Chapter Twenty-Six: Dark Spots:

Something seems off lately. Bayu seems more tired. This morning, I rolled over to see her sleeping beside me. She looked so peaceful in my arms. I couldn’t help but smile. I gently brushed her bangs from her face.

But then I froze.

What was that on her neck? I narrowed my eyes. Looks about dark purple to black. I reached out and touched the line. Bayu moved around in her sleep.

“Mmm…” she mumbled. I drew back my hand. Her eyes slowly fluttered open. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.

“Good morning,” I heard her whisper. I drew open my eyes. Bayu gave me a calm smile. I couldn’t help but smile. I leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

“Sleep well?” he asked.

“Uh-huh,” she said. I kissed her forehead. I tried to forget about the line around her neck. Maybe those dreams meant nothing. Bayu gave me a strange look.

“What is it?” she asked. I smiled and shook my head.

“Nothing,” I said. “I am just happy to have you with me.” Bayu gave me a little smile.

“Mama! Papa!” we heard Irani calling from the hall. Bayu and I looked at each other.

“I’ve got it,” I said.

“Fine by me,” she said. I climbed out of bed. Somehow, I couldn’t stop smiling. I could get used to this life.

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I kept my eyes on Bayu and Irani. That old woman’s voice floated in my head.

You cannot keep those butterflies in their cage.

I tried to shake it off. I really did. But I couldn’t ignore that dark purple ring around her neck. It wasn’t there yesterday. I couldn’t focus on anything since I first noticed it this morning.

“Luci,” I heard back in reality. “Luci? Luci?” I came back to earth. Bayu looked at me, frowning. Oh that’s right. She, Irani, and I were walking around the garden that I created for her. It was her idea after breakfast. I rubbed the back of my head.

“Hm? What is it?” I asked.

“Did you hear anything I said?” she asked.

“No…” I said. “What did you say?” Bayu gave me the stink eye as she smacked me on the arm.

“Jerk,” she said.

“What?” I asked. “What were you saying?” Irani clung to my legs. Bayu sighed and rubbed her forehead.

“I was saying that my garden is missing a particular herb,” she said. She held out her arms as she spoke. “I can’t seem to grow it here.”

“Oh, right, right,” I said. “What did you say it was again?” My love sighed as she shook her head.

“Just forget it,” she said.

“No, I want to help,” I said.

“I said forget it,” my love insisted. I took hold of her into my arms. It tore me up inside to see her upset like this. Bayu frowned at me.

“Ambrosia,” she said. My face dropped.

“Do what now?” I asked. Bayu slipped from my grasp.

“I knew you couldn’t do it,” she said.

“No, no, no,” I said. “I can get for you.” My love didn’t look so convinced. The whole time our son stood silent. For once in my life, I felt fear. I couldn’t lose her. That old lady’s words echoed in my head again.

You cannot keep those butterflies in their cage.

My stomach dropped as I understood what she was saying. I felt Bayu’s hand shaking me on the arm.

“Luci? Luci? Baby, what’s wrong? Luci? Luci!”

Her voice sounded so far away. I walked out of my son’s grasp. I just sat down on the ground. We just got back together as a family. Bayu sat down next to me. She pulled me into her arms.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Forget about it. I could go without it for a while. I don’t really need it.”

“No,” I insisted. “If that’s what you want, I will get it for you.” She smiled as she shook her head.

“It’s okay,” she said. I was about to speak when she put her finger to my lips.

“It’s okay,” Bayu whispered again. We shared a kiss in the grass. Somehow, I started to feel better. I thought that we would be fine.

But why couldn’t I shake that feeling of something about to go wrong from my mind?