Dear readers
If you're looking for a stroke story, you won't find it here.
Also, this story is dark and bittersweet. Some of the dialogue and images may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. As always the only payment I receive are your comments and votes— I appreciate both.
So, curl up with that special person, give them a big kiss and enjoy my story I call Sunlight.
*
Arkansas has the distinction of operating some of the dirtiest coal fired power plants in the country. My job is to fix that problem. I'm a process engineer, and tonight my wife Aliana and I will be attending a black tie affair to celebrate an EPA award for emission reductions at unit two.
Sunlight reflected off of my wedding ring as I drove to the downtown Marriott. I'm glad Aliana rode with me to work today; that way, I didn't need to make another fifty mile run back to pick her up for the evening. We live on a small farm way back in the country. Aliana grows organic vegetables and other crops for quite a few high-end restaurants.
I slid my card key through the electronic door lock and walked into our room. I heard the water running in the bathroom and no sooner than I plopped myself onto the bed, the water stopped. "I'm here," I called out.
Aliana came out of the bathroom, towel wrapped around her body, running a brush through her hair. "Let me do that?" I asked.
Aliana sat on the end of the bed, and I pulled the brush through her hair. I always enjoy brushing her hair. It looked like stirred honey that flowed and ebbed around her ears and down her cheeks then softly settled on her shoulders. "Ooh, that could put me to sleep," she said as she closed her eyes.
I continued to stroke her hair, pulling it through my fingers, lifting it up and then allowing it to fall back down on her bare shoulders. I loosened the towel around her waist and pulled it clear of her body. She quickly raised her hands across her chest.
Aliana was terribly self-conscience of her breasts—they're quite small. As a matter of fact, everything about Aliana is tiny. Even when she wears her highest heels, I can rest my chin on her head. Although she just turned thirty, she could easily pass as a senior in high school.
I pulled her hands away. "Don't, please."
She dropped her hands, and rested them palm down on the bed. "I'm sorry I'm just—"
"I just happen to adore them." I leaned down and kissed each nipple gently, then continued to work the brush through her hair. "Excited about tonight?"
Aliana's face blushed. "I don't know. I'm way out of my comfort zone."
"It'll be fine." Aliana returned to the bathroom to apply her makeup while I flopped back down on the bed. "Ooh, I'm pooped," I said as I hit the bed with a thud.
I caught Aliana out of the corner of my eye. She pushed the bathroom door back, keeping it ajar. I watched her wiggle a small black thong up her legs, adjusting it just so. She turned one way then the other. I saw her smile as she admired her own figure. I watched her slip her toes into smoky black thigh-highs, rolled them up her legs, then tug them up her thighs. Her fingers ran up and down her legs, making minor adjustments to the nylons. She picked her shoes up by their straps and walked out.
She sat down on the edge of the bed. "Will you do the buckles?"
I pulled her legs over the side of the bed then I held the back of each calve with my hand and slipped her shoes on. I worked the pins into the straps.
"Do you love me?" she asked.
"Of course, why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. Really."
There are times like these I wish I could pop the thought bubble above her head, letting whatever she's thinking spill out for me to read. My hand skimmed over her thigh. "You have nice legs."
"I'm kind of scared."
"You'll do just fine." I patted my hand down on the bed and Aliana crawled along the side till she was lying beside me. I could sense there was something else eating away at her.
"Didn't go so hot at the doctors today did it?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"I'm afraid so. What did he say?"
"Ah, I'm allergic to the medication. Back to square one."
"We'll keep trying. I want a child, too. We'll keep trying."
I took my shower, and put my best suit on. As I looped tie under and over, I heard Aliana talking to herself. I peeked out of the bathroom door and witnessed Aliana trying in vain to insert beige-colored half-crescent inserts into her strapless bra. In frustration, she yanked them out and threw them on the bed. "Damn it to hell anyway."
I knew but asked anyway. "What's wrong?"
"What a waste of time."
I smiled at her dilemma. "I wouldn't bother with them."
Aliana pulled her bra out from her body. "There's not enough there to keep each other company."