delicate
by susan

E-mail: touchstone98@tx.rr.com
Classification: moment-in-time prose thingie
Spoiler: I Want to Believe
Archive: No archive without permission.
Disclaimer: On paper, these characters aren't mine.
In my head, they are, and boy have they been talking
my ear off lately!;)

Summary:   she's like that, he thinks
           delicate, yet strong
*****************************************************


sitting on the porch
a warm breeze in the air
a hummingbird on the feeder
he watches with fascination as 
it drinks the sugar water she made for it last night

such a delicate creature
with tiny feet and gossamer wings
yet so strong

she's like that, he thinks
delicate yet strong

sitting on the porch
the breeze wafting through his hair
her car now in the driveway
he watches with concern as 
she slowly gets out 
moves towards the house

he knows it wasn't a good day
the moment he sees her face
knows that she'll need him to be quiet
and so he will be 

for now

climbing the steps
she walks over to him 
lets her briefcase fall on the porch
bites her lip as she sits down
and threads her fingers through his

it's another little boy at the hospital
who needs to be saved
the third one this month

it's william again, he thinks
but he doesn't say the words out loud
and neither does she

unthreading his fingers from hers
he wraps his arm around her instead
gently slides his hand over her hair
as she rests her head on his shoulder

i can't keep doing this, she says
her body shuddering against his

yes, you can, you can do anything
he wants to say
but she's not ready to hear that yet
and so he says nothing

he simply holds her and waits

sitting on the porch
the warm breeze turning cooler
his fingers still stroke the strands of her hair
as they watch the small bird 
hover by the feeder 
take several sips of the sweet nectar inside

it's amazing, she says
so are you, he whispers back
and you'll find a way to help this child
you will

i couldn't find a way with william, she thinks
but she doesn't say the words out loud
and neither does he

just then the hummingbird moves to the perch
stops its wings from beating
turns its head before taking another drink

its wings are so delicate, she says
and strong, he says, just like you

sitting on the porch
the cool breeze skittering across their skin
the sun lowering itself in the sky
they watch the bird as it drinks its fill
then finally flies away

afterwards 
when the sun disappears
and the silence becomes too loud
he lifts his arm from her shoulder
stands up and walks across the creaky porch

you know where i'll be if you need me, he says
as he bends down and kisses her cheek
then opens the rusted screen door

i can't give up, she whispers

and i won't let you, he says
as he turns around and holds out his palm

standing up 
she moves across the porch 
slips her hand into his
and follows him inside


~end~

Thank you for reading.

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