2024-08-04 “Thinking About It All” by Emma

Here I am back in my ‘partment, and fixin’ to get under the covers. I wanted to tell something first.

Let me say this to start. Merritt and me decided we’d not look at each other’s stories so as we can share things that are private. ‘Course if we’re both in it, that’s a different thing.

I s’pose you already know about today at the pool and us deciding it wasn’t a good time to think about courtin’ or even what Addison and Hannah call talking. An’ we have to figure out how to get around our knowin’ things from before now. Merrit’s real worried.

Now, what you don’t know is what happened when we left the pool. 

It ain’t far from the park to our apartment, and what that my feet were wet I didn’t put on my shoes. There been many a year I didn’t have proper shoes, so I thought a little walk wouldn’t hurt, and it didn’t.

‘Cept in one place I was about to step in where a dog had done its business, but at the last breath I saw it. I wagged a little sideways into Merritt’s side.

Now, here’s the part I wanted to tell about. He caught his arm around my waist to steady me, and helped me back to my balance. And he held on for a step or two more, but part o’ my brain made it out to be a really long time.

A really long time that my part o’ brain liked, even though the other part agreed now’s not the time to get romantic. 

When we got to the ‘partments, he went his way and I went mine, ‘cept our doors are just right beside each other. An’ that wishful part of my brain got to wishing strong. Wishin’ I’d o’ gone in with him to visit. Wishin’ I’d o’ sat on the couch again and fallen to sleep leaning on Merritt.

Now, the main part of my brain knows it ain’t time now. I’m just sitting here wondering… though. It won’t be now forever, will it? 

Thanks for reading my story.