Charms & Reincarnation
They sit, comfortable together. Thandi leans back into her boy. “When did you grow so big?”
“Mm… I don’t know. When did you get so smart?”
“Fair enough.”
He’s grown so much over the years, from a tiny thing into a comfortably solid presence always at her back. It gives her a sense of stability when things get too chaotic–no matter what’s going on or where she is, she can count on him to at least hold her steady.
Granted, there were times she felt annoyed, but more and more lately it’s been exactly what she needs. Warmth, affection, a distraction or a focus. She’s grown comfortable. In fact, it’s been harder to sleep without him. She lies awake sometimes, a little chilled, a little out of sync, wondering how he’s sleeping without her there. Perhaps as poorly as she.
Lips on her neck pull Thandi from her reflections. She laughs as she feels him squeeze her, a yawn issuing from a wellspring of drowsiness that she’s remained impressed by since second year. “Are you catching up on the sleep you lost in first year, darling?”
“Must be… you’re nearly done there, it looks like. I’m going to nap. Just a bit. Wake me?”
“You’ll have no choice but to wake if I get up.”
“I…yes. You need to get your charms.”
“I’ve noticed they’ve been multiplying…”
“One charm for every problem in the world. I might catch up by the time we die.”
Thandi laughs, feeling herself blush. When he says ‘alone forever’, he really means forever. “Numerically speaking…I’m not sure. Even if you gave me a charm for every minute of every day, I don’t think you could do it.”
“So I’ll carry the total into my reincarnation, find you, and liberally apply.”
“I don’t think–“
“Apply until the heat death of the universe, then. Maybe I would finally catch up.”
Thandi feels him settle, head on her shoulder as he always does. She gives his crown a small peck and leans her head into his. “Are you accounting for problems outside of our world?”
“I’ll charm you until matter stops existing, got it? I wouldn’t be surprised if I already have a count from a past life going. This is immensely dedicated work that I am doing, dearest.”
She feels him breathe deep, always a sure sign of sleep coming. He’s mumbling still, and it makes her smile. Thandi returns to her studies, focused once more.