Well, I wrote this based on an experience I had. It's posted on the website, but I figures that I might as well post it here too, for any non-HBP members (PS. Registration is open again, if you're interested in joining).
How's My Heart
We walk up the stairs and turn left into my room, he closes the door softly behind us and locks it with a soft click. I sit on the bed as he approaches, but instead of sitting beside me, he remains standing. I look up at him, in question and he smiles warmly, bending down slightly to place a soft kiss on my lips. He moves closer then, and placing a hand on my cheek, guides my head so that my ear lands in the perfect place on his chest. I sigh contentedly, closing my eyes as I listen to his heart. The slow beats relax me, and I feel a wave of peace sweep over me as I listen.
Several minutes pass, and I move my head to gaze up at him, wordlessly appreciating the act. He takes another step closer to me and I hear a soft thudding noise. He looks slightly perplexed and says, "It looks like there's something under your bed,". He bends and slides something out from under the bed then picks it up, setting it in front of me. I feel a blush rising in my cheeks as I realize what he found.
It was an old cardboard box, unadorned, the type that once had held shoes or maybe the pair of headphones I bought online a year ago. Nothing really unique about it. However, time had passed, and it had become the home for my secrets.
His hand hovers over the lid and he looks at me with curiosity in his eyes, "Can I?" He asks.
My heart begins to pound, and my mind races, "What if he judges me? What if he decides that he can't handle this?" I think. I finally say a soft "yeah" and turn away, ashamed to see his reaction.
I hear the lid slide off and some rustling as he looks through the contents. After about a minute, he says, "What's this?" and I hear him slide something out of the box. I turn to him, afraid of what he might have found.
He has a small smile on his face and when I look down, my purple stethoscope is in his hands. I sigh in relief and smile back at him. "Can I try it out?" He asks me.
I shrug my shoulders, but nod, and he eagerly slips the ear pieces in and places the disk on my chest. I jump a little at the sudden coolness, and study his face. He moves it around a bit, before finally settling slightly to the right of my breast. He grins, "It's a little bit fast, can you take a few deep breaths, and try to relax a bit."
"Yes, doctor," I joke, but I comply.
The smile on his face is quickly replaced by a look of awe, "Wow, I can even hear your breathing," he says, seeming fascinated by it. Another minute passes, and finally he takes the stethoscope off. I open my mouth to explain everything else, when, to my surprise, he hands it to me, "Do you want a turn?" He asks me.
I take it from him and place the disk on his chest, relaxing again as I hear his heart beating strongly, although slightly quicker than before. I move it, to listen at another spot, marveling at how the sound changes. I place the disc again and listen some more, before finally setting aside the stethoscope. He pushes it aside, "How's my heart?" He asks me, seriously.
"It sounds really good, a little bit quick, but very strong," I reply.
"Good," he says, placing it back in the box and putting the lid on again. He quickly slides it back under my bed and then lays down on his back, motioning for me to lay with him. "I love you," he says softly as I place my head gently on his chest, right over his heart. "I love you too," I tell him, pulling a blanket over us, and closing my eyes. I feel myself being lulled to sleep by the slow rhythm of his heartbeat, and allow myself to sink into sleep.
