Undead Boyfriend: Nemo Part Four (special preview)

Upon opening the doors you’re hit with the scent of cut wood, fresh paint, and an otherly newness you weren’t used to. Inside, the new apartment is bright and new, almost completely untouched. Nemo and Asha had hired a team to move things in, bringing in all new furniture and appliances. You step inside, holding your breath as you look around. You felt out of place here, like a doll accidentally placed in the home and garden section of a store.

Asha is busy in the courtyard of the clinic, preparing it to become more functional than just something to look at. She had been planning this for a long time, and finally everything was coming together. It would be a working garden, providing fresh and much needed food for the clinic. Nemo was working, but he had promised to spend some time with you that afternoon.

You wander through the living room, passing by the black fireplace. You see your hazy reflection in the slick stone, almost appearing like a ghost. That’s sort of how you feel, out of time, out of place, wandering like a cloud through a world that isn’t yours. You quickly hurry through, stepping towards a pale wood door. Beyond it is your room.

Now, you had had your own room before, but not one that was wholly and completely yours. You had helped design what you wanted for your new bedroom, you didn’t have much to ask for, just one silly thing you had always wanted; a bay window. It had been that silly thing in story books you had always admired. All the great heroines had one that they would sit in. Wendy would rest in one to wait for Peter. It was a notion that had been hard to shake. You had never envisioned having such a thing, but it was the tiniest inkling of hope you clung to.

Inside, the bay window was spectacular. Wrought iron and glass all the way down to the half moon seat with shelves under it. You bit back your smile, slightly afraid of letting your joy be known. You’re breathless as you stand in your room, looking from the plush bed to the old wardrobe. You had asked no fuss over a closet, but Asha had insisted that you have a nice one. You figured it would just be a hole in the wall, but upon opening the mirrored doors, you gaze into a shallow, but still very large walk-in. There are clothes already hanging inside that you don’t recognize. Upon inspection you see each one has a handwritten note attached.

“A professional blazer is always in style. This one I thought suited your eyes. Love Asha.” She had basically supplied you with a new wardrobe, new suits for work, casual clothes for around the house, even a new robe with pajamas. You would treasure the notes.

Your room went right into the master bath, a large nearly all white room. For some reason, this had been the room Nemo was most adamant about. He insisted on it being large enough to house all three of you at once comfortably. The shower was all glass, the bathtub was claw footed, and the toilet was, well, it was a toilet. You footsteps echo in this room, and you grow a tad excited to hear Asha sing when she bathes, she always does.

The master bath then led either back out into the hall, or into the master bedroom. Stepping inside there, your heart began to pound. Asha and Nemo would be mainly staying here, but there would be nights you’d be sleeping with them as well. Although, Asha and Nemo do much more than just sleep. Your face grows warm as you approach the king size bed, smoothing your hand out over the grey duvet. The things Asha and Nemo will do in this bed, in this room, you can’t take your mind off it. 

You clear your throat and collect yourself, a tad embarrassed at your own train of thought. You’re happy Nemo and Asha are able to join together like that. You’re happy they choose to even include you in that love at all, even if you don’t participate in certain aspects. You’re lucky.

You wander down the hallway, back to the living room where you’ve set your laptop bag on the sofa. Sitting on the floor, your laptop blends in with the modern aesthetic of the coffee table, you feel almost like you are at work. Asha had insisted on some natural elements to the house, which included wood pieces made by her sister and mother. The shelves in the living room were pale wood, as was the coffee table which had black granite as the top to match the fireplace. She said she would also bring in plants to freshen up the place. Nemo was much more minimal than Asha, wanting everything simple, easy, and greyscale. The pops of green Asha’s plants would bring in would almost seem fluorescent against Nemo’s chosen color palette. 

To center yourself to start working, you take a deep breath and clear your thoughts. Usually, that does the trick, but today it feels difficult to sweep the cobwebs and clutter in your mind away. Your head feels heavy, pressing your neck into your shoulders, your shoulders tense, your fingers do not want to focus on the keyboard. You breathe deeply again and set to work. There’s work you need to finish on the database that can’t wait. 

Outside you hear voices from the courtyard, you stare beyond the scaffolding against the window. The sky is bright blue but in the distance it fades to grey, getting darker the further on it goes before the horizon is nothing but trees. You lose your breath for a split second when something dark skitters across your mind.