The Grease Trap

Shea understood. She stopped to lean against a building her back chilled quickly on the cold stone structure.

" Oh. I see. " And she did, all too well.
Not knowing who her real family is, Shea often felt as is she didn't have one in the first place. Most of the time she force a smile and played along as if everything was peachy when inside she was toppling over. Shea let her head fall downwards as she thought about her mother and father so many miles away always calling her and asking if she's found a man yet. Didn't they know freaks like her couldn't ever find a man or have a family of their own.
With a small sigh Shea rubbed her forehead.

Damon gingerly touched her chin, encouraging her to look up. When she did, he pulled his hand back, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. "You have so much on your shoulders for such a young woman." He did not know what she was dealing with, but there was something. It was plain as day.

A smile lightened her face at Damon's tender touch. She looked up at his handsome and caring face.
" You have no idea. " Sometime she even wondered how she stood with the weight.

" My family lives many miles from here. So I can understand. Missing the people you care for. "

Shea bounced off the wall and started walking once again.

"Loss is painful, but it becomes easier to manage as time passes." Damon was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "The family I knew has been gone since before your great grandparents were born. My linage ended only a couple of decades ago. They were not my children, but my sister's."

He rarely talked about his past, especially his family. However, he felt comfortable sharing with her and saw no harm in it.

"You will find it becomes easier. Trust me. Not the loss itself, but coping with it." He paused. "I used to avoid anything that reminded me of my family. Now I cherish it."

Damon wrote:"Loss is painful, but it becomes easier to manage as time passes." Damon was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "The family I knew has been gone since before your great grandparents were born. My linage ended only a couple of decades ago. They were not my children, but my sister's."

He rarely talked about his past, especially his family. However, he felt comfortable sharing with her and saw no harm in it.

"You will find it becomes easier. Trust me. Not the loss itself, but coping with it." He paused. "I used to avoid anything that reminded me of my family. Now I cherish it."

Shea felt a light blush when he spoke.
" It does I believe you, but for the time being the loneliness, it well eats at you. "
Shea turned to face him, saddened by his pain.
" I am sorry, Damon. " She walked over and placed a delicate hand on his shoulder in comfort. " Have you thought of having a family? Something to carry your family on? "

She was curious, yet calming as she spoke. Shea could understand cherishing the memory of family. She does it often though they still live.

Damon shook his head. "I am not capable of having a normal family. The only blood line I can create anymore is through turning a human. Its something you learn to live with when one is no longer human."

" Oh. "

Shea felt a pang of sorrow for this lost man. A soul who gave and asked for nothing in return. It wasn't she felt bad for him but shared his sadness and wished she could help him.

" Oh Damon, I-I don't know what to say. "

Instead she clutched him by the shoulders and embraced him in a hug, her arms wrapping around his broad shoulders.

Damon was surprised. In a good way. She was caring, and toward a man she barely knew. It was a rarity.

He gently hugged her in return. "It is alright. I have grown used to the thought. Plus there is always living vicariously through others. It is oddly calming to watch human friends experience a normal life."

Shea retreated from their embrace and gave him a warming smile.
" You don't get jealous? "
Shea wondered knowing she'd be greener than grass if in his position.
" Well I mean it's great you have an outlet but still... "

"I was jealous at first. Most of my kind is. But the jealousy fades. You learn to accept your lot in life."

" well I can see why. Rather live happy than envious. "

Shea began walking again, the chill biting into her through thin sleeves.

" What do you do with all your time? "

Damon could feel her skin temperature drop, so being the gentleman that he was, he placed his jacket around her shoulders. "I buy and sell art for a living. I still play my old guitar sometimes." He trailed off. "My house sits right on the beach. Watching the sun rise and set is beautiful."

" So pretty much you live the bachelors dream. "

Shea laughed feeling the mood lighten.

Damon laughed at the statement. "I guess so, yes."

Shea looked around and noticed they were now in her neighborhood, and in fact Shea could see her apartment building. As they walked closer to it, the smell of a 24/7 shop grabbed her attention. In particular the smell of a chocolate danish.

" Oh I have to get one, would you like anything Damon? "

Damon shook his head. "No, but thank you."

Shea casually walked in and within a short amount of time she walked out with her chocolate danish in hand and a milk in her other. Quickly half of the danish was gone.

As they neared her apartment building, Shea glanced at her watch. It was nearly 3 am!

" Oh my I hadn't realized how late it actually was! " On restless nights Shea would wonder about her apartment and even venture outdoors if she felt safe enough ( which wasn't very often. ), and she'd take pleasure in watching a new day start with the rising of the sun.

Rising...of...the...sun! " OH shoot!, that means the sun will rise soon. "

"Worried about me? Or the fact that you have been up all night?" Damon could not tell which had caused her alarm.

Shea gentle punched Damon in the shoulder.
" Silly! Of course I am worried. "

She walked closer to Damon as she thought.

" What are you going to do? "

"Its not an issue. Not all of us burst into flames at daybreak." Damon smiled down at her. "Thank you for worrying though."

" Well that's good to know. So no where is safe huh? "

Shea stopped outside her apartment building glancing at her watch again still a little worried.
" So what do you do, um where do you go? "

"Very few can stand the sunlight. I consider myself lucky." Damon observed her checking her watch. "Anywhere, everywhere." He chuckled. "I go home or work during the day generally."

" So the sun doesn't bother you? Not even a little? "
Shea leaned against the wall her hands reaching for the warmth of her skirt pockets.
" Your just like a normal guy but stronger, better senses, drink blood, and better looking. "

"Normal at first glance. But yes, closer to human than some vampires." Damon just smiled at her last comment.

Shea felt the cool breeze and shivered slightly.
" Your like a scifi version of superman. "

Shea laughed and felt more giggles coming out. Suddenly everything just settled in and Shea could not stop laughing.

" Wow, that felt good. I needed a good laugh and it seems Damon once again you have helped me"