Leena (woman)

Round and round her fingers spun. Whirling, twirling across the luscious silver cloth. Thin as paper, yet bounced to the touch.

Smooth.

Silk.

Soft. Soft as serenity.

Oh so soooooft...

"Feels great doesn't it?"

The man's voice made her jump. Her hand leapt off of the blanket like a startled cat.

"I'm sorry I, I-I..." Leena stammered, "I just got distracted is all, I..."

"No, no, it's alright" he assured, getting a full look at her as she shook. Now up close, he realized she certainly had a little bit of height to her. Somewhat lanky, but with just enough curves filling her out to prevent her from being a complete scarecrow. his gaze then shifted to the blanket, which her hand still unknowingly gravitated towards, "It's remarkably well crafted. I don't blame you one bit. If you'd like, it's..."

"I'd like to buy it!" she blurted out.

"What?"

"I'd like to buy it," Leena said once more, a little more composed, "Unless it's not for sale..."

"Oh no, no no no, You can have it, if you wish... It's just, it usually takes more, um... convincing. Especially given what I tend to sell here..."

She had already fished out her wallet after the first. But as she rooted through it for cash, he grabbed her arm.

"No don't, there's no need," he explained, "You can have it. It's yours."

Deep inside, part of Leena was absolutely ecstatic. But the rest of her, polite and unwilling to simply take advantage of someone, couldn't simply take it.

"I-I couldn't," she responded, "something of this quality must've been so, so expensive for you to get. I insist, I-"

"No, not at all!" the shopkeeper blurted out, "I didn't actually buy it. It was donated... And to be honest, I've been trying to get rid of it." He leaned in with an exaggerated fake whisper, "between you and I... It takes too much attention away from the items I actually want to sell."

The two chuckled. Leena thanked the shopkeeper as he retreated behind the counter, digging through its drawers for a bag. Once bagged, and temporarily out of her hands (somewhat to her dismay), she left for home.

Home is where the heart is, or so they say. The tiny little apartment she slept in was considered cramped, or perhaps even sad to gaze upon by many. But, Leena found a way to make it work. In fact, one could argue that her very presence made it a 'living' quarters. Once inside, she tossed the bag with her newfound purchase onto her bed, and immediately settling into her bedtime routine.

As she showered, dressed, and even brushed her teeth, the fabric seemed continued to linger in the back of her mind... She missed its touch, though didn't feel as drawn to it as she did when touching it back at the store. Nevertheless, she wanted to reunite with the elegant thing. As she soon slid into her bed, her arm slid into the back, pulling the fabric into her pajama-clad embrace. Sleep would come swiftly for her.

#

Another beautiful day, followed, unfortunately soured a bit by the shrill and unforgiving alarm clock that reminded Leena that no matter how comfortable she is, she had a job. She was more than comfortable where she lied. But even shielded by her bedsheets, and wound tight in the new fabric's grip, the fear of repercussions in her workplace was stronger. Getting up, as the fabric slid through her fingers, the rubbing of skin and cloth, sounded light and... lonely? like a sort of faint and wispy lament. Letting go, she went about getting ready for work. As she dressed though, she couldn't help but occasionally look back at the bed. She couldn't wait to reunite with its sheets. She'd give anything to do it that instant, but her job was more important. She wished there was a way, or maybe even a compromise... She paused, pondering upon the predicament.