The balcony grew cold as Juliet left to grab her pens. Suddenly I was shivering, goosebumps running across my skin as my breaths punctuated the brisk air like smoke spiraling off one of my father’s cigars. I could only imagine the punishments I would get if he found out about this. The hot butt of the cigar coming down on my skin. It wouldn’t be the first time. Small ringlets of discolored burns dotted my back like spots from that form of punishment. I flinched at the memory, curling up in a ball just as Juliet stepped back outside.
My smile died on the curve of my lips the moment I laid eyes in Romeo, who, with distress scrawled across his face, had curled up into a little ball.
“Romeo?” I whispered urgently, hurrying over and falling to my knees beside him. “What happened?”
“Sorry.” I muttered quietly, grabbing Juliet’s hand and squeezing it, actively seeking out comfort. “Sorry. I—er… sorry.” I fumbled to explain, but I didn’t have the courage to relive the memory again by putting it into words.
I bit my lip until I felt the skin crack, hesitant to push him further. Finally, I merely slipped my arms around him in a tight, wordless hug.
I hugged Juliet back with my arm, steadying my breathing. “Bad flashback.” I told her quietly, hesitantly letting go.
I nodded in understanding.
Maybe this was par of the reason we’d been so attracted to each other—we were alike. We both wanted an escape from the same thing. Our parents did the same thing to us. And it was comforting, to know that we weren’t alone.
I wordlessly held up my injured arm, my heart warmed by her understanding. “Try not to jostle it around too much. I haven’t had any painkillers since I was released from the hospital. I… I think Rafael sold whatever drugs they gave me.”
I pulled my legs into a crossed position and set his arm down in my lap. “I’ll be careful…”
In my hand, I held a small bundle of nine brush pens, including a black, all tied together by a rubber hand. I removed a pale shade of pink and began to colour one of the roses, sketching around the highlights before overlapping the peachy hue with darker pink and red.
(I think I’m going to sleep now, sorry! Gnight :)
((Goodnight!🌹))
I watched Juliet work, hypnotized by the fluid movements of her pen across my cast. I watched the rose garden on my arm grow lively as each rose took on different hues from Juliet’s gentle touch.
(G’morning)
I blended and shaded each rose, sticking mostly with a pink and red theme, and when I was done, I cautious held the cast up to admire my work. “Violets…” I murmured, pulling up a reference picture on my phone. After practicing a few times on the back of my hand, I began to bring the purple flowers to life, first with meticulous line art, then with purples and indigos.
(Morning! Or… good afternoon?)
Juliet drawing lightly on my arm felt good. I could just barely feel her light touches through the cast, freeing me from the grips of the constant dull ache that I had grown accustomed to. I leaned against the railing, watching her work with half-lidded eyes.
(lol
how are you?)
The cool shades blended together in a manner almost reminiscent of watercolours. When I was finally finished, his cast was a gentle explosion of colour, of intricate lineart. Near the base of his thumb, in tiny, almost illegible letters, I wrote the words 'You're my favourite idiot'.
I stared at the cast, star struck by Juliet’s talent. “You should be an artist.” I mumbled, tracing the intricate drawings with my finger. “It must be hard being so amazing all the time.” I teased lightly.
(Good! Going to get my hair cut so I’ll be gone for a bit)
(Have fun! How short?)
I swatted his shoulder lightly, turning off my phone's flashlight (which I'd been using to illuminate Romeo's cast in order to draw on it). "Hilarious. But, um, if I had a choice, I wouldn't be an artist. I'd be an actress, remember?"
Just underneath my collarbone! Which is super short for me😂))
“Of course I remember. I read Macbeth for you.” I teased, leading over to press a kiss to her cheek. “You just happen to be incredibly talented.”
(lol
It sounds great, though, I'm sure it suits you!
How'd it go?)
"I'm not that good…" I mumbled, a faint pink dusting my cheeks. "I'm more average. Marina is a much better singer and actress than me."
It went well! It feels weird though))
“Don’t tell Mercutio, he’ll complain about that too. I can only listen to so much.” I rested my chin on her shoulder. “But either way, you have the most beautiful voice in the world.”
(I know the feeling, lol)
"You've never heard me sing," I laughed quietly, laying my head on top of his. "But I appreciate the compliment."
“I don’t have to, just hearing you talk is enough.” I shifted my gaze up to look at her, suppressing a laugh.
"But—" I cut myself off before I could start listing off everything wrong with the way my voice sounded.
“Don’t bother protesting. I could listen to you talk all day.” I insisted, reaching over and squeezing her hand.
Speaking of the daytime…… I glanced down at the time, the blue light from my phone illuminating the softened curves of my face.
"It's really late, Romeo… I don't want to keep you up all night.."
“Awe, don’t make me go yet.” I pouted, hiding my face in the crook of her neck. “My room’s cold. Rafael turned the heat off in there again.” I complained softly.
"Romeo, it's three in the morning…." I sighed through my nose, slipping a hand into his hair. "As much as I want you to stay…. you need at least a few hours of sleep. Please?"
