You felt your whole body heavy, with heavy eyelids, and heavy feet. A courtesy of old friend rhinitis.
By 10am you knew your Saturday would be spent like that, so you took an anti allergy and had lunch way too early. Laying in bed, you allowed your body to rest, your head hitting the pillow lightly, but your back felt heavy on the mattress. Everything around you was a blur as you closed your eyes, and after what had seemed like no longer than five seconds, you felt a hand on your shoulder, tugging lightly.
“Go away…” - You mumbled, eyes still closed, and the hand on your shoulder tugged again. You tried to ignore it, until you felt two fingers on your chin, tapping lightly.
You opened your eyes then, feeling as heavy as before, noticing it was still daylight - “Maya!”
Maya waved hello, sitting on the bed, by your feet.
“Sorry” - You signed slowly, sitting up, leaning on the bed’s headboard - “I not know you here”
Maya let a short laugh out - “I know” - she signed rolling her eyes, the smile not leaving her lips - “Your eyes were closed, you couldn’t see”
You blinked, and shook your head slowly, signing - “Too fast”.
Maya fake-punched your shoulder - “You need to study better” - she signed, way too slow, mockingly.
“You sign fast. Sick. Can’t follow” - You replied, hands moving slowly - “Teacher never here”
Just then Maya’s smile faded. She looked away for a second, and back at you.
“I’m here now” - she signed, a clear attempt to apologise.
You were right, Maya knew that. She was rarely there these days, and she would never tell you why, always coming up with excuses and bruises, postponing dates.
“You have secrets” - You finally signed.
Maya shrugged, eyes not leaving you. Her expression was calm, but you’d learned to read her, paying attention to small things, like the way her lips twitched for a fraction of a second, and her brow did the same, or the way her fingertips tapped on her jeans.
“It’s ok” - you signed, and she nodded, trying to put on a smile.
“One day I’ll tell you” - she promised, her hands moving slowly, for you to follow.
You looked at each other for a moment before you snoozed, turning to cover your face with your elbow.
“You’re really not ok” - Maya signed, and it wasn’t a question. She fixed herself on the bed, moving closer to you, and put a hand on your forehead, but our temperature felt normal.
“Sick. Medication. Ok. Sleepy” - You signed, when she took her hand back.
Maya eyed you, a light frown on her face as she narrowed her eyes.
“You need to study better” - she signed, emphasizing each sign, bursting into laughter.
“Funny” - you mocked, and she pecked your cheek, an apology for making fun of your poor vocabulary.
“I’ll stay with you” - Maya signed, before standing and taking her jacket off - “I’ll take care of my baby”
She could tell by the confused look on your face that you had likely not understood what she had signed.
“Understand?” - she tried.
You shook your head - “You stay. Why?” - you watched as she climbed up the bed again, sitting in front of you, close enough to bump your nose with hers. Her eyes met yours, then went down to your lips, and back up. Maya placed a kiss on your nose, on each cheek, and then your lips, moving slowly, caring, romanticaly.
“Understand now?” - She signed, a mocking smile on her face.
“No” - you shook your head, faking an exaggerated confused face - “Need more kisses”
Maya laughed, attacking you with light bubbly kisses over your face. When you resumed your giggling, she gave you a light bump on the shoulder, before signing.
“Because I love you”
That, you understood.