Ouroboros Spine even now you mark my steps

She got up — which was an improvement. Still not quite good enough for him. His stomach twisted to see her so out of sorts, and then so defensive. He could taste the lie just as well as if she'd kissed him. He gave a calm, tacit little nod of acknowledgement, but what he said then was,

"You ain't, though."

Not arguing! He believed firmly that both things could be true! He could pretend with her — as long as she pretended with him, too. If they could humor each other, they'd be alright.

He prayed she would humor him, today.

"You ain't been sleepin' too well," he hazarded. He'd noticed it a couple nights, but he hadn't put two and two together until now. He felt guilty then for letting things get this way. He should've taken better care of her!