Pride 7: The New Home
1132 Words
PRIDE
I watch the amazed expression on Jessie’s face as she gushes over the most basic things. We haven’t even entered the building itself yet.
Jessie leans down and starts poking at a plant and whispering how it’s real. Her smile is wide and joyous that it was almost infectious.
I never thought an outside of a building could make someone this happy. It makes me think about her life before me.
Did she even have a family? I hardly know anything about her except her basic details. It didn’t feel right to ask yet about her past.
I’m positive she’s been assigned to me for a reason. I had an entire human lifetime with her to find out. There was no rush.
A sudden warmth makes it’s way to my chest at the sight of her rushing to face me.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” She chants smiling widely.
“You haven’t even seen our place yet.” I muse to my little human.
If possible, her smile grows even wider. “It doesn’t matter. I’m still happy.”
I nod taking hold of her hand and pull her through the bright lit lobby.
“They have security.” I hear her whisper to herself. “A chandelier and a fluffy carpet... is that an elevator?”
She’s so easy to please.
We make it to our floor and I hear her hold her breath. I guide her to the end of the hall and push open the door to our new home.
Jessie squeals like an actual rat.
Our place is nothing grand. True to my words it’s a little bit bigger than her last place but with brand new furniture. Another difference would be the floor to ceiling glass window that overlooks the park where I first met her.
“I love it.” She breaths out immediately taking my hand and bringing us to our new bedroom.
Two beds again. Much closer together than our last sleeping arrangement due to having bigger beds. Black sheets for me and grey for her.
I know from observation that grey is her favorite color. I also got us a carpet on the bedroom floor because she doesn’t like wearing slippers.
Silently, I wish us the best quiet life a human and a linked demon could have.
-
It’s my first weekend in the human world and Jessie is excited. Our night together in our new place was peaceful and relaxing but now she wants me to experience the small pleasures of life.
“There’s food, movies and carnivals.” Jessie starts listing out random activities that she thinks I’ll enjoy.
Currently, she’s cooking breakfast for us. It’s something new again. She’s determined to find what I like best.
“If you’re interested, there’s a party tonight too. You like alcohol right?” She continues moving around the kitchen flipping pancakes.
“I don’t like alcohol. I appreciate it.” I correct her.
Jessie scoffs. “What’s the difference?”
I merely shake my head and wait for the food. We have fruits today as well. Strawberries, blueberries and cranberries. Jessie also sliced a few apples and pieces of watermelon.
My keen eyes pick up on how she favors the strawberries. It’s most likely her favorite since her body wash and shampoo were all of that scent.
Jessie places down a plate piled high with fluffy looking pancakes. She hands me a bottle of maple syrup and a piece of butter.
“So, what do you want to do today?” She asks taking the seat across from me.
“Lunch and then a movie.”
After our breakfast we both lounge around. Jessie busies herself with the TV watching what she calls Netflix. I attempt to read more of her books but is greatly distracted by a show called Stranger Things.
Jessie makes us popcorn and decide that it’s one of my favorites. Plain butter and salt.
When being matched with our humans, I wonder if our personalities were also considered because although we couldn’t be any more different I felt oddly comfortable in Jessie’s presence. I’ve only ever been comfortable with Gluttony and they’re nothing alike too.
“Tell me.” Jessie starts looking up at me with her doe eyes.
I look down at her. “What is it?”
“Who’s your favorite brother?” She says this in a way that makes you think she’s the best secret keeper.
I don’t miss a beat. I was just thinking about him. “Gluttony.”
“I thought Wrath.”
I pause considering this and nod. “I also like Wrath. There’s a silent understanding between us.”
“Who’s your least-“
I don’t let her finish. “Envy and Lust.”
Jessie burst out laughing, “Wow you didn’t hesitate at all. What’s so bad about them?”
“They pester me.”
A thoughtful look washes over Jessie’s face. “You’d hate for me to meet them wouldn’t you?”
“Yes. In the future, you may meet my other brothers like Gluttony and Sloth but I would avoid Envy and Lust.” Especially, Lust. I’d rather chew my own tongue off than have Lust near my Jessie.
We’re out of the apartment by lunch. This is when I discover my ambrosia.
Porridge.
Nothing tastes better than porridge. Jessie was glancing at me worriedly throughout our meal when I finished five bowls of it.
“Porridge? Out of everything we’ve eaten, you like porridge?” She gaped after we paid the bill.
“It’s perfectly bland.” I tell her feeling happy for myself that on my first week in earth, I’ve already discovered my favorite food.
We make our way out of the restaurant when my blood runs ice cold and Jessie immediately reaches for my hand. She could feel it too.
If we could feel it, that meant they could feel it.
In that moment, my comment about chewing my own tongue off comes to mind because Lust appears with his human in tow.
In my first week, I managed to meet two of my brothers that I hoped I would never encounter in this life with Jessie.
What awful luck.
- Writer
