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“I think it’s a good kind of nervous though.” Cornell eyed her. “Did I give you butterflies?”
Ali’s mouth tipped into a smile. “Don’t be silly. You gave me lightning bugs.”
They walked further down the hall, stopping at a glass wall. “Wow,” Ali said, taking in the lines and lines of cocoons hanging on the other side of the glass. “I didn’t realize there would be so many.”
Cornell glanced at a poster. “They don’t live very long,” he said, reading. “A few weeks.”
Ali frowned. “That’s not fair. Seems like a lot of time spent in the dark and not much time to enjoy what comes after.”
Leaning down on the railing, Cornell shrugged. “Maybe when you’ve spent so much time in the dark, you appreciate the time in the light a hell of a lot more.” When she stayed silent, Cornell turned to her. “What are you thinking?”
Ali shook her head. “I think I would be a good fit working with high school kids.”
What?
“A change of scenery, you know? It would help. I’ve worked at Hopperville for seven years. That’s a long time.”
He didn’t know after the tumultuous time in her office if Ali meant it when she told him she didn’t want to work at Hopperville anymore. But in the sober moment on a clear day, Cornell understood she did. But you’re the heart of that place. It doesn’t just beat differently because of you. It beats because of you. But Cornell didn’t want to open the door for harder things on a lighter day. If I’m going to promise to love her for better or worse, I’m going to have to stand by her when I think she’s making a wrong decision.
“Whatever you want,” he told her.
Ali nodded beside him, still focusing on the cocoons. “Do you think they know what happens when they go in there?”
“What? That they’ll only have a few weeks to live after they get out?”
Ali shook her head and looked up at him for a moment before returning her eyes to the glass. “No. That life is better on the other side.”
“Maybe. Part of them probably knows if you grow in the dark, then you really shine in the light.”
Sighing, Ali leaned against him. “I don’t know if I want to do the growing in the dark stage by myself,” she admitted softly. “I’d rather skip to the good part.”
Cornell bent his elbows on the railing so they were shoulder to shoulder. “I’m just on the other side of the cocoon,” he whispered, nudging her. “I promise.” I’d be in there with you if I could.Deep in the dark, holding you until we get to the good part.
Ali nodded and tilted her head against his. “I know,” she said. “I know you are. And I’m sorry I haven’t been the easiest person to deal with.”
Cornell shook his head and reached for her chin. “We’re in it together, okay? For better or worse.”
Laughing, Ali smiled sadly. “Those are marriage vows.”
“I know.” Cornell kissed her and smiled against her mouth. “When we get to the marriage part, you’ll already know how much I mean it.”
* * *
Later that night, Cornell felt a dribble on his arm. He opened his eyes, noticing it was lukewarm beer, that he had fallen asleep on the couch watching Sportscenter. But he hadn’t been the one to tip the beer over. Mowgli nudged his head against the glass again.
“What’s wrong with you?” Cornell asked groggily before righting the bottle. He lifted his head to toss his shirt to the floor, too tired from the heavy sleep to even get up and go to bed. He caught sight of the time on the receiver. It was nearly two in the morning.
Mowgli whined and nudged Cornell again. “Mowgli—”
And that’s when he shut his mouth, unsure if he had heard it. But he did.
There was screaming.
Ali was screaming—shrieking.
Cornell jumped off the couch and raced to their room before he even fully opened his eyes. He flipped on the light. “Ali,” he said gently but firmly as he approached with his mouth agape at the sight of Ali on her stomach, her hands pressed to the mattress, lifting only to slam herself down again, as if she wasn’t able to hold herself up.
Or as if someone was pushing her down.
