Temi POV

empty.

that's how I feel since your abrupt departure.

the days are long,

the sun shines too brightly,

it seems to mock me.

why should the sun ever shine,

what reason does it have to shine

when you're not here with me?

I read over my poem. It has the same morbid tone to it that every single poem I have written lately seems to harbor. I read over it once again, before simply saving it to my drafts. There's no way in hell I am posting it for my followers to see.

My poetry page used to be a place of light and hope. My subscribers used to say that all the time. These days, it's nothing. But I would rather it be nothing than a place of sadness.

I open up an assignment on my laptop and begin working on it. It's already past the due date and I feel like I have a million things that I need to do. I'm behind on schoolwork and assignments. Luckily, most of my professors offer me extensions without me even having to ask, because of my "extenuating circumstances".

I stare blankly at the Google Doc open before me. I have only written a sentence and my mind has run off already.

For the next few hours, I work on my paper. I am absolutely sure that nothing I am writing is making sense, and I know that whatever grade I get, my professor would only give it to me out of pity. But I really don't care right then. My priority at the moment is getting the paper over and done with.

I finally finish and submit my paper before rising from my desk in my room.

I need a break, and the apartment has suddenly gotten really cold for some reason.

I step out of my room where I have been holed up all day expecting to see Isa lounging on the couch, but she isn't there. She's probably in the bathroom. The TV is on and a random reality show is playing.

I watch it for a few moments before heading to the kitchen and fixing myself a snack. I grab a bowl of pineapples that Isa cut up earlier and retreat into the living room.

As much as I don't want to admit it. I want her company. Isa's company has become a comfort to me and I find myself leaving my room more, just to talk to her, just to hang out with her and be in her presence.

I notice a notebook I haven't seen before and pick it up. I quickly come to realize it is actually a sketchbook and I am now staring at a drawing of myself.

I recognize it instantly. It's from when I was at the hair salon. My eyes are closed. I was asleep when it was drawn. I trace my fingers lightly over it. The detail in this sketch alone is so specific, so real. I am left speechless as I look at it.

"Fuck, Temi," Isa whispers from behind me. "I didn't expect for you to see that."

I turn and look at her. She is looking at me warily. There's a slightly nervous expression on her face.

"You drew this?" I ask, even though I know the answer already. Who else would have drawn it?

"Yes," Isa says slowly, the same nervous expression still on her face, "and I'm sorry. I know it's creepy and an entire violation of your privacy."

I shake my head quickly. An 'invasion of my privacy' is the last thing I am thinking as I look at the drawing of myself.

"This is so good. You're really fucking talented, Isa."

Isa seems to be taken back slightly by this compliment, but I mean it. I'm taken aback by just how talented she is.

"Um, thank you," she says. It comes out sounding like a question.

"Do you mind if I flip through?" I ask.

"Um, sure," Isa responds, scratching her head awkwardly.

If it wasn't so entranced by Isa's art, I would have spent more time fixating on the fact Isa looked nervous.

I flip through the sketchbook, just marveling at Isa's talent. She made simple things like buildings look so out of this world. Everything about her drawings seems to have a hold on me.

"Why have you been hiding this talent from me all this while?" I ask lightly, but with a hint of seriousness.

Isa laughs next to me, but doesn't respond. I stop flipping through her sketchbook for a moment and look at her. We lock eyes for a few seconds, neither of us saying anything to each other.

"I plan on making more art once I retire from my bodyguard job," Isa responds, still holding my gaze. "I'm glad you aren't freaked out that I drew you."

"It is pretty creepy," I say, a small smile tugging at my lips, "but quite endearing, I would say." I'm very aware of the fact I am flirting with Isa, but I can't help it. Something about her shy demeanor is something that I can't just not take advantage of right now.

Isa says nothing at all. She just looks at me with an expression I can't quite place, which makes me feel nervous. The confidence I was feeling a few moments ago is fading fast.

