flowers

Seoul and Vitoria sit on the floor at ninety-degrees to one-another
leaning each against the side of a sofa
Seoul’s left hand holds Vitoria’s right
and there they sleep

as the sky lightens with false dawn
being well accustomed to sleeping for short periods of time, Seoul wakes up
opens her eyes and sees Vitoria still asleep
she had looked so tired
still does
it won’t be good for her to sleep for too much longer sitting like this
Seoul shifts her body-weight to get up, and Vitoria’s hand twitches
– it’s alright – i’m going to get some covers for you
she doesn’t know if Vitoria hears it

standing up, she has her first good look at the apartment
it’s stopped raining, and the overcast sky looks like it’s breaking with the dawn
she takes her shoes off, puts them down in the foyer, then walks quietly to the other side of the apartment where the bedrooms are
from one of the beds she takes a doona and two pillows
carries them back to the living area
she puts them down beside Vitoria
kneels down and gently guides Vitoria’s body to the floor
– lie down Vee, you’ll be much more comfortable
only half waking, Vitoria settles down onto a pillow Seoul places beneath her head
Seoul takes the doona and covers Vitoria’s body
– i missed you
Vitoria whispers in her sleep
– i know – i missed you too
she watches her friend rest for a moment, then stands
rather than draw the curtains, Seoul commands the housekeeper to tint the windows
then she leaves the apartment

outside the city is waking up
it must be sometime between five and six by the sprinkling of people already awake
she goes to an easy-mart and buys a few things
then to a grocer
they’ll have to buy more food, but it’s all she can carry for now

before she goes back to the apartment, she stops to buy flowers and a vase