Breathe

Promise Me

Oliver slowly regained consciousness when he felt the small body in his arms tense, just to relax and pull herself closer to him. He waited for a beat, expecting more movement from the blonde, expecting her to be waking up. But she stayed perfectly still. He wondered if she was awake, given the fact there was no more movement on Sara’s end. He carefully shifted so he could stretch his right leg, which felt stiff and slightly sore after being in a bent position for hours. He tried to make sure that his movements wouldn’t jolt her too much in case she was still/ fell back asleep.

 

He was sure she was awake after there was no reaction on her end, given his movements. And she just stayed in the exact same position she has been in since pulling herself closer to him. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her face pressed into his neck and her legs still wrapped around his torso. She was too still to be asleep. He slowly moved his hands up her back and started to move his thumbs in a soothing pattern, while rubbing his cheek on her head, just breathing her in and pressing a kiss to her golden crown. 

 

Something was bothering her, he was sure of it, but he didn’t want to disturb the temporary peace that they were granted.

 

He would give her as much time as she needed. 

 

Oliver rested his cheek on Sara’s head and closed his eyes. His hands stroked her back and hair, simply basking in her company. Part of him wondered what she was thinking about. But not enough to break the comfortable silence and peaceful atmosphere that they found themselves in. He was also sure that she’d tell him once she was ready. They had time. Besides, he could stay like this forever. Having his Sara back in his arms. Time seized to