"the cold comfort of the in-between"

[another_zek]

as alyosha made his way across the square towards her, samantha's bright smile turned to a look of concern.
s. "oh god, what happened?"
a. "i hit a cat."
he winced as she gently touched at the wound on the left side of his face.
s. "what do you mean you 'hit a cat'?"
a. "well, actually, it hit me. darted straight out the bushes along the side of the trail; it was dark so i didn't see it before it was too late. got its head caught in the spokes of my front tire, and i flew over the handlebars."
s. "that's awful!"
alyosha winced again.
s. "...was the cat ok?"
a. "no. it was still alive, barely. i had to kill it with a rock i found nearby. i couldn't just leave it there to suffer."
s. "oh..."
a. "yeah..."

.....

noticing the time on the clock, samantha let out a deep yawn.
s. "why do i always become sleep deprived when i'm around you?"
a. "then go to sleep."
s. "no."
she sleepily kicked at his leg with her foot.
alyosha was later going suggest that they watch the sunrise from her balcony, but they both eventually fell asleep before he got the chance.