the pungent smell of dirt assaulted my nostrils as i entered her home.

      the multi-colored carpet held crumbs of unknown food and things i necessarily didn't need to know about.

 i looked left to see  the walls  were painted a mint green, and the white curtains drifting in the breeze by the window.

  the tv was small, and something you would've seen in the 1980's.

    i couldn't have been in more love with this house.

    "i'm sorry, it's an absolute pigpen," she apologized as she walked forward, her black sweatpants dragging behind her ankles.

   "it's not. i feel right at home," i stuttered, "i mean, this is a homey home."

     "a homey home?"

      "yeah, you know. I feel at home even thought it's not my home."

       she mumbled something, but I was too distracted by her brilliant blue eyes.

"where are your parents?"

"work", she said. "they're never home."

i gave an uncomfortable nod.

she took the yellow rose from my hand and placed it in a plastic cup.

she then filled the cup up with water.

"sorry, we don't have any vases."

i smiled.

"the winnie the pooh cup works perfectly," i stated.

"really? it looks hideous."

"that's the thing about beauty-you find it in the most unexpected places."

cover by LotteHolder