The Madness

I nestled deeper into the bed, pleading for sleep to overcome me. It was the same thing every single night. Nothing ever changed. I wrapped my comforter tighter around me willing the plush softness to lull me into a false sense of security. But slumber, as always, eluded me.

Not again, I thought to myself. I can't remember the last time I got a full night's rest. Tossing and turning, and tossing some more, I finally gave in and threw the covers to the other half of the bed. No point in forcing sleep for the umpteenth time. I haven't slept in what felt like months. Ever since the incident...

I threw my legs off of the bed and willed my body to stand as I pushed the dreadful memory out of my mind. No point of me dwelling in the past. I might as well let sleeping dogs lie. I scurried down the hall toward the kitchen. A cold glass of milk and cookies would do me some good right about now. I ate my fill of chocolate chip cookies before an unanticipated yawn slipped out of my mouth. I placed my cup and my plate in the kitchen sink and sluggishly made my way back to bed.

"Hey, handsome. Are you finally going to join me?" she asked. Throwing the blankets aside, she patted my side of the bed invitingly. She didn't have to ask me twice. Seeing her lying there in the silky red nightie that I loved to see her in, I skipped toward the bed and jumped in like the floor was lava. This is what I needed.

She quickly threw the comforter over me, pulling my body closer to hers. I could smell the sweet smell of her coconut shampoo as the scent wafted up my nostrils. I wrapped my arms around her completely encompassing her small frame with my ginormous body.

"I love you so much", I whispered against her hair.

Her body was surprisingly cold, sending shivers up and down my spine. She nestled her head under my chin, breathing me in deeper with every inhale. Man, I loved this woman.

As we laid there together, two lovers entwined, I was happy in a haze of a drunken stupor. My eyelids grew heavier than lead, and my breathing slowed. My ice-cold queen was in my arms again, and there is no other place I'd rather be than here. With her. And her with me. I sighed in relief as sweet sleep finally took over.

7 weeks later

Detective Hughes covered his nose with the yellow stained handkerchief he pulled out of his pocket. It was bleach white when he first got it, but after years of use, it turned a sickening shade of bile-yellow. He would never get used to this damn smell.

"What do we got here?" - He directed his question toward Officer Lim.

The young officer turned toward him and shook her head. "It's nothing but a tragedy", she reported solemnly. "39 year old Gregory Dune hasn't been seen in weeks. We're interviewing the neighbours now. Most of them thought he went out of town to be with family." She turned away from Detective Hughes and gazed at the bed. "That is -- that is until the smell, of course."

Detective Hughes stared at the figure on the bed. What once was a man, now appeared to be nothing but a heap of flesh melting into the fabrics tossed about. He took a few steps forward to get a better look at the figure and squinted.

"What's he holding on to there?" He asked, confused.

"It seems to be a silky dress, or a sheet. It's hard to tell, though." Officer Lim responded.

"Do you suspect foul play?" the detective queried. "What's this guy's story?"

"There are no signs of breaking and entering as far as we've deduced. The guy was a bit of a loner, actually. He kept to himself, and rarely spoke to his neighbours." She paused to remove the lint from her blouse.

"His wife went missing over a year ago, believe it or not. Her body was pulled out of the lake in the spring. Still no suspects, though. But ever since they found her body, he's become even more of a recluse. He quit his job not long after that and rarely left the house altogether. As I said, nobody has seen him for weeks."

"And no one will ever see him again", the detective said under his breath as he turned to leave.

"Bag him up", he said a bit louder directing the demand toward the young officer. "We'll send him down to the examiner's office to see what else we can find out about our poor ol' boy".

Another day, another case to solve, Detective Hughes thought to himself as he made his way toward the kitchen.