NINETY-TWO

That night, sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned in bed, yawning and rubbing my eyes but I still couldn’t sleep. I counted sheep, blinked my eyes many times but it was already past midnight yet no sleep. My body was tired but my mind refused to shut down.

I was reaching for my phone to pass time when the door creaked open and my mate came in. He paused when he saw me stretching my hand to the bedside table.

“You’re awake,” he muttered in surprise.

“And you’re here,” I answered without a shred of warmth in my tone.

“Did you stay up to wait for me?” He asked as he walked towards the bed. I cut him a sharp glare as he got closer.

“Why would I?” I knew that he got home late at night and most times he left before I woke up but after the first night of trying and failing to stay up to wait for him, I no longer bothered myself to wait. It was clear that he was avoiding me.

“Why are you still awake then?” He asked. “Couldn’t sleep?” A tinge of concern warmed his tone.

“Do you care?” I f