soft & gentle

“Look, it’s not one of my finest moments.”

“Are you sure?” Micah wasn’t convinced at all of the brunette’s condition. “You seriously look like you need crutches or something, most people don’t hobble around like that.”

Clara smiled at him, shrugging. “Ah, perhaps not, however most people don’t trip over a dog,” she scrunched her nose up slightly; mildly embarrassed of how she got the injury. “Which is why I’m in this... predicament now. Oh well, what’re you gonna do about it, right?”

“How did it happen?”

“Tripped over a dog and landed on the ground awkwardly; just my luck.”

“Are you sure you should be walking then? Wouldn’t resting it be better?”

“Probably, but I have places to go and people to see. Besides, it doesn’t hurt too much, it’s just swollen.”

❝Sure! I’d love to help. Just gimme some of those flowers and I’ll start layin’ them out.❞

“Sure thing, here are some pretty little... I don’t know what flowers these are, but here.”

“I tripped over a dog.”

‘’Well,that’s great.’’She smiled faintly, but it didn’t reach her eyes.‘’I don’t want to be inconsiderate,but why should I care?’’

“Oh I       To be honest,” Clara faltered, her eyebrows furrowing in mild confusion. “I thought you were someone else.”

“A week? That seems fair. Wait, are you insinuating that I’m a thief?”

“I’m not insinuating anything, maybe you just have a guilty conscience.”

“Are you sure?” Joel asked, his eyes falling to the female’s foot once again as though the right focus would allow him a medical view. “Do you want to sit down? The coffee shop is fairly close. Or if you’d like, I can bring you home.“

“I’m sure; don’t worry.” Clara smiled warmly at Joel, joining him in looking down at her own ankle, embarrassment flooding her cheeks. “I’d love some coffee, thank you. But you don’t have to do this, really.”

❝Oh! That’s awful nice of you. It’s not Memorial Day, is it? No, that’s in May – - right?❞

“Right. Well, at least, I think so.” Clara shrugged. 

“I’m sure decent enough people wait at least a week. Or, you know, they wouldn’t even think about stealing the dog in the first place.”

+ T h e C e m e t e r y

“Hmm? Oh, no. You’re not interrupting anything        I’m just putting flowers on all the graves that don’t have any.”

“Is it sad that I never learned to drive? I guess since Bentley’s so small that I never saw the point in it.”

“That’s pretty sad; even I know how to drive.”