she rest tensly upon mattress , curls fan around her upon pillow & hands folded over lower abdomen . and she hasn’t moved since she’d dropped down , still fully clothed , save the shoes kicked off and in a huddle on the floor . tired , but can’t seem to fall asleep just yet . something is missing . someone is missing . & eyes barely open when the door open and close , sigh of relief drawn from lips . it’s just her . she shift a bit to make space on the bed for greta as eyes close once more . muscles relax & it feels like she can finally breath . like she isn’t drowning and barely keeping her head above water . this thing between them ( unlabeled , but theirs . ) it’s the only good thing that’s been going for her down here . the only thing that , while isn’t labeled or spoken about , is stable . safe . her hand around wrist is a welcoming touch & fingers intertwine with hers without hesitation , grasping it , gives a small squeeze . another day . a day closer to hopefully getting out . head turns towards her , smile , barely a tug of it upon lips . ❛ another day . ❜
feeling her hand hold onto hers is all the validation greta needs to go about this the way that she wants ( and the way she thinks valerie wants, too ----- despite the fact that neither of them are good at saying that out loud. ) that’s what works for them, at least for now ----- they never actually talk about what they’re doing. they just do it, because in the moment, it’s what they desperately need. but once they’re out of it, they’re too stubborn to wish for it again. vulnerability has never worked for greta, yet it’s all she feels these days ---- and when she can count on these simple moments between her and valerie, she can breathe a lot easier. her eyes scan her features, and once she spots the small hint of a smile, it relaxes her. she takes a beat, then leans forward, burying her head in the crook of val’s next, so desperately needing the safety of her body. lips press lightly to her skin ----- three kisses, each soft and slow, until she raises her head again, forehead rested on hers. i couldn’t wait to see you, is what her eyes say without speaking the words. i missed you, is what she wants to say even more. ❝ you tired? ❞ the obvious answer is yes, but greta hopes it’s not too much; she hopes she still has time with her before they sleep.