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[ a c c e p t e d ] by kHo Eli smiles at the familiarly graceful figure making their way to him as he sat perched on the edge of the roof. He hid the smile behind the fingers curled around his cigarette as he took one more drag before pitching it off the roof. “They said you'd be here,’ Etheline said, smiling at him and bending down without hesitation to place a sweet kiss to his cheek. “I've been looking for you for over 20 minutes.’ “I'm sorry,’ he said, turning to face her and motioning to the ledge next to him even though he knows she won't sit on the dusty bricks. “I didn't know you'd be coming.’ “Neither did I actually,’ she said, opening her purse and rifling through it but coming up with nothing. “Henry and I went to the theater last night and I thought of you, and it occurred to me that I hadn't seen you in over six weeks.’ He smiled slightly that she would know how long it had been and stood up, still hanging back from her slightly. “You didn't have to come, Etheline,’ he said, stepping around her and walking over to a table. “I'd understand.’ “Nonesense,’ she said, sitting down in front of him and placing her purse on top of the table. She smiled at him and nodded, looking him over with her eyes. “You look well. Rested. Relaxed.’ “Yeah,’ he said, avoiding her eyes. “This place does that to you.’ He paused for a moment, licking his lips. “Rehab,’ he said, testing the word out on his lips. The funny thing is that since he gotten there, he hadn't really said it out loud to anyone. “Almost wish I'd done it sooner.’ She frowns, looking down. “Perhaps it was what you needed,’ she said, smoothing her dress down. “Time away from everything.’ “Yeah, I think maybe,’ he said, his stomach beginning to tie in knots. Suddenly he wished very badly that she hadn't come. Wondering what she thought of him these days was a lot less uncomfortable than being able to see it in her eyes. “I'm sorry about the house.’ She laughed at that, taking him off guard. “Oh, Eli, I don't care about the house,’ she said, reaching across the table and touching her hand to his face. “All I care about is that you're getting the help you need.’ That touches him more than he thought it would, and though he wants to tell her his mouth won't wrap around the words. Instead he sits there, unable to meet her eyes and tapping his fingers on the table until her hand falls from his face. “Started writing again,’ he offers lamely after a moment. “Oh,’ she asks, and it's almost unbearable how earnest her curiosity sounds. “I don't deserve you, Etheline,’ he says suddenly, shaking his head. “I don't deserve for you to come out here. You should never have to come to a place like this…’ He pauses, searching for the right words. “I don't deserve your pity.’ Her face tightens and her hand balls up around the strap of her purse. “Eli Cash, look at me,’ she said with a quiet strength. When he doesn't her manicured fingernails dig into his face as she physically forces him to turn his gaze on her. “It's not pity that brought me here. It's love. You're like a son to me, surely you know that.’ He shakes his head as tears come to his eyes, feeling as though those tears had been there for quite some time now. “I didn't.’ She nodded. “I enjoyed getting your clippings, Eli. I enjoyed getting your grades. I liked the fact that you would consider me such a part of your life that you'd include me in that.’ He looked away, clearing his throat over the ever-growing lump that was forming. “I don't know why I sent them.’ “Because you wanted to be accepted,’ she said softly. “I just wish you'd realized you already had been.’ “I never had that,’ he said, looking at her finally, not even bothering to reach up and wipe at his eyes as a tear fell out. “I always wanted…’ “I know,’ she said, cupping his face in her hand again and smiling at him. Leaning forward she kissed his cheek again. “You did, and you do.’ “I love you,’ he said softly, covering her hand with his own. She stood, kissing the top of his head and running her fingers through his hair. “I have to go Eli,’ she said regretfully. “I intended to visit for longer, but I have an appointment at 3.’ “No, I'm just glad you came,’ he said, standing and facing her, smiling. “Have a good drive back.’ “You take care of yourself, Eli,’ she said, patting his cheek again and gathering up her purse. “You're invited to dinner when you get home.’ “It's a date,’ he said with a wink, nodding. She nodded, taking a step back towards the way she'd come in. “We're looking forward to it,’ she said, lifting up a hand to wave goodbye. She was gone with a gust of wind, and Eli was left feeling as if part of his heart had been taken with her. Still though… it felt nice that someone cared enough about him to take part of his heart. [ previous page ]