The Cowboy and the Mermaid

The Cowboy and the Mermaid

After dinner Dwight shows Lorelei a cat video which she enjoys. Lorelei calls KoolAid out and Dwight enjoys chatting with KoolAid again.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7897/46649471884_78f58f8024_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7893/32430946997_214366cf84_b.jpg

They decide to walk over to Micks to see if anyone is performing. No performances tonight and the place is quiet and almost deserted. They go upstairs with Dwight carefully taking the steps one at a time and play one of the arcade games. They are both competitors and play fiercely attacking each others space ships and planets. The face of the winner and the face of the loser tells the story.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7854/46649471674_5b8a5aae46_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7868/46649471564_054150230c_b.jpg

Back at Dwight's place they sit outside and watch the stars in the sky. Dwight tells her about the visit to his doctor. He knows he is falling head over heels in love with her. He wants her to know just how damaged he is and the risks she would face if she is falling in love with him. He also talks about the depression and how he abused his pills and alcohol to try and cope with his pain and depression. He wants her to know the worst, praying that she would be able to accept him and want to continue exploring their relationship. He wants so badly to hold her, to kiss her and let her know just how he feels about her. He wants her to have time to know all the good and the bad before going further though. He knows if she cannot deal with what he has told her, it will be easier on his heart if he waits.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7894/46519545455_0401fe9ab3_b.jpg

She holds his hand and moves closer to him. With tears in her eyes she asks him questions about the accident and his long stay in the hospital. Because of the head injury and coma he can only tell her what he was told. He hesitantly mentions his beloved horse that had to be put down, and he did not know for several weeks after he awakened because his friends were afraid of how he would take it. She tells him he was lucky to have such good friends to be with him and help him cope. She is surprised they let him leave to a new place all alone.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7863/46519545405_5cdaed282a_b.jpg
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7887/47434684971_444984a6ba_b.jpg

He explains everyone, including himself felt he would be better starting over somewhere new since he could no longer ride and train horses because of the injuries. He used the pills and alcohol to help him cope with his losses. He is glad it is dark and she can't see his face and how ashamed he is of that weakness. He stopped the pills and booze cold turkey after something strange happened one night. It made him see that he wasn't ready to give up on his life and needed to get off the pills and booze. He did not explain about the mermaid in the pool.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7880/47434685921_97d98983d4_b.jpg

Lorelei knows that she has deep feelings for Dwight. She finds it difficult to concentrate on work thinking about him. She knows she is falling in love with him and it feels wonderful. What Dwight has experienced does not change those feelings. It does help her understand what he has been through and why he has that sad look in his eyes at times. She holds her arm around him and promises him she will be there for him. He is not alone anymore. She wants to kiss him and hold him closer to her, but, she thinks he needs more time. She hopes in her heart that he is feeling the same about her. Her heart races madly when they are together and it is hard not to just pounce on him and show him just how much she does care about him. She offers to give him massages every day when he needs them after his exercise session. Dwight loves that idea and hopes his body can handle that closeness from her without embarrassing him or her.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7925/46711612834_3f4827af4e_b.jpg

The sky begins to lighten and they realize they have talked most of the night. Dwight is very stiff when he tries to stand and Lorelei helps him after she gets up. They hug each other. Dwight thanks her for listening to him and Lorelei thanks him for trusting her with his story. She reminds him to soak for a bit in the tub before getting in bed to loosen his tight muscles so he will sleep better.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7898/46711613724_330983295e_b.jpg