There's only so much I can fake. [There's only so much that I can prove.]
[Abandon]
His entire life has been a Technicolor scene from Willy Wonka. It’s all too bright and fake to be real. He knows that and watching Rita with the kids only intensifies the impression. She laughs from where she’s pushing Cody on the swing and waves at Dexter. He waves back, smile pasted to his face and he’s certain there’s no hint of what he is underneath. She thinks he’s genuine and he knows he’s enacting a movie when he places his hands on her hips from behind and presses a kiss to the top of her head. She leans into him with a smile and he takes over pushing Cody. He’s waylaid moments later by Astor. She’s still small enough that most people would crouch to speak to her but he stands, looking down, his hand on top of her head.
“Dexter can we go get ice cream?”
“Mom said it was up to you,” Cody chimes from where he’s scrambling down from the swing. Dexter looks to Rita for confirmation and she nods.
“Well then, I guess we’ll have ice cream.”
There is a chorus of glee and Dexter feels like he’s outside again. The movie is going according to script because the reality is too grisly for PG audiences. Astor grabs one hand, Cody grabs the other and they drag him toward the car. Dexter looks back to Rita for help and she just laughs, tagging along behind him.
Sometimes he wishes he could abandon his true nature for them and sometimes he just wants to escape to it. This particular moment is weighted with both desires.
His entire life has been a Technicolor scene from Willy Wonka. It’s all too bright and fake to be real. He knows that and watching Rita with the kids only intensifies the impression. She laughs from where she’s pushing Cody on the swing and waves at Dexter. He waves back, smile pasted to his face and he’s certain there’s no hint of what he is underneath. She thinks he’s genuine and he knows he’s enacting a movie when he places his hands on her hips from behind and presses a kiss to the top of her head. She leans into him with a smile and he takes over pushing Cody. He’s waylaid moments later by Astor. She’s still small enough that most people would crouch to speak to her but he stands, looking down, his hand on top of her head.
“Dexter can we go get ice cream?”
“Mom said it was up to you,” Cody chimes from where he’s scrambling down from the swing. Dexter looks to Rita for confirmation and she nods.
“Well then, I guess we’ll have ice cream.”
There is a chorus of glee and Dexter feels like he’s outside again. The movie is going according to script because the reality is too grisly for PG audiences. Astor grabs one hand, Cody grabs the other and they drag him toward the car. Dexter looks back to Rita for help and she just laughs, tagging along behind him.
Sometimes he wishes he could abandon his true nature for them and sometimes he just wants to escape to it. This particular moment is weighted with both desires.