Hanging on the corridor walls are several photos of Danny with friends, with family. Still, one, in particular, catches my attention. Danny and a woman are hugging each other, smiling.
“She’s my mother,” he tells me, making me jump.
“Fuck, Danny, stop scaring me.” I turn to pinch him. Instead, I remain speechless.
His hair is still wet, and the scent of Argan bubble bath is intoxicating. He’s wearing just a towel around his hips. A drop of water falls on his shoulder and descends his chest, slowing down on the abs. It reaches his navel and then the towel. My eyes follow the whole path meticulously, as I’d like to follow that trail with my tongue.
“Do you like what you see?” he asks slyly.
Oh God, you can swear it. “Not bad. I could get used to such a view,” I reply. His lips crash on mine in a passionate kiss that makes me melt.
“You’re wicked,” he says. “I’m going to get dressed before I do something crazy.”
Please do it, don’t think about it, I don’t care...
What the fuck am I saying? I recover in a moment, smiling. “Run. I’ll wait here.”
As he changes, I observe the resemblance between Danny and his mother. They have the same features, the same blue eyes, and the same smile.
I hear him coming. “If you frighten me, I swear you’ll regret it!”
“I wouldn’t have done it, love. What are you looking at?”
I point to the photo. “You look a lot like her. It’s a great photo. Captures all your happiness. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Yes, it had been a wonderful day. Unfortunately, I don’t think you’ll get to know her. Mom is…”
His voice is broken, and I turn around, Danny’s in tears. Instinctively, I hug him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay, baby. It’s been almost two years, but it still hurts to know she’s gone. I go to see her every day and talk to her as if she never left. I miss her a lot.”
I hold him more tightly. “You didn’t go today.”
“I’ll go there tonight after I leave you at home.” The last words come out so hard, I feel guilty.
“I can come with you if you want.” He certainly doesn’t expect it, but I really want to talk to her, too. Thank her for giving me the most important thing in my life.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to get tired.” His sweetness makes me tender. I take his hand and drag him to the door.
“Come on, I want to meet her.”
“She would have liked you, you know. She would have loved you.”
“I’ll get to know her. In the afterlife, we will have all eternity. Do you know how many things she’ll tell me about you?”
I see him smile. “You’re too precious.” He hugs me, and we leave the house.
Hailey
On the way to the cemetery, I feel him. I feel his nervousness, and I put my hand on his thigh. I feel him stiffen. Then slowly, as I caress his thigh, he relaxes.
He parks the car and stops to look in front of it. He takes my hand and kisses it.
“Are you ready?” he asks me, but I think this step we’re taking is much more important for him than he wants to show. I hug him and gently stroke his back. Gradually, he relaxes.
As he walks through the cemetery gates, he takes my hand.
