STAGED AFFECTION
(Episode 19)
That night, we both stayed awake, our minds racing with thoughts and emotions. We didn’t bother checking our phones or trying to distract ourselves with TV or books. Instead, we just lay there, staring at the ceiling, lost in our own worlds.
Hours passed, and the silence between us grew thicker. I finally started to drift off to sleep, but just as I was about to doze off, Nichelle spoke up.
“Ain’t you coming up to sleep on the bed?” she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
I turned to her, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. “I’ll be fine on the floor,” I said, trying to reassure her.
But Nichelle wasn’t having it. “Come to bed,” she said, her voice firm but gentle. “You can’t sleep on the floor.”
I shook my head, trying to convince her. “I’ll be fine, really. You should go to sleep.”
But Nichelle was stubborn. “How can I sleep when you’re laying on the floor?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.
I kept quiet, unsure of how to respond. I didn’t want to argue with her, but I also didn’t want to give in.
Some minutes later, Nichelle got out of bed and came down to the floor, laying down beside me. “Let’s both lay on the floor then,” she said, her voice soft.
I turned to her, surprised by her actions. “Nichelle, go to the bed,” I said, trying to reason with her. “It’s cold down here.”
But Nichelle refused. “I’m not going to the bed if you’re not going,” she said, her voice firm.
I kept quiet, unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to fight with her, so I just lay there, feeling the cold floor beneath me.
As we lay there, I could feel Nichelle’s eyes on me, but I didn’t turn to her. I just kept staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with thoughts and emotions.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we both drifted off to sleep, our bodies exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster we had been on.
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Around 3am, I woke up to find Nichelle shivering on the floor, her body cold and stiff. I immediately sprang into action, standing up and gently lifting her off the ground. As I carried her to the bed, she opened her eyes, looking up at me with a mixture of surprise and gratitude.
I laid her down on the bed and covered her with the duvet, trying to warm her up. But just as I turned to go back to my spot on the floor, Nichelle reached out and grabbed my hand.
“Please, sleep on the bed,” she said, her voice soft and gentle.
I looked at her for some minutes, unsure of what to do. But then I nodded, deciding to give in to her request.
As I lay down on the bed, Nichelle immediately snuggled up close to me, holding me tight. I felt a surge of affection from her, and I realized that I was in for a real display of emotions.
“You’re so cold,” I said, trying to make small talk.
Nichelle nodded, her head buried in my chest. “I couldn’t sleep on the floor,” she said. “I was too cold.”
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I should have made you go back to bed earlier.”
Nichelle looked up at me, her eyes shining with tears. “I didn’t want to leave you on the floor,” she said. “I wanted to be with you.”
I felt a pang of emotion at her words, and I knew that I had to respond. “I’m here now,” I said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Nichelle smiled, her face lighting up with joy. “Good,” she said. “Because I don’t want to lose you.”
As we lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I knew that our relationship had reached a turning point. We were no longer just two people bound together by a contract; we were two people who genuinely cared for each other.
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The next day came and passed, and as the second day drew to a close, I began to pack my clothes, ready to leave. Nichelle stood in the doorway, watching me with a mixture of sadness and anger.
“The three days won’t end until tomorrow,” she said, her voice trembling. “Why are you leaving today?”
I tried to explain, but she cut me off. “I need to go see Lizy,” I said, trying to sound gentle.
Nichelle’s face fell, her eyes welling up with tears. “Oh, I…I see,” she stammered, her voice cracking with emotion.
She took a step closer to me, her eyes searching mine. “So you don’t feel anything for me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I tried to reassure her, but she wasn’t having it. “I do feel something for you, Nichelle,” I said. “But I have to go and see Lizy.”
Nichelle’s face contorted in pain, and she turned away from me, her body shaking with sobs. “It’s fine,” she said, her voice cold and detached. “You can go. Leave my house. Send me your account number, and I’ll send you your money.”
I tried to explain, to tell her that it wasn’t like that, but she cut me off again. “Just leave,” she said, her voice firm. “Leave my house.”
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. But then I turned and left, feeling a pang of guilt and regret.
As I reached the living room, I saw Nichelle’s mother, who hugged me warmly and thanked me for coming to spend time with them.
“We’ll miss you,” she said, her eyes shining with tears.
I smiled and hugged her back, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. “I’ll miss you too,” I said. “Thank you for having me.”
We talked for a few more minutes, and then I left, feeling a sense of uncertainty about what the future held.
To be continued…