"Can I, um, have the drawing you did of me?" I ask.

Isa does not waste time in taking the sketchbook from my hand and ripping out my picture before handing it over to her. My eyes widen in shock as I hold the paper in my hand. I can't seem to get past how I look in this drawing. It's one of the few times I don't hate my appearance, which is something I have been hating a lot lately.

"It's all yours," Isa says, a small smile spreading across her face.

I swallow nervously and return the smile, trying to avoid the way my heart is beating in my chest.

"It's kind of late. I think I'm gonna do a bit more school work, then head to bed." I say, "it's freezing though."

"Yeah, I think the heater's broken," Isa says, "but I'm gonna call maintenance so they fix it."

"Right," I say. Of course Isa is already on top of things. "I'll see you tomorrow, I guess. Goodnight."

"Sweet dreams, beautiful," Isa responds, sending me a cheeky wink.

I roll my eyes in response to cover up the huge smile threatening to break through on my face.

I go back into my room and begin working on more late assignments.

A few moments pass by and there's a slight knock followed by Isa sticking her head into my room.

"I called maintenance about the broken heater. They said they will be here to fix it tomorrow morning. Unfortunately, that means we'll have to suffer through the cold tonight."

I let out a quiet breath of frustration.

"Thanks for letting me know, Isa."

Isa smiles at me in response. "You're welcome. Goodnight Temi."

I don't think I will ever get over how beautiful my name sounds coming from Isa's mouth. I can only send her a smile in return before she disappears from my doorway.

My head is spinning and not just because of the blaring light coming from my laptop screen. I'm thinking about Isa. I'm thinking about everything. It's moments like this that I wish Grace were here. I could tell her how I feel and she would tell me what to do. She always gave the best advice. Well, not really, but that was one of the things I loved about her. It's one of the things I still love about her.

I shiver slightly and realize that there's no way I will do any work for the rest of the night.

I get into bed and try to sleep, but I can't. My mind is racing and I am shivering. I put on a hoodie, but it only results in me sweating, causing me to be extremely uncomfortable. No matter what I do, I cannot find the right balance.

Finally, I rise from my bed and leave my room.

Isa is cuddled up on the living room couch under a heap of blankets. From how she keeps tossing and turning, it's clear to me she's also having a difficult time sleeping as well.

"Hey Isa," I say.

I watch as Isa sits up, squinting her eyes at me in the now dimly lit living room.

"Temi, are you okay?" She asks. Her voice sounds far away.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I reply on impulse, then really think about my answer, "actually I'm not really... I'm freezing." I pause then, but I can't make out Isa's facial expression in the darkness. "Do you mind coming to sleep with me? You know, for body warmth."

For a moment Isa hesitates, and I regret ever asking.

What was I thinking? Who asks their bodyguard if they can sleep with them?

I'm about to turn around and quickly walk away when Isa rises from the couch and walks towards me.

We say nothing. I feel her hand on the small of my waist as she guides me back into my room, following me close behind.

Relief mixed with excitement, and nervousness passes through me as I get into bed. Isa gets into my bed right next to me, and I drape the covers over the both of us.

"Come closer, so I can keep you warm," Isa says.

I do exactly as she instructs. Isa does the same till we are fused against each other. Our bodies are touching and I can feel Isa's heart pounding in her chest. Or maybe it's mine. There's no way to know for sure, and I can't tell anymore.

"Are you warm?" Isa whispers to me, her eyes studying me carefully.

I nod my head truthfully, unable to find the words to respond.

"Are you comfortable?" I ask after a moment.

"I've never been more comfortable," comes Isa's response. She wraps her arms around me, pulling me closer. I don't resist. Not in the slightest.

My face is buried in her neck, and Isa gently kisses my forehead, and my insides suddenly melt. I feel so safe.

Nothing is said between the two of us for the rest of the night. Listening to Isa's steady heartbeat, we both drift to sleep.