pornographic. Something special for him and only for him to see. And she could not believe she actually found one today.
She put the rest of the cases into the box sans the black-colored case. Shaking her head, out of curiosity she opened the case. Her laugh died instantly, mischievous grin swiped off her face. She lost her words when she saw the content inside. A Polaroid film of him sleeping unclothed with a woman in his arms. Because of the shock and consternation, she snapped closing the case in a hurry.
She swallowed the lump of nervousness in her throat. She could hear his thumping heart. Her chest felt like about to burst, her heart was beating fast like she had after her morning runs. And then came the sharp pang of hurt that left her wounded and defeated. She should not open it. She was well aware of his reputation around women. But to witness it herself, Claire could not bear the afterpain. She rather be ignorant and not know bout it. Her status as his close friend did not free her inferiority in prying a subject as private as this.
She gripped the casing too hard, her nails were digging indentations on the plastic warping of the disc case. Her eyes closed to avoid any formation of welling tears. If she continued biting her lower lip, it would bleed. Amidst the turbulence trying to console herself, the thought of the picture came back to her mind. Something uncanny bout the setup of the photo screamed her familiarity with Leon and the woman in his arms. Bandaged shoulder. Red hair. Her eyebrows furrowed, a streaks of creases formed on her forehead. She brought back the casing to her view and tentatively opened it again.
What!?
Straight away, her eyes went wide as she gasped looking at the Polaroid film. The woman was her. The woman that Leon was holding was actually her. The image was not sharp as the photo was taken at this present time, but surely it revealed enough detail to perceive what the imagery was all about. They both were lying on the right side, Leon's bad shoulder was clearly visible. With Leon intimately fitted to her back, she could not tell whether they were sharing the same pillow or not. Her untied hair fell to the side, on the pillow exposing her neck to the man sleeping behind her. His face was so close to her naked neck that his nose was touching her bare skin and his mouth looked like he was whispering feathery kisses at the nape of her neck.
She was wearing a thin white camisole, she did not think she was wearing a bra underneath. Leon wore nothing on his upper abdomen other than the bandages on his left shoulder. He got his left arm draped around her waist, his hand resting freely on top of her bare stomach.
A thin pastel blue bedspread that covered their lower abdomen was hanging loosely revealing the hints of the waistband of what they wearing for their lower garments. The imagery rendered affection and intimacy. Her cheeks blushed with a rosy tint. When she saw the photo of the Grand Canyon above the headboard bed she knew exactly when this happened. This was the night she, Leon, and Sherry spent together at the cheap motel after they escaped Raccoon City.
Why I don't remember the exact time this picture was taken?
Is it in the morning or at night?
How come I am not aware of this?
Did Sherry take this picture?
Why does Leon have it?
Better yet, why do I feel relief when I realize the woman is me?
Floodgates of questions were open barreling down for her self-consciousness. She undid the photo from the plastic taping and brought it closer. She tried to recall what exactly happened the night. She was sober because she remembered cleaning his nasty gunshot wound. She was the one who put the dressing on the busted shoulder. Although, she was sure she woke up late that next day. Leon was already in the bathroom, while Sherry was watching cartoons on the TV. She raked her brain to find reasoning for having Leon sleep in the same bed as hers when there were two beds inside their rented room. She looked for answers by staring at the picture like it gonna itself.
-*-
"Claire, wake up." Kneeling beside the bed, Leon whispered close to her ear. He did not want to wake the child that sleeping in the same bed next to her.
Cradling her face with one hand, he tried again. "Claire."
Instantaneously, her eyelids flickered open. Her beautiful blue eyes came into view. She shot up in a panic. She was midway to sitting but he held her shoulder strained her from moving further.
"Hush... it's okay." His voice was gentle, he was consoling her.
"Wha- why?" Disorientated, she tried her best to construct a sentence.
"It alright. It's just that you had a restless sleep. Nightmare?" He let go of her and sat on the floor.
She covered her face with her hands, resting her back on the headboard, "I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?"
"No, you did nothing wrong. I wasn't sleeping."
Her hands dropped from her face, showing her flushed face. "You okay? The wound bothering you."
He nodded and squinted his eyes, "I couldn't sleep because of the pain." He pinched the corner of his closed eyes expressing his exhaustion. He was sleep-deprived but could not bring himself to sleep.
"Oh, Leon... you need the rest.", said Claire apologetically.
"I know." He cast a long gaze at her. The light from the nightstand irradiated both their worn-down faces. Her long radiant auburn hair cascaded framing her face. That was the first time he saw her with her hair down. It was alluring. His deep blue eyes met hers.
Beautiful eyes.
She was pulling the bedspread to her chest when she caught him staring. He saw the hesitation in her eyes first, she contemplating something. As he was about to return to his bed, she surprised him with an invitation that he could never have thought of, especially from her. No qualms, only a tinge of shyness in her voice he detected.
"Come sleep here with us. Maybe it will help."
Claire moved closer to Sherry, whispering something to her lovingly with a velvety voice and soothing words. He noticed Sherry turned to her and softly nodded. When Claire cradled her face and kissed her forehead, Sherry hugged Claire closer in return. It amazed him how a young nineteen-year-old could encapsulate such a motherly trait effortlessly. Perhaps, it was one of her many gifts. And he did not gonna lie it evoked his liking toward her too. Claire's head peered over her shoulder and tapped the vacant spot as her welcoming gesture.
"Claire I-"
It took a strong heart to deny this and he was not that. Tonight he felt vulnerable. Weak, hollow, in vain; among other words he could not think to rightly express how he felt. He wanted to let his guard down entirely. And Claire allowed him to feel that unsoiled from prejudice. Her gesture was not sensual, either not based on lust. It was security. It was warmth. And for all, it was love.
