Lily & Edgar

	
		
		Lily ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. 
	
	     “Edgar,” she called out as she reached the bedroom door. 
				  
	        "You still working?”
	
	   Morning light streamed into the hallway from a high window. 
				 
	    It filtered through pine branches, making shadow and 
		  
            light play over a black cat on the window seat at the end of 
			
              the hall. She called the cat's name and it opened one eye 
			  
               and stretched, sinking claws into a crimson pillow.
			  
                   “I'm going to Sean's for breaky. Do you want to come?
					  
		       . . . Edgar?” 
	
                        She drummed her fingers on the door.
	
                             “I'm swamped." he said. "I'll
							 
                                grab something later."
			  
			
			
	
	

		
	





             She pictured him, hunched at his desk, hands curled over the 
		  
             keyboard, eyes straining at the screen. 
		   
            "When's your deadline?" she asked.
			   
                "Yesterday!" 
				
              She shook her head. "Muse?"
					
                 "Lost! Send her my way if you see her."
					   
                Lily laughed, like water over smooth pebbles. 
					 
               "Maybe she's . . ." She stopped mid-sentence, her 
					
                  eyes darting to the window. 
					 
                    A sudden movement swayed the pine branch, light
					 
                      chasing shadow all around the hall. 
					  
                        “You’re back,” she said. "Right on cue." 
	
                    
   

   
   
	
	
	
	
             A raven perched above her, his head cocked to the side, 
	
             pale eye unblinking. The sun in her feathers made her shine 
			   
             like mother of pearl. As her black legs tightened their hold, 
			
            she opened her mouth, fanned her wings, and let out a raucous caw, 
		 
             loud even through the thick glass.
			 
               Lily smiled at her before bending to pick up the cat. She gave
			   
               a last tap on the door as she brushed past. 
				
                 "I think you'll get it done now, Eddy."
					
                The raven’s voice filled the stairwell as she descended.
						
                  "Ever more," she said, and kissed the top
                
                        of the little cat's head.
						
                                "Ever more."