Blacken by Alandra Rankin (i love reading books txt) 📕

I’m probably just going to give this to you then, I hope you’re not sick of the library by that time.

Happy Birthday Avie!

From your friend,

Owen.

The woman read through the handwritten note again, she couldn’t be sure, but it almost felt like it was written after he met Rhulle, before shit all hit the fan and he started to rapidly change. The question also came across if he even remembered all that he wrote when he decided to present the gift to her, his mind certainly changing on topics written inside from his behaviour.

It caused her to hiccup, gasping in stilted breath with a sad heart but an optimistic outlook. She finally got an apology, a possible glimpse that while Owen changed into the person he now was, he was still in there—this letter proved just so.

“Are you alright? What does it say?” Rhulle asked, hints of worry filtering through.

She wiped at watery eyes, “He gave me a key to the library, telling me happy birthday and that he was sorry for his behaviour. He will come back to himself; I know he will. This is the last bit of the real Owen I’ll get to see and it’s an uplifting one.”

He enveloped her, “You have some peace of mind.”

She returned the hold, nodding into the softness of his chest, “Yes, I think I finally do.”

He flipped through the notebook, finding the phone number he was looking for.

Avie was out at work, and he hoped this plan would all go off perfectly. Rhulle hesitated over the counter for a beat, clenching and releasing his fists as he thought over the conversation with his vovii just a day prior.

“Would you tell me more about Christmas, and why you all have to celebrate so much of it?”

The holiday was in full swing, Avie had been placing a few things under the tree addressed to friends and herself, the small space of the apartment chalk full of decorative set pieces and multicoloured lights. She explained Santa and Saint Nicholas to him and even the tale of Mary and her virgin birth to Jesus Christ, yet it all did not seem to warrant this level of obsession.

“The spirit of Christmas is to give, spread joy and be with loved ones. I think it starts earlier and earlier every year just because people want the magic to start as soon as it can. That, or people are corrupted by consumerism and the need to buy and spend as commercials for Christmas come on as early as November sometimes. But I like to believe it’s the holiday magic.”

“You have perked up in these last few days, it must be the magic. What do you like best about Christmas time?”

It was his first celebration, noticing the change in environment and only reading through various novels in passing enough to recognize the holiday, but still unaware of the intricacies that entailed with it.

His vovii smiled, opting to sit beside him instead, “Decorating, the music may be tied with that though. Christmas movies are often cliché but always make me feel good.”

“And what of gift giving? How do I get something for you for the spirit?”

She paused, “You don’t have to, I’m not expecting you to have to worry about that.”

“Are you giving me anything?” He wanted to celebrate things right by her, she deserved a proper festivity.

Avie looked off to the side, speaking embarrassed, “I am, but that doesn’t mean you need to as well.”

He placed his hand on hers on the couch, “I want to, darling. Is there any way?”

Turning to face him, she let out a long exhale, “I can show you a few things, and you can pick out which one you would like to get me, how does that sound?”

“I thought the point was the surprise of opening it up on December twenty-fifth,” Rhulle chuckled.

“That’s part of it,” she smiled in return, “but I don’t know what else we could do.”

Shrugging, “If it is what I can do, then I will, gladly.”

He caught the recognition in her eyes, he did not fully believe his own words either.

Cocking his head, Rhulle tried to work the phone, seeing it only demonstrated a few times.

“Hello?” a female answered, there was no backing out now.

“Hello, is this Sandra?”

“Yes, it is, who’s this?”

He paused, “My name is Rhulle, I am Avie’s… boyfriend. Do you have a minute?”

“YOU’RE THE ONE WHO’S WITH SUGAR BEAR?”

The truxen cringed, moving the receiver away from his face as the loud shrilling continued through, picking up bits of speech as the slew of words cascaded out.

“Of course, I got a minute! I got about a million questions ‘bout you that Avie’s avoidin’ specifically, what was it ya said your name was again?”

“It is Rhulle, I um, I wanted to get her something for Christmas. She implores that she does not want anything, and I am desperate, Sandra. I do not have much cash, and I cannot go out into town anytime soon. Is there any way you could help me out in this situation?”

“It’ll cost ya. How about you answer some questions and I can run out and get somethin’ to help?”

This woman thought he was a human. That was fine, he could act… human.

“What do you want to know?”

“Let’s have a sit down with coffee. I can come by in, say… ‘bout an hour enough time?”

“No!” He cleared his throat, “I mean—ahh, I cannot presently... otherwise I would. Could this happen over the phone?”

“Well sure, that works. Tell me, Rhulle, do ya love her?”

“More than anything,” he didn’t even hesitate in his response.

“You ain’t playin’ around with her, right?”

“Playing? We have fun together, but my intentions are serious.”

She hummed, “Good, just what I wanna hear. Because she sure does love you.”

He blushed; just how much was she speaking of him? Not that he minded, but to hear someone else know of their relationship, and that Avie spoke so fondly about him...? Rhulle’s heart fluttered, echoing in his chest.

The phone interview continued, this woman