That was how he gonna interpret it and that was what he gonna believe it. And even though this moment was fleeting because he was not hopeful about her staying. He knew she would leave him soon. Still, he did not care. He wanted this. So he accepted her invitation with an open heart. The spot was not that big but enough for him to lie down. The mattress dipped under his weight.
"Thank you, Claire.", muttered Leon.
Claire briefly turned to him and infolded him with the same bedspread that covered her and Sherry. She said, "No need. Get some rest, Leon."
She gave him a sincere smile before returning to her previous position facing Sherry. He reached out and switched off the lamp on the nightstand. Over time, his breathing relaxed as he gradually fell into a deep slumber.
-*-
She was the reason. Her lips formed a shy smile without her realizing it as the memory of that night brought a wave of comfort in her. Sherry's sudden voice drove her back to the present time.
"Where did you find that?", asked Sherry and put the empty boxes that she got from downstairs.
"Erm-?"
Moving closer to Claire, Sherry asked, "The Polaroid, where did you find it? I lost it like what...nineteen years ago. I thought I left it in the motel we stayed in."
"It's yours? I found it in one of these casings." Claire passed the Paloroid film to Sherry.
"So, it has been with Leon all this time. Oh my God! That's- Mr. Light Finger." Sherry snickered staring at at the photo.
Claire did not know why but smiled proudly at Sherry. Then, her heart swelled with love when she heard Sherry's confession
"I just lost my parents and the next day I got another one. You couldn't get any luckier than that. My two favorite people."
Clare hugged her by the shoulder, "We're also lucky we got you."
Still looking at the photo, Sherry said, "I love you both so much."
The look on Sherry's face was enough to let Claire know her dismay about the recent event that nearly cost both Leon's and Claire's lives. Claire noticed the awkwardness and deliberation in their interactions, especially towards Claire. She failed to find the reason why. However, she was hopeful if more time were spent together, like this, their relationship would amend back to the way it was.
"And we both love you more.", stated Claire.
She nodded and said, "For a twelve-year-old kid, I really got a knack for taking pictures."
"Yup. I agreed. I thought you gonna be a photographer when you relentlessly eying the camera. You're fidgeting every time we walk passed the photo shop's display.", said Claire, ending with a hearty laugh.
Sherry joined Claire's laugh and added, "I was too shy to ask. You and Leon were scouring every penny from your wallets to get the stuff we needed. A camera wasn't really the type of material that you need for zombified post-apocalyptic survival, doesn't it?"
"Indeed. But that doesn't mean you can't have it."
"Well then, thank you both."
"It's mostly Leon's. He was the one who made the decision, I'm was there for support. Maybe you should continue taking pictures. Make it as a hobby."
"Yeah. That would not be such a bad idea. You know I still have that camera."
"You kidding?"
"I'm not. That was the first present I got from you both. I treasured it with all my heart."
"Does it still work?"
"Not sure. I think it does. Like you said maybe it's not a bad idea to start taking pictures again."
"Couldn't agree more."
"As for this one, I granted my blessing for Leon to have it. As a token of appreciation for coaxing Claire to agree for me to buy that camera."
"Hey!" Claire playfully swiped Sherry's arm. It got the young woman to let out a chortle.
Sherry passed the Paloroid film back to Claire and continued, "Geez... if he wanted it that bad, he could just ask."
"You know him, he's shy. Just like you."
Sherry hummed in agreement. "He kept it well too."
Claire put the photo back into its original place in the casing. "What made you snap the picture?"
"You're both sleeping. Looks beautiful and I simply thought I wanted to capture that moment. That's it."
Claire's face showed a genuine state of obliviousness, "Of people sleeping?"
"Claire, you have to see this beyond just a piece of imprint. This picture to me says a lot of things. A lot that's too impossible to describe. And with addition of Leon keeping this well all these years says a lot of things too. Don't you agree?", explained Sherry, wiggling her eyebrows hinting something.
Claire studied Sherry's look striving to comprehend what she trying to convey. Claire failed to detect the incoming ascending steps at the stairs and later, they were interrupted by Leon's cherry voice.
"Ladies! I got food. Pizza okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm starving. Come to Mama."
Sherry abandoned Claire's with her thought and scuttled to Leon who was by the door. She graced Leon with her gratitude and swiftly took the pizza boxes from him. Claire could hear Sherry loudly descend the stairs in a hurry to get to the kitchen.
"Sherry! Don't run at the stairs.", hollered Leon.
Sherry retaliated, "Sorry! But it's a lot quicker this way."
Claire could not help to smile upon hearing of the friendly bickering. She put back the disc case that she hugged unconsciously to the top shelf among other disc cases. Maybe Leon would continue sorting himself and would notice that one particular casing. She was certain he gonna keep it somewhere else other than the storage unit.
"Claire?", called Leon softly. The same voice that was consoling her that night. And every other time.
"Yup, coming."
Claire turned and saw him walking in her direction. She walked to him and met him halfway across the room. Leon smiled at her in return when she cast him with one dazzling smile that would make his heart flutter. They walked together and greeted Sherry at the dining table who was ready to munch away her dinner. Tonight was one of the rare occasions the three of them had dinner together, like one of those picture-perfect displayed at that photo shop they walked past nineteen years ago.
End Notes:
This story happened approximately a couple of years before my writing piece, Something Normal: Finders Keepers. Don't worry, you don't need to read Finder Keepers to have the complete course of the story. A Thousand Words can be read as a standalone piece. But if you're interested in reading Finder Keepers, you're welcome to do so.