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The apartment door opened. Maggie peered out."Bird "
The bird began to sing. Maggie stepped out into the hall
"Oh, sweetheart. You're lovely. Yes." she said, as the bird continued. She turned to Madeleine. "Hi"
Madeleine smiled. Her face was red. She wasn't sure if she could move. She raised her arm tentatively to present Maggie with the cage. The bird sprung up against the front of the cage door to greet Maggie. Maggie leaned in and ran her finger against the bars near the bird
"Um. I bought her for you"
Maggie looked up at Madeleine. She was quiet. "Oh," she said. She smiled softly, looked serious for a moment and then her eyes started to become wet
She took the cage from Madeleine's slightly trembling hands. She continue to stare at Madeleine. "Can you come in"
Madeleine tried to relax into a smile
"Yeah. Sure"
The first thing Madeleine noticed, once inside, were all of the plants. Not the amount of them - although there were a few - but how green they were. She had never seen such lush house plants in the city before. Or, anywhere for that matter. They surrounded the two small window spaces
"How do you keep your plants so green"
Before she could get an answer, she felt a soft hand touch her neck. She turned and Maggie leaned in and kissed her
"Thank you." Maggie whispered
Madeleine looked into her eyes, as Maggie reached up and brushed Madeleine's hair lovingly from her forehead. She kissed her again
"I talk to them," Maggie said. Madeleine smiled
"There was something I've been wanting to tell you," Madeleine said, feeling Maggie's hands still brushing against her waist. She looked over at the bird, who was still leaning tight against the cage door, staring up at the two women
"Well. This is kind of stupid but ... the first time when I ... well ...," She paused, serious. "When I came to the theatre I wanted to tell you ... I really don't like Woody Allen anymore, I think he's gross. I just really liked that film. Yeah. There." She exhaled and laughed awkwardly
Maggie laughed. She kissed Madeleine's forehead
"I sketched the woman in it." Madeleine continued shyly
Maggie nodded, smiling
Madeleine looked around the apartment and then back at Maggie
"The first girlfriend," Madeleine added
Maggie nodded, knowingly. "Jumpcuts," she said quietly
Madeleine smiled. "I used to think you were a ghost"
"How do you know I'm not," Maggie grinned
"Well. I guess I don't." She paused and looked over at the bird. "But, the bird sees you, too"
"That lovely bird's probably seen lots of ghosts"
Madeleine was quiet. She looked down at the ground. She looked back up at Maggie, her head tilted slightly like the bird. "Are you"
Maggie paused. She sighed. "I'm not sure," she said softly. Her look became distant. Madeleine took a deep breath and step towards Maggie, squeezing her hand lightly. Closing her eyes, she leaned in and kissed Maggie just below her ear
"I don't mind," she said
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