I hadn’t given her the bag of her belongings yet, but anything she asked for I gave her. Except for the ability to leave, of course. She seemed more content yesterday. I made her her favorite foods, brushed her hair, and watched TV with her. If she wished to dance, I watched her do so. If she wanted me to play the violin, I would. If she wanted privacy, I gave her that too. I was patient, knowing that patience and persistence would be the only way she would come around.
Ilocked the door behind me, just in case. While she seemed more content and docile than before, I couldn’t take the chance of her possibly escaping. Not now, not when she didn’t comprehend the undying love I had for her. A soft breath left my lips. I made my way down the stairs with her duffle bag, a bouquet of flowers, and Wisconsin mac and cheese from Noodles and Company. “Hey Rosie,” I called out, leaning around the corner to see she was sitting in her bed, wrapped up in her blankets, reading a book called Realm of Silk and Starlight. She really liked romantasy books, and honestly, I did too. Not necessarilyromantasybut romance. Books with a happily ever after.
Her eyes lifted to look at me. Slowly putting the book down, she blindly placed the bookmark between the pages. A smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
I loved when she smiled, but I loved being the reason she was smiling even more.
“I have a few surprises… I thought you might be hungry so…” I held out the brown paper bag that had her noodles. Placing it down before her, I sat at the edge of the bed. “And then these, because they reminded me of your beauty.”
Her face flushed pink, trying to hide that cheeky smile of hers, then she dug into the bag. Her face lit up. “You brought me Wisconsin mac and cheese?!” she said excitedly.
“I sure did. Only the best for you,” I replied.
She leaned forward, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly. I froze for a moment, not expecting her to embrace me in such a way. I slowly hugged her back with the bouquet of roses still in hand. My plan was gradually coming together. I inhaled deeply, taking a whiff of her strawberry locks. I didn’t pull away, at least not until she did.
Mmm, finally.
“Thank you,” she whispered, reaching for the roses. I watched her admire them only to carefully place them onto the nightstand beside her.
“I’ll make sure to get a vase and whatnot… but that’s not all I have.” I smirked. Turning, I pulled her bag into my lap and undid the zipper. “I brought you some things that I was hoping would make you feel more at home.”
Rosalie dug the fork into her mac and cheese, taking a bite. She chewed and then swallowed before reaching for the bag. Quietly she shifted through it; I could tell she recognized her things. She then reached for her pointe shoes, pulling them out of the bag and hugging them. But then she spotted the bear, andher eyes widened. Reaching for it, she squeezed it even tighter. “Thank you.”
“No reason to thank me, Rosie. Your happiness is my happiness.”
She was quiet. Holding the teddy bear in her lap, she pushed her bag away to sit between us and turned her focus to the mac and cheese. She nodded at my words as she took another bite. I watched her eat.
“Silas?”
“Mhm?” I hummed.
“Can we watch a movie tonight?”
I smiled. “Sure.”
Finally, she's coming around…maybe she is starting to see that I really do love her, more than anything.
“Anything in particular you’d like to watch?”
She took another bite of her mac and cheese, shaking her head no.
“That’s alright. How about after you’re done eating, I’ll make us some popcorn and we can pick out a movie together. How’s that sound?”
She nodded.
Good girl.
10
Rosalie
Silas was true to his word. He made us popcorn and brought a few other snacks and drinks for us to watch a movie together. I wore the silk pajamas that he gave me a few days ago, with the new fuzzy socks he gave me today. While I missed my apartment, Silas was good to me. As fucked up as it was, why would I want to leave when he gave me everything I asked for and more? I stood beside him, drifting my gaze to the TV when I heard my name come up.
It was the news. A stern-faced woman with coiffed hair, reporting the latest news.
“...and in other news, the search continues for Rosalie Beaumont, a local college student who has been missing for almost two weeks now, leaving without a trace. The police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Ms. Beaumont, and…”
Silas’s face paled. He frantically grabbed the remote, his hands trembling. He changed the channel. The news anchor’s face disappeared, replaced by a barrage of advertisements as he hastily clicked through the channels.
