Understanding You

"Look at me. I'm right here with you."

I placed his arms next to my heart, convincing him that my heart was still beating. But his eyebrows were furrowed deep, creases on his forehead did not disappear entirely and his breathing rhythm was still too fast.

Surely knowing I'm alive would dissipate that fury, no? If not that, then would my trailing pecks on his neck be ineffective? You know, shift the emotions kind of thing?

UNLESS!!! Unless he's hiding something else from me again and suffer on his own???

"Wystan. Is there any other reason as to why you are behaving this way?"

He avoided my eye contact and his head remained low.

"No more secrets, please my King."

I stood close to his face, trying my best to make him look at me. But every time I am inches away from him, he turned in the opposite direction with his eyes closed.

What is this man thinking hard about?! What is he stressing about??

"Share it with me. Maybe I can help?"

But that soft blonde hair fluttered as he hid his face with his big palms.

Him behaving like this was distressing for me. A part of me wanted to scream and told him enough is enough. That I'm already there with him. Alive and kicking. Why can't we go on our merry ways and celebrate that? Why do I have to spend the rest of the night playing a guessing game of why my husband is behaving this way when we could choose to be happy and create our own happiness??

Yet another part of me did not dare to do so. I did not wish to hurt him further. I did not want him to think I'm pushing him away. After all, he's only reacting this way because he thought I was a goner and that I had been missing for a week!

Imagine the torment he had gone through. A King missing his Queen. A son-in-law who had to give a reasonable answer as to why his wife could go missing from their own bedroom. How he had to provide an answer when sorcery is at play.

He must have been feeling tired from the lack of sleep. His brain must have run at its full capacity trying to find me during that one week. Yet, he prioritised me. He cared for me while neglecting his own.

I stared at the man and scanned his worn-out posture. His body hunched, his feet were shaking restlessly and his hands were still covering his face. He may appear to be physically exhausted but I'm sure he's emotionally drained too.

There were fresh cuts here and there on his arms. He applied ointments on me but he didn't for himself. I delicately tugged his hands. Thankfully, he did not refuse. It was then only I realised how rough his hands were and full of blisters. Not once did he wince when I caressed his slashes. Perhaps he was used to it. It made me realised how I knew almost nothing about him.

But that's all about to change. I took the ointment on the table and applied it for him. His treasured eyes finally looked at me in perplexity.

"From now on, let me tend to you when you're hurt. Let me be the shoulder when you need one to cry on. Let me be the one who can comfort you be it rain and shine."

For the first time, I felt relieved that he did not argue back and let me do as I pleased. Never in my life would I be this grateful when he did not thank me. Instead, I was gratified to be able to do so willingly for him.

He looked much calmer by the time I was done. I pulled his hands up so I could lead him to his room. However, he became tensed again.

Was there something in his room that he's afraid to show me? But I've been there multiple times...?

"Where are we going?" His husky whispers tickled my ears.

"Your bedroom."

"Why?"

"Bedtime. If you don't want me to be there, I'll wait here till you're in your room."

"You... You want to be there?"

"Yes, to tuck you into bed."

"But I don't want to go to sleep."

"It's fine, Wystan. I think we are safe in this treehouse." I'm sure he placed enchantment in the whole place and made sure history don't repeat itself. What else could go wrong?

To my surprise, he let out a long sigh, mumbled incoherently and walked back towards the sofa.

"Don't you want to sleep?"

"You go ahead."

"And you?"

"I rather sleep on the sofa, knowing that you'll be behind that door."

My left eyebrow raised, struggling to find the logic of his thinking.

"I would still be behind my door if you go and sleep in your room, you know?"

"Yes, but that means that's two doors away."

I strode to the sofa and pulled his hand again. "You go sleep in your room and I'll sleep on the sofa then."

An air puffed from his nose out of disbelief and shook his head in amazement.

"Nonsense!" He chuckled.

"You need the bed for a proper rest!"

"I slept on a forest floor before."

"Yeah. But are we not in a house right now?"

"Yes. That's why you should go to your bed."

In a swift movement, he swooped me up, carried me to my room and lowered me to the bed.

Sigh... Surely there's a win-win for this.

As I watched him shuffling towards my door, an idea popped into my head. I called out his name in a rush.

He turned around, "Yeah?"

"Right! Shall we sleep together then?"