One hundred and four

Be still, dear heart but it clenches painfully I lose my breath. He hates me. He hates us.

Too weak to walk to the light switch, I welcome the brightness pouring down on me as I shift into a sleeping position. It takes him less than a minute to spoon me, I stiffen in his arms until he cups my breast and I relax. I hate how he uses my body against me. He can sleep facing the other side of the wall for all I care. Maybe not. I love his arm around me.

"Did she really kick?" he whispers into my ear and I let his question float in the air until he coughs. His hand lowers to my stomach, a finger pokes my belly button, I giggle.

"No," I say. I am grateful he doesn't stop his movements on my stomach. And my breath hitches as my feelings crash over me. "But she doesn't like it when you are mad at me."

Planting a kiss behind my ear, he says, "I'm not mad." He buries his head in the crook of my neck, my fingertips caress his c