Rescuers

The television was a lazy blue in the dark room.

They were watching an animated film about two mice looking for a missing girl. It reminded Ned of a different movie, about a woman with a circle of rich friends who went missing.

This movie was stupid. It was perfect.

Meerka sat on the far end of the couch. Then the middle. Then, slowly, she was leaning against his arm.

-These mice are so silly.

Meerka watched the screen. The mice were asking questions.

-They’ll find the girl because it’s a cartoon.

She closed her eyes. Her breathing slowed down. Her head got heavy on his shoulder.

Ned sat very still. He held his wine glass in his other hand and just looked at it, not wanting to move.

He watched the credits roll. He watched the screen turn black.

He looked at Meerka. She was sleeping so calmly.

He put the glass down. He slid his arm under her knees. He lifted her up.

She murmured something, but she didn't wake up. She was light but these things were always heavy.

He carried her upstairs. He put her in the bed. He pulled the sheet up.

The morning crept up on him.

Meerka woke up. The house was silent.

She sat up, panic rising for a second. The old reflex.

Then she saw the nightstand.

A glass of water. A folded piece of paper.

She opened it. Ned’s handwriting was jagged. Sharp.

Coffee is in the pot. I went to the bank. The world is still here.

Meerka smiled. She lay back down against the pillow.

The world was still here.