I let the cold water run before splashing my face to soothe it, drinking a handful, then grabbed the hand towel to wipe my mouth. Catching myself in the mirror, I noticed the towel was embroidered with one crow. “What the actual fuck?” I tossed it down and ripped open the door.

Jack was sitting in the corner like a wounded animal, a cigarette in one hand, his face in the other. He shot up, moving toward me, and hugged me before lifting my chin to look into my eyes. “You know I would never hurt you.”

“I know.” My face tightened as I broke eye contact. “It’s okay.”

“I just got carried away.” He held onto me tightly. “It will never happen again. I promise.”

“Okay.” I nodded, slipping free from his arms. “Let’s just go to bed, it’s been a long day.” I walked to the bed, pulled the covers back, and climbed under.

Jack meandered to the opposite side and slid in beside me. He quickly fell asleep, clutching me in desperate remorse.

I lay awake for hours thinking of the flickering lights next door. Jack was breathing in a quiet pattern, twitching ever so slightly, and when I finally drifted off, it was with the visualization of thunder and lightning’s veracity.

The next morning, I woke to Jack setting a tray on my stomach. I pulled myself into a seated position.

“Good morning, my angel.” He kissed my forehead.

“Good morning.” I stared at the tray in my lap. Bacon, eggs, toast, strawberry jam, coffee, and orange juice had been carefully arranged on top of a doily. He’d placed a bouquet of wildflowers on the bed beside me.

“Where did you get all this?” I asked, lifting the coffee to reveal an embroidered crow on the doily.

“The food came from the store. I tried to go back to the place we went yesterday. Mary’s, wasn’t it?”

“Mhm.” I took a bite of toast, crumbs falling onto my nightdress.

“Anyway, strangest thing. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I drove around for an hour. It was like it just disappeared.” Jack made his way around the bed, straightening the comforter as he spoke. “I ended up finding another spot. It was pretty much exactly the same. So, no harm no foul, I suppose.”

I brushed the crumbs off my chest. “That’s really weird.”

“Yeah. Maybe I just got turned around.” He scooped up the flowers and held them out to me, looking adorably proud. “I picked these on my way home.”

“You’ve been a busy boy.” I took them, trying to shake the memory of last night. “Thank you. You’re officially forgiven,” I said, even though I wasn’t sure that I meant it. I didn’t want to upset him with my emotions. I wanted the discomfort to go away. “Come here.” I pulled the blankets back and dragged him under the covers, almost knocking the tray to the floor.

We lay, eating and feeding one another until, intertwined, we drifted back to sleep.