Let Me Down Easy

An Arrietty Short

Her long, brown hair fell against his shoulders when his large hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. Her smile was soft, yet bright. She watched him intensely, her grey eyes focused on his brown ones. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear. She blushed and laughed. His lips slanted across hers.

The kiss was hungry, ravenous. Their gentle hands turned into grasping fingers, desperately searching for something solid in the midst of their amorous motions. She whispered over and over again, the sound heated and rushed. When her legs gave out, he easily picked her up. Her feet hooked behind his back and she kicked off her strappy black heels. His large hands grabbed her underneath her thighs, hoisting her higher on his hips as he walked towards the wall.

Her head fell back, neck exposed. He planted kisses all along the skin, sucking hard at the tender spot where her neck and shoulder met. She gasped and moaned under his touch, mewling like a kitten. When his mouth started travelling south, her hands became gentle again. She pulled his face to hers, kissing him.

When she said his name, my heart broke for the second time in my life.

"Not yet, Sho," were her words. "You have one more ring to put on my hand before we can go that far." She smiled and I watched Sho-my Sho-drop his head to her shoulder and groan. "Relax," she laughed. "We only have two weeks left. Then I will never stop you again."

She muttered something I couldn't quite make out and the woman's laughter echoed in the room. "It's not funny, Renee," he grumbled. He pressed one more lingering kiss to her shoulder. A little smirk tilted his lips when she moaned softly.

She unhooked her legs and slid down his body, planting her feet not even a yard from my entryway. When she was barefooted, I saw she only reached Sho's collarbone-and barely at that. It seemed the little boy who had helped me save my family had grown. He was tall now, taller than most of the humans I had seen in the past twelve years.

My family had moved me to a field six houses away. We lived there for two or three years before a vixen decided to make her den in our home. From there, Spiller guided us to a new home two cities over. The trip only took a couple days thanks to his knowledge of the stream and the humans who lived alongside it. My parents died eleven long, bright years later. Papa died of a heart attack and Mama passed a month after. Everyone in the small community agreed it was grief.

Spiller had made several offers to marry me, always bringing me gifts and teaching me everything he knew. But I never accepted any of his offers. He didn't give up for eight tedious years. Then, one day, a pretty little Borrower girl came into the village. Spiller was hooked from the first bat of her lashes.

I didn't mind. My torch still burned for Sho and I knew his would still burn for me. At least, I thought it would. I realized then it hadn't. I felt so utterly alone and lost.

I had always planned that once I was competent enough on the stream I would pole up it and find my way back to Sho's house. then, we would pick up right where we left off. Call it silly. Call it childish, but I had honestly imagined us living "happily ever after."

Now, though, I saw just how wrong I had been. Sho had obviously moved on and not kept any sort of torch alight for me. My face burned with shame. I was completely humiliated. How could I have thought there was anything more between us than friendship?

My eyes were drawn to his hand when he pulled something out of his pocket. He set it on the long, narrow table that sheltered my entryway. Music began to play in a foreign language. I couldn't understand what it was saying but Sho and the woman seemed to have no trouble.

Sho's hands moved over the woman's face, threading through her hair, tracing her eyes before brushing his thumb over her lips.

"Those lips look too good to be true," Sho said, leaning in for another kiss. "Once I taste that kiss, I know what'll happen. I'll be at the mercy of you." He kissed her again, stealing my breath and hers.

Tears formed in my eyes at the sweet words. Jealousy stirred in my chest and threatened to cut off my breathing altogether. Why? Why did it have to be this human woman that he said those words to?

"If you fall, I can let you down easy," she said. "If you leave your heart with me tonight, I promise you that I'm gonna treat it right." She smiled again, lacing her fingers with his.

"I'm barely hanging on." His words were whispered, a confession that was meant only for her. I dropped to my knees as they kissed once more.

"If you fall, I can let you down easy," she promised him. They stayed together for several more minutes, completely ignorant of the life at their feet.

