The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven

Luna made a small meow, urging me to join her in the kitchen. Her master was not far behind, subtly watching me from around the pale white wood of the doorway. Bravely I stepped forward, allowing my fingers to lightly rub against the left side of the hallway wall. I stopped over the archway, still feeling that heated gaze from him. My body was starting to respond to him, but I forced that thought away and bent down to pet the back of Luna’s ear. She purred instinctively, loud enough for Teddy to hear. He abandoned his post to clear away his dishes.

“Hello Luna,” I whispered. She was brought upwards to rest in front of my chest, cuddled like a small babe that had just been born. She was sweet and innocent, and I found myself being drawn to her immensely.

My right hand drew out my chair and I happily took a seat. She was the cure I needed to calm myself down, a welcome distraction from the lustful look that continually escaped Teddy’s eyes. I suppose it was unintentional, but this morning it had increased more than ever before. A lot can be said in a person’s eyes and looks, and Teddy’s was most telling.

Luna soon grew bored of me and wanted to be put down. I had no choice but to lay her down on the kitchen floor and watch her small paws pad their way towards her master.

While I was eating I could hear him speaking to Luna. “Hello, little Missy,” he affectionately cooed. “You missed me?”

I glanced upwards to see he was just drying off his hands with a dish cloth. His whole attention was on this small creature, completely forgetting I was still in the room with him.

“You’re going outside today?” he continued, before he bent his knees and reached for his cat. “Or are you going to spend the day with me again?” His dark brown eyes searched out her pale blue ones, and once they connected a warm smile spread across his face. “I know you like Sela too.” A happy laughter escaped him before he averted his gaze from his cat towards me. “I’m speaking to her aloud. Forgive me. I am used to living alone.”

“I’ve heard it is normal to speak to your pets.”

“Yes, but…” he looked down at Luna with something of a smile. “She’s my only friend.”

“Now, you have another one.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, Teddy,” I confirmed for him. “I am done with my food now.” He watched me rise up from my chair with a surprised look to him. “Please move so I may wash my dishes.” He moved to the right, allowing me enough space to place the dishes down in the sink. I could feel him staring at me again, examining my side profile as I soaked the water upon the pure white plate. Luna squirmed in his arms, forcing him to place her upon the kitchen floor. He never moved when I reached behind him to obtain the kitchen towel, probably enjoying the closeness of our bodies. “Anyone tell you that…” His gaze strengthened two-fold. “You have a certain look to your eyes.”

“What kind of look?”

“I can’t describe it.”

He blinked slowly, and then finally dropped his eyes from mine. I laid the dish towel down on the edge of the countertop; Teddy was quick to retrieve it and fold it neatly to his liking. His quirky mannerisms were exhibited once again, an uncontrollable side to him that Teddy had trouble hiding. “I like it neat,” he said as an excuse. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“No.”

backwards, for he was puzzled by

you never offended

escaped his partially open lips, and then he suddenly looked over his shoulder as though we were being watched. “We should go,” he said as a way of command. He

***

sheer size of it. “I live along the English coast.”

would kill for a house like

substantially, a dangerous pulse of anger ignited in his eyes. “What

I stammered out

The man in front of me nodded his

even entered my

top

at any time,” he relayed in almost a hush. “I could

I have work to do.” His smirk grew wider, for Teddy knew that I was toying with

another one. This painting was very similar though it was taken at a different angle, and on a cold foggy day. “This one has trouble selling. I enjoy these sort of days, but my clients

“Why not?”

bemoaned. “Scenes of bright sun-lit seas and swathes of lush greenery. Yes, there are those days,” he admitted. “But you cannot have light without the darkness.” He brought the painting closer to me, displaying the sheer rage of the sea that crashed harshly against the ghostly grey rocks. From the precipice you could see the looming shadows and misty fog that added more dimension to his painting. There was life to this image, but as Teddy noted it was not a painting for everyone. “But I must find some way to pay the bills,” he said in a dejected voice. “And so, I paint scenes of beauty… or what some may say joy.” The canvas lowered over his lap, exposing the deep heaving of his chest. “But what do

“I like them both.”

one do you

that exact destination. To see it with my own eyes. It is the kind of painting that you would like to put up on

the ground, somewhere close to Luna where she

with a beguiling smile. Teddy turned around to face me, slipping his hands deep inside of his trouser pockets. “I

“Yes.”

you are right,” I assented with a sort of forcefulness to my voice

we can’t let the darkness consume us