He nods slowly.
“But we’d have to escape this place first.”
A frown appears.
I knew it would be difficult for him. To comprehend there is no both … there is either being in here or being out there.
“We could—” I mumble.
“Impossible,” he says, interrupting me.
“It’s not, if you’re willing to try,” I say.
His eyes narrow, and he just looks at me for a moment without saying a word. Then his eyes slide to the pieces of toilet paper that I wrote on again, and he mumbles, “Teach me.”
“What?” I ask, picking up one of the pieces. “To write or read?”
“Both,” he says.
I smile, realizing he’s finally making that first step into becoming more than just a caged animal. He honestly wants to try his best, and I applaud that. Even if he may never see the sun, at least he learned a little bit about what it means to be human.
I draw each of the letters on the papers and show them to him then pronounce the sound. He follows and tries to redraw the shapes on the glass with his finger, and I guide him every step of the way.
Soon, he’s even reading some simple words I write down like glass, bed, and paper. When he tries his hand at them himself, it doesn’t take him too long to grasp how to write the letters. He’s a quick study, and I imagine he would have done well in a real school. I’m not a great teacher, so doing my best is all I can do to help.
We sit like this for days on end—talking, learning, teaching. I love his responses, his reactions, and the smile on his face whenever he succeeds or discovers something new. Like a young guy with adult needs and desires. And a very adult body.
I grin as I catch myself glimpsing at his pecs, which flex every time he moves. It’s hard not to, with him being all up in my face, demanding every single second of my attention. But I don’t mind. I actually like talking to him. Getting to know him. Feeling like I’m more than just a womb and he might be more than a man with seed. That he might be more as a person to me, too.
Suddenly, the black door clicks open, and we both turn our heads toward our own door leading to the bedroom. When his head turns back around and he looks at me, I bite my lip, wondering what he’s going to do. He gets up from the floor, and I expect him to rush through that door to grab me. But he doesn’t.
Instead, he places a hand on the glass and cocks his head, gazing at me with eyes that are so full of love, they undo me.
I briefly smile as I get up, and I place my hand on top, watching the joy spread on his face.
It’s so simple, yet it means so much …
This connection we have is undeniable.
A voice blares through the speaker in the far-right corner of the room. “It’s time. Get her.”
Cage doesn’t even seem fazed by Graham yelling. Instead, he leans his head against the prison and smiles back. It’s almost as if he’s looking for my approval.
“You know what I said …” Graham growls through the speaker. “If you don’t do it, I will make you. Choose.”
I swallow and rub my lips together before nodding at Cage.
“You sure?” he asks.
“It’s the only way if I ever want to see the outside world again,” I say, trying not to cry.
He nods, and I blink away the tears as I see him turn and walk through the door … only to come out again in mine.
It’s strange to see him this close again. Every time feels different, as if we’re not the same people, even though we see each other every day. But something has changed … me.
I’m not longer that scared, innocent girl. I made my choice … and I choose him.
Accompanying Song: “Not Afraid Anymore” by Roniit
He stands in the doorway with his hands beside his firm body and his muscles bulging with need. He’s tense … and I know why. It’s been too long since we last touched each other. I’ve been keeping count of the days. The longer it took, the more agitated he became. And now I can feel the electricity zing through the air.
Still, he doesn’t move. He’s waiting … waiting for me to stand by my decision and be true to my words. He doesn’t just want to claim me … He wants me to choose it.
So I approach him, touching his fingers with mine as I slowly pass him. The brief contact has me shivering with need, and goose bumps spread across my body as I saunter into the bedroom. I can hear him turn and follow me, shutting the door behind him.