Dimitri watched Madi sleep from the far corner of the room, shifting uncomfortably in a plastic lawn chair they had bought so Madi could moisturize after her morning showers without waking him. She refused to sleep in for the most part, only napping when she had a valid excuse. An early riser, she made fun of him for wasting his life away dreaming. He watched her now and wondered if maybe she needed to do a bit more of just that. Something had drained anything called hope right out of her. She sat and waited for the worst, spouting nonsense about an inability to be disappointed.
Eventually she had sobbed herself to exhaustion, succumbing to sleep. He couldn't help but marvel at how small and peaceful she looked, aside from the swelling of her eyes. He wondered if they would bruise. Dimitri rose, slowly making his way to the bedside before squatting and pushing a few hairs away from her face. Eyes opened groggily, khaki greens barely visible as she groaned. As the world came into focus she bit her lip, chin fell to her chest as she avoided eye contact with Dimitri. "You're still here." It was strange how small she could be sometimes. Her voice would take on that childish tone, frightened, and ready for punishment. A hand slid beneath her chin to lift her eyes to his own, the corners of her mouth turned downwards with the weight of her own sadness. He could only reply with the smallest of smiles.
"Of course I'm still here." He spoke softly. His voice was as gentle as his touch. She wanted to grab him and hold on tight and never let go.
"You don't have to do this. You can leave right now, and I'll take all responsibility. I know I'm not worth all—" He pressed a hand over her mouth to silence her, her eyes widening a bit.