"Come on," Sho finally said, stepping back just a little. "Let's go. We have an early flight back to America in the morning." He brought one of her hands up and kissed it gently. "Thank you for coming to meet my family."

She smiled softly, following his tugging. "Anything for the man I'm going to marry. It wasn't any trouble. You're moving back to Arizona with me. It was the least I could do to come meet your family." She traced patterns on his back as they walked. "It's a bit sad they won't be able to come for the wedding."

Sho nodded. "It's understandable, though. Aunt Sadako is too old to be flying and Haru refuses to leave her side." He chuckled. "She doesn't trust the nursing staff to properly take care of Sadako."

Sho had invited Haru to the wedding? But Haru was the one who had nearly destroyed my family!

"Oh!" The woman stopped and looked around the house. "You still never showed me where you played those imaginary games you always tell the school kids about. You know, the ones with the little people that steal things from normal people to furnish their little houses?" Sho gave her an odd look before recognition lit his eyes.

"Oh! The borrowers? Okay." He stopped and looked around. I felt like I was being strangled. My whole family and I had been left as only fragments of an imaginary game to him?

I wanted to scream, shout, curse him. I wanted to run out from under the table and scare the ignorant woman, to remind Sho that I was real.

I wanted…

I wanted…

But I couldn't move. I was locked into this position as Sho pointed out all his old "imagination spots."

"That's very descriptive, Sho. You ought to write a book," she giggled, still clinging to him.

"Nah." He shook his head. "Who'd want to read a book based off the imaginary games of a sick and lonely twelve year old boy?"

"I would!" She laughed as they started back towards the door. He picked up his phone and she grabbed her heels. Neither let go of the other's hand.

"C'mon, love," Sho said, scooping her into his arms effortlessly. "Let's go back to the hotel. Did you enjoy your day here?"

The woman squealed when he picked her up. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feet kicked into the air. I covered my ears from the nose she made and wanted to close my eyes to the sight. But I couldn't.

"Sho! I can walk just fine on my own," she protested.

"I know." He grinned. "But I love to carry you. Now, tell me, did you enjoy your day?"

This wasn't right. She should be carrying me. He should be showing me all his old haunts, introducing me to his family. Not this interloper.

"Of course I did. I'm with you aren't I?" She smiled and I wanted to strangle her.

I saw Sho's hand on the doorknob. The late evening sun created a halo of light around him. If I was going to do anything, I needed to do it now.

I struggled to my feet and ran from under the table.

"Sho!" The woman and I said his name at the same time. All his attention was focused on her.

My legs burned as I ran with everything I had, trying to reach them.

"Oh, Sho! It's almost seven. We promised to meet Aunt Sadako for dinner at seven-thirty."

Sho grinned. "Don't worry. I know a couple short cuts. We'll be right on time." He opened the door and headed towards the sleek, silver car parked outside.

No! He couldn't leave yet. I hadn't said anything to him! I hadn't had my chance. He was my life!

"Sho!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. He had to hear me! He just had to.

He paused and seemed to listen for a minute. Yes! It worked.

"What's wrong? You spaced out for a second." She waved he hand in front of his face. "Earth to Sho!"

Sho blinked and seemed to shake himself off. He smiled down at the woman. "I'm fine. Just thinking. This place brings back a lot of memories."

"I'm sure it does. But this set of memories is getting hungry and I suggest we hit the road. Especially if we want to have any hope of being on time for dinner." She reached up and tugged a bit on his ear. "Mister I'm-always-late."

Sho laughed aloud and crossed the threshold.

No! No! it wasn't fair! I was almost there. Oh please, please, please hear this last call.

"Sho!" It was all the breath I had left in my body but I kept running anyway.

He was closing the door as I screamed. I didn't know if he heard me over the persistent squeal of the old hinges. I ran harder, digging deeper as I tried my best to get there in time.

The door closed fully just as I reached it. I couldn't stop soon enough and slammed into it. I slumped to the floor with a groan. My head spun as I dimly heard the locks turn far above me.

"No," I sobbed. "Please, please no. Please come back. Come back to me, Sho."

But he didn't.