HER CHEMISE

Words by Jessica Ahrens 
Art by Jeida Sade 

“Dolly, do you love me?” her husband asked, laid more than comfortably in their bed. 

“Of course I do, darling,” Dolly responded as she donned her porcelain satin slip, embellished with the finest lace and gold thread. 

“Then why do I only ever see you at night?” 

Dolly paused as she powdered her face, brushed her fair locks, and gave a light chuckle. 

“You know the sunlight burns my skin.” 

Her skin, nearly translucent, was the star’s enemy. Any blush registered within moments of the flare, though at the moment, none appeared. Her complexion leaned bluish, balance just off in the spectrum. The humble blonde spun her hair into a light bun before returning to the doorway of the bedroom, leaning her weight against her arm. 

“Then why not stay inside during the day?” her husband inquired in a husked tone. “We’ve only been wed a month, and most hours you are gone like a ghost. Where do you go? Are you entertaining another family?” 

Her husband sat up on their comforter and brushed back his crop, glancing over at his wrinkled tie hanging from the doorknob. In his pajamas, he was much less imposing, sickled with innocence. 

“Heavens no, darling,” Dolly cooed as she moved to embrace her husband. His back was slick with a light spray of sweat. 

“Then what?” 

Dolly twirled to the window, her skirt blowing as if there was a draft, before she cracked open the panes. Hints of dandelion smiles flowed in with the cool blow. 

“I can’t be caged like a bird, now, can I?” 

A pit seemed to open in her husband’s brow. 

“No, of course not.” 

Again, Dolly spun, this time plopping herself in bed beside her lonesome spouse.

“Then you understand why it’s like this,” Dolly grinned. 

Her husband sighed as he brushed Dolly’s arm with his scarred palm. 

“Why must you keep secrets?” 

“Because the world runs on them.” 

They embraced in a long entanglement of lips. As her husband lifted her dress to expose her breast, gravity fell the chemise to his hand, and Dolly was nowhere to be found. Only a petal of gold in the moonlight.