Blankets (day 2)

Zahid was tired. They had been working nine hours. That was one hour more than a regular shift. Why did they even accept that job? They saw the bus stopping. It was far and they were tired. Zahid groaned and ran to catch that damn bus before it could leave. They managed to find a sit and sighed loudly. They stretched their neck and relaxed for a few seconds, then became suddenly aware of the people staring. They were used to stares. For one reason or the other, they were going to be stared at. Sometimes it was fine, they could just shrug it off and live proudly, but sometimes every single thing was a weight on their chest. That night everything was heavy. The skin colour, being mixed race, the super skinny high-waisted jeans, the semitransparent floral shirt (even though hidden), the bright red jumper, the shaved and half bleached hair, the earrings, the choker, even the rings. “Why did you wear it?”, “why did you get that haircut?”, “why did you do it?”, “are you even a boy?”, “are you gay?” they could hear the questions in those staring eyes. They focused on breathing. In and out. In and out. They started thinking about what they had to do next: get home, cook. Cook what? Did they have something left in the fridge? Should they just order from some place? Maybe their boyfriend had cravings. Would he like to watch a movie? It felt like a movie night. What movie should they pick? Zahid got off the bus and walked quietly, eyes following their every movement. They shivered, it was starting to become cold outside. The keys were even colder on their fingers. When the door opened the apartment was dark. No Valentine in sight. They closed the door and left the bag on the floor, walking into the bedroom already starting to take off their clothes.

“Wow that wasn’t the start I planned but go on please.” Valentine was sitting on the bed with candles on the bedside table and sushi all around him. “Welcome back.”

Zahid was taken aback by their boyfriend. How could he smile so sweetly every day? Valentine had a tough body, but he looked so cute when he smiled.

“C’mon silent weirdo, go wash your hands and come here. Mean Girls is on and I have a blanket to wrap around you.”

“Burrito blanket?”

“Burrito blanket.” He chuckled. His significant other could be such a baby sometimes but they were his baby and he knew just how to take care of them.