Ralph and the Pixie

Before she could accomplish this, he got up, took one of his blankets, wrapped her in it, bundled up her clothes and placed them in her hands, and began propelling her towards the door.

‘If you do not take me,’ she protested, ‘I will start screaming. I will tell everyone that you have ravished me! Please, do not shame me like this-’

‘Nevana,’ he said, ‘I am simply too tired for this. Go ahead and scream all you like, but I am not going to sleep with you, just like that-’

‘Then when?’

‘For pity’s sake, Nevana, let me get some sleep! I can’t think right now, and I’m not going to be pushed into making any sort of decision while I’m this tired.’

‘Tomorrow, then,’ she pouted, leaning against him, looking disturbingly unflustered for a girl who was naked beneath a light blanket. ‘Promise me we will speak of this matter tomorrow.’

He sighed, holding onto the doorframe.

‘Right now, I need sleep.’

With an unsettlingly vindicated look, she smiled, and left. He closed the door behind her, and went back to bed.

The room, he noticed, suddenly felt very empty.