Smell.

  Ever nuzzled her messy, brown hair. He breathed in, getting lost by finding his way home.

  Taste.

  He scooted back a little, lifting her locks draped over the pillow trimmed with lace, exposing her neck. It curved like a secret path through a valley that only he knew. He kissed it, tasting his and her salt on her skin.

  Touch.

  He allowed his hands to freely explore her body. If her neck was a valley, her hips were the earth on which he would happily walk upon forever… if he had the chance to.

  Sight.

  She mumbled, then breathed in deeply, sighing away her slumber. She turned around to face her lover. The sun had risen but once again, clouds held back her rays. The light filtering in through the curtains shone grey, just enough to see her.

  Hearing.

  “Good morning, ice cream boy.” Her eyes glimmered with a light of their own. He closed the short gap between them, kissing her on the lips only for her to pull away a couple seconds in. “Sorry, it’s not you,” she said. “Well it sort of is, but it’s me too. No one likes morning breath.”

  She squealed as she hopped out of bed, Ever raking the air as he failed to grab her. He couldn’t help but watch her jiggle as she went around the bed, opening the door.

  ^Oh hello, Zoe!^ Mimi barked, looking up at the vet. She cocked her head. ^Where’s all of your fur?^

  “Hello Mimi,” Zoe said, giving the dog an awkward pat with the sole of her right foot before hurrying to the bathroom.

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  Zoe scampered inside, looking up at Ever. ^You don’t have your sleep fur either,^ she barked and panted.

  “Yes…” Ever said. “We didn’t really need it last night. We were…” he relived a few select experiences before remembering that his dog was still there, “keeping each other warm.”

  ^Oh, that’s good. Hey, can you feed me?^

  —--

  “Why is she looking at us?” Zoe asked.

  Mimi chewed through her mouthful of food, barked a few times, then went back to her food.

  “She says ‘I’ll let you sit in my spot just for today, Zoe’,” Ever translated.

  Zoe twisted a little looking at Ever. “For real? That’s what she actually said?”

  “For real.”

  “So you’d sit here,” she said, patting the arm rests, “and she’d sit on you?”

  “Well, less on me and more between me and the side of the arm chair. She’s a bit smaller than you.”

  “Mmm-hmm… hey.” She reached over to the side table, grabbing something. “Let’s break this open.” She waved a Christmas cracker in front of him. “Grab one end tight.” Ever did as he was told.

  “Three… two… one…” He blinked hard as Zoe pulled. “Look, you won!” In his hand was the majority of the cracker while Zoe only had a short end.

  “What do I win?”

  “Tip it and let’s see what’s inside.” Ever shook the contents of the cracker out. There was a papier maché crown, a brain puzzle and a little plastic figurine of a black cat.

  “Hey,” he said, holding up the last item, “this looks a bit like Nika.”

  “He’s gone,” Zoe said. “Probably went back to the clinic.”

  Speaking of going… Death said, clearing a throat he didn’t have. It’s reaping time, come outside in ten.

  Ever groaned. Today? Of all days?

  “What?” Zoe asked.

  “It’s Death,” Ever said. “I’ve got to work.”

  “Oh.” She rolled off the chair over the armrest. “Well, don’t keep your boss waiting now. I’d hate for you to lose this job too.”

  “He’s my mentor, not my boss,” Ever said, getting up. “And I don’t think he would fire me.”