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Cold Hands
by
H. Diggory
When I open my eyes you are sitting up in bed staring at me, you smile and reach
out to touch my cheek. I kiss your fingers and say ‘hello poppet’. Poppet is my
nickname for you. I have already forgotten my solemn promise to stop talking to
you like an infant; I ask forgiveness, you give it to me as long as I never do
it again.
We were very busy yesterday and both of us were exhausted when we returned home.
You didn’t even utter a sound when I dared to undress you, wash the muck off
your face and pull a clean t-shirt over you head. All you wanted was me, to draw
you close and hold you in my arms.
Now both of us are awake and you are kneeling on the bed with your thin arms
outstretched for another cuddle. I can not resist and I take you into my arms. I
do not need an excuse to touch you again even though you are so young, barely
formed I want to touch every inch of you and my hands sweep across your back,
then to your neck. My fingertips discover the folds behind your knees, the
dimple at the base of your spine and the cleft in between your buttocks; I
linger at every opportunity and savour all the diverse textures of your body. A
thrill passes through me; I shiver with delight.
‘Mummy why are your hands always cold?
I smile and say nothing.
I marvel at how flawless you are, skin the colour of cream, almost translucent
with only a splatter of freckles across your snub nose. Others maintain you are
a reflection of me, I can not see it, I am old, you are stunning. So stunning I
am always helpless when I stare too deep into your steel blue eyes. You reach up
to stroke my hair. My fingertips caress the incline behind one of your ears
where the skin is soft and dusted with golden frosting. If I had the choice I
would stay here forever and breathe in the scent that somehow lingers in your
pale hair, city smoke accentuated by the perfume of hamburger grease, tobacco,
alcohol and human sweat; I try and raise myself upwards.
You have other plans. You find the hollow in my neck, it tightens and I know
what you want. Then you lie down on the bed and look up at me with expectant
eyes, your mouth is slightly open and your tongue flickers like a baby bird
ready to be fed. You are hungry and need something to eat
You do not have the strength to inflict the first bite, so I do it for you as I
sink my teeth into my own wrist and make a small tear. A spurt of blood
transforms you and you grab hold of my arm and haul it towards your lips. You
have no mercy; you are hungry and desperately need what I give you. Other
mothers’ give their children milk from their breasts, what I give is so much
better, I give you my blood. We lie back, together, you suck at my wrist, I
always instruct you not to drink too much and you always smile. I tell you how
much I love you; you wipe your mouth with the back of your hand and call me
mummy, I kiss you and hold you in my arms and stroke your hair. As you dress and
wash your face I promise a tourist to feed on, something more exotic to expand
your palate. You clap your hands with joy; I tie back your hair into a pony tail
with a cream ribbon. You stand before me, perfect, an angel in pink and white. I
look at you, my child.
You are perfect.
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