2
I closed my eyes as I leaned on the door. I couldn’t believe it; I know I should be used to these old-world objects but I have never seen someone deliberately mark their own skin willingly.
Shaking my head, I began to gather my bow and arrows. Hunting has always been a good distraction. I opened the door only to see her. Ellie had her hand up in the air and she looked stunned.
“Umm Jake asked me to get you he said to check on some of the snares.” she says as she lowers her hand and twisted two fingers.
“Okay I was about to head out.” she nodded and stepped to the side. We began to walk down to a small trail.
We both took glances at each other but looked away if our eyes met. I was never good with awkward interactions.
“I want to take a moment to offer my apologies. I just never have seen someone with those marks." Ellie gives me a small smile.
“Yea Jake mentioned you have never seen a tattoo.” I nod “It was wrong of me I know I hate it when people just stare at me for my own imperfections.” Her eyes soften.
“It’s not my place to ask.” I gave her a small smile. “But you are curious, aren't you?” She gave a small nod.
“Where I came from, we are all imperfective, we are given the scars as a reminder” She follows my hands as I brush up against my scars.
“Well, they sound like a bunch of assholes, but I guess you can say I got this to cover up an imperfection as well.” my eyebrows furrowed.
“What do you mean?”
Ellie’s hand hovers over her arm “I gave myself a chemical burn. The tattoo covers it.”.
“Why would you burn yourself?” I asked but she looked away.
“Well, it looks good.” She gave a small smile. “It’s not completed yet, Cat still has to shade and add more to it.
“Cat?”.
“Uhm yea Cat she is um my girlfriend she is back in Jackson.”. Ellie once again began to turn her fingers.
“Girlfriend?”
“Yeah, she and I have been together for a bit, well actually since she did my tattoo.” I looked back up at her.
“And your parents are okay with you having a girlfriend??” she shrugs her shoulders. “Who knows they are dead.”
Ellie talks about death so casually as if she talks about the weather. “Joel gave me a “be safe” speech.”
Back in Heaven, relationships were not common, only marriages that were prearranged. Engaging in any relationships with the opposite sex was punishable by death, a sin strictly forbidden. It amazes me that outside of Heaven, Jackson allowed these relationships to have the ability to choose who you want.
“Okay well let’s get going. We're losing daylight.” We both began walking down the trails. We were able to find three squirrels.
“So why have you never visited Jackson before?” shrugging my shoulders “Never saw a reason to.”
“So, it’s always just been you, Jake, and Cherry?”
I nodded “Doesn't it get lonely?”
“Growing up I was never really social as a child. When I found Jake and Cherry, I was still apprehensive about meeting people and did not open up to them for a while. Eventually we just fell into a routine that worked.”
Ellie shook her head “I wouldn't be able to do that. I hate being by myself. “pausing she took a big sigh “I guess once I found Joel being alone was the scariest part.”.
“Jake always says people are not meant to be alone.” sighing.
“But I guess now some can survive without others”
“And that is scarier.”
We continued to search for the snares and were able to get two rabbits from the snares. Walking back towards the farm in a quiet walk.
Ellie from the outside is bold but guarded but she easily shows her emotions if revoked. If she would have been born in Heaven, she wouldn't have made it far. She was a wild free spirit, one that couldn't be shaped or controlled the total opposite of me.
Looking back, I guess I was never truly alone. I did not have many friends but I did have one that I felt I could trust, Yara. Her mother was a truly devoted Seraphite. Yara followed the rules but did have some reservations. She was chosen to be a soldier while I was to be a wife.
“Okay let’s lighten the mood. What did the mermaid wear to her math class?” I paused and stared at her as Ellie was waiting for the answer.
“Umm, what?”
“What did the mermaid wear to her math class?” she repeated as I shrug my shoulders
“An alge-bra haha, get it algebra … math .. no nothing?.”
“What is a mermaid?”
“WHAT?!”
Ellie began to explain what the joke ment and showed me her pun book. As we got back to the farm she was trying so hard to get me to laugh.
“What did the triangle say to the circle?”
“I don’t know what?”
“You are so pointless.” I began to giggle
“Ok that one was a little funny.”
“See no one can escape Will Livingston.” Cherry waited for us outside and took our rabbits.
“Sweetheart, why don’t you show Ellie your room while we fix up dinner? The boys are reliving old stories.’
She followed me back to the shed. It was simple. I had a desk, a small cot, with a few blankets. Ellie looked around “It’s very umm,” She stammered as I stared.
“Simple?” she nods “Yes sure simple.”
Sitting down on my bed as she sat by my desk she placed her hands on her thighs. “So what do you do for fun?”
“I read, and write. Jake brings back books from Jackson from time to time.” “What do you read?” I shrugged my shoulders.
“Romance, mystery, mostly medical journals.” Ellie continued to stare at me in disbelief.
“What about the comic Savage Starlight?” I shook my head. She threw her head back with a groan and began searching through her backpack and pulled out thin books.
“Then you need to read these. I have most of them. They are illustration books about Dr. Daniel Stars and her adventures in space.” She goes on and on making giant hand movements.
“When she swoops down and - and.'' I began to laugh.
She stops and looks back at me.
“Sorry but I’ve never seen someone excited about a book.”
She shakes head “Not a book, a comic it’s very different.”
“A comic…” tailing and she looks defeated. Talking with Ellie was easy I guess once we both got comfortable.
“Okay, how about some music?” and takes the device out. “What’s that?” I asked as she walked over to me.
“It’s called a Walkman. You put these things called cassettes.” She pushes a button, and a rectangle pops up and pushes it back in.
“What does it do exactly?” Ellie puts in a wire on the Walkman and hands it to me .
“Put it in your ear.” I did and music began to play. I smiled. It was an interesting sound. We soon found ourselves laying down next to each other. I turn to look at Ellie and she smiles back at me. That was the last thing I remembered before my eyes closed.
I woke up feeling warm, too warm. Looking around I knew I was in my room, but my head was rising up and down. Looking down I realized my head was on Ellie’s chest, with her arms across my back.
Looking back up her eyes were closed and breathing softly. She looked very peaceful, noting her freckles across her face. I slowly detangled myself from her arms trying not to wake her. She moved slightly before turning herself on to her side.
I couldn't deny the feeling that while I’ve never experienced something like this being held in such a manner it felt great, but that guilt slowly creeped up knowing she had a girlfriend, and this was highly inappropriate. I stretched and gathered my sweater and walked towards the house.
“How is she doing?” jumping back I looked at Joel. His body leaning against the shed.
“She’s sleeping.”
Nodding back “She’s been keeping to herself lately I am just worried she will retreat within herself and not come back.”
'`It's up to her whether she wants to open up and forcing someone to do only does the opposite effect.’
“She seems to get along well with you though which is good. I know Jake had mentioned some things.” I tensed up.
“Don’t worry, nothing bad, just that you don’t open up much to new people”
“With reasons but we all have our secrets don’t we.” Looking back at each other, each of us waited for the others to make a move.
We both heard the shed opening and turned to see Ellie walking out . She looked at both of us and began walking over and standing next to me.
“What’s going on?” she said as I shook my head and smiled.
“Nothing, we were going to head inside to check on dinner.” I could tell Ellie didn’t believe it.
“That’s right kiddo, Cherry sent me out to get you both, she made stew with your catches. Let's go on in”. Joel began walking towards the house. Both of us watching him as he walks inside
Ellie turns back to me. “What did he say?”
Shaking my head, “We just made small talk.”
She continues to stare at me. I turned to walk towards the house only for her to grab my hand, gripping it lightly.
“Don’t lie to me. What did he say to you?” her eyes harden as I look at her, my eyes softening.
Based on this interaction and seeing her and Joel earlier it’s obvious Ellie doesn't like to be kept in the dark. She wants all the information, even the slightest details.
I smiled. “He was just asking how you were doing. I am assuming their history behind that question.?” She continues to stare back.
“That's all?” I nodded “That's all” reassuring her.
She let go of my hand and nodded pursing her lips.
“Now let’s go. Cherry's stew is amazing.” We both make our way back inside, closing the door behind us.