What Separates Me and You

Josephine shook her head and sobbed. "I want Mom."

Lewis lowered his gaze and fell silent.

Josephine held the hem of his shirt and gently swayed it. "Didn't you say you were going to take me home?"

Lewis leaned closer. They were inches apart, yet there seemed to be a gaping rift between them. He couldn't read the thoughts behind those eyes of hers, and neither could Josephine see through his soulful eyes.

"I told you I'd take you home when you recovered."

Josephine looked at him in a daze. "How do I know if I've recovered?"

Lewis replied, "That's for the doctor to decide."

"But the doctor's not here."

"I'll call him over tomorrow. Let's listen to what he has to say, okay?"

Josephine nodded, fervently wishing the doctor would dictate she had fully recovered.

Lewis held her hand and continued washing the paint off her. Josephine quietened, but the sorrow never left her eyes. She missed home so badly. She had never been outside on her own for such a long period.

After cleaning up, Lewis helped Josephine change into fresh clothes. They had dinner, and she started feeling sleepy again. However, consuming yet another bowl of herbal concoction drove away her sleepiness.

Taking the concoction was always a torment. Josephine would swallow half and throw up the rest. Then, she'd lean against Lewis while panting like a fish out of water. She would wail about how she would never drink another bowl of that.

Lewis patted her back and tried to soothe her. Years back, she had behaved the same way whenever she felt upset. She would lean against him, hold him tightly, and refuse to let him leave. She was still unable to speak then, let alone whine and throw fits.

At that time, she relied on him. But although they seemed close, they were never on par. She had always been careful around him. She read his expressions and only spoke coquettishly to him whenever appropriate.

In a trance, he thought they had gone back in time, but it was different now. Josephine now had her own pride and personality.

Lewis held her face and wiped her tears. "Don't cry. You won't have to take it anymore when you've recovered."

Josephine could learn those words by heart now, but recovery still seemed far-fetched. Pursing her lips, she looked at Lewis with displeasure. "But it's bitter."

"You'll get past it."

Josephine shook her head. "No, I refuse! I'm not drinking that anymore!"

"Don't make a fuss." Lewis put her in bed. "Now, sleep."

Josephine started her tantrums again. She tossed and turned on the bed, grumbling about the herbal concoction.

Her pajama top came with a hood, which she pulled over her head. She rolled about on the bed until the blanket wrapped around her like a sausage roll. Realizing she couldn't release herself from the blanket, she stared at Lewis pleadingly.

Lewis merely stood and watched.

Josephine mumbled, "I'm stuck."

"Can you listen to me and go to bed?"

Josephine nodded submissively. Her pajama hood with rabbit ears twitched accordingly. The sight of that was truly ...

Lewis pressed his lips together and helped to unwrap the blanket. She wriggled out of her cocoon and clambered to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Keep me company."

Lewis paused before peeling her arms off him. "You can sleep first. I'll take a shower."

Josephine permitted him to do so and urged, "Hurry up."

Lewis went to the bathroom, and Josephine soon heard the running water.

Despite what she said, Lewis took his time and spent 40 minutes in the shower. He thought Josephine would definitely be asleep by now. To his surprise, she was lying at the foot of the bed, staring intently at the bathroom. She patted the bed beside her when he emerged, inviting him to take his place.

Lewis was dressed in a white bathrobe. He dried his hair as he walked to her. The open front of the bathrobe vaguely exposed the bandage wrapped around his chest. "How did you end up on this side of the bed?"

Josephine giggled, "I'm waiting for you."

Lewis met her gaze with a somewhat complicated feeling. He simply gave his hair a few wipes and cast the towel on the sofa. Then, he pulled back the blanket and told her, "Go." Josephine hummed in response and swiftly shifted to her rightful position.

Lewis switched off the lights and climbed into the bed. Once he lay down, Josephine immediately snuggled up to him. She felt like a stuffed toy to him as her pajama was thick and fluffy.

Josephine liked the faint scent he had. She had no idea what scent it was, but it gave her a sense of security. She found solace in hugging him and immersing herself in his scent amid her longing for home.

Her hair brushed against his lower jaw, and her fluffy pajama came in contact with his chest. Her warm breath tingled the side of his neck.

She was almost asleep when she felt him tighten his arm around her waist. Nestling against his neck, she mumbled, "You're holding too tight." However, Lewis didn't let her go upon hearing that. He hugged her tighter as though trying to split her in half.

Josephine was annoyed and struggled against him.

He rubbed his cheek against hers, and his deep voice drifted into her ear. He whispered, "Josie."

"What is it, Lewis?"

He traced his fingers along her waistline. His voice turned gruff. "I can't hold it in anymore."

Josephine couldn't follow him. She thought about it and asked, "You mean you need the toilet? Go ahead, then."

"No."

"Then what is it?"

Suddenly, the lights snapped on. Josephine reflexively burrowed her face in Lewis' neck at the sudden glare.

Lewis peeled her off and sat up in bed. He gazed at her with a burning passion.

Josephine was baffled. She wondered why she had to get up too. She didn't need to use the toilet.

She voiced out her confusion, "What are you doing?"

Lewis held her hand and asked, "Do you remember the video?"

Josephine thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Are you talking about the game?"

Lewis tilted her chin upward and planted a kiss on her lips. "You can say so."

Josephine complied and kissed his lips before saying, "But I'm sleepy. I'll play with you tomorrow, okay?" She coaxed him with the tone he had always used toward her. She was too sleepy to understand the glint in his eyes and guess the meaning behind his words.

Lewis helplessly laid his head on her shoulder and shut his eyes, giving himself time to calm down. Wistfully, he sighed and let her go. "Let's go to bed."

Josephine was about to lie down when she sat up again. "I want to go to the toilet too."

Veins throbbed on his temple. "You can go on your own!"

Josephine hugged him. "No. Carry me there."

Lewis' expression shifted unpredictably. Abruptly, he rolled over and held Josephine down, his eyes boring holes into her. He warned, "You'll get it from me if you keep that up."

He grasped her arms. Josephine struggled but failed to escape from under him. Her innocent eyes stared right back at the man hovering over her.

"But I need the toilet." It was okay if he refused to bring her there. Why did he have to be so mad?

His breathing grew more rapid the longer he looked into her eyes. "Don't look at me like that." "What's wrong with you? You're acting weird. Then how should I look at you? I—" Before she could finish speaking, he leaned down for a kiss, stifling her unspoken words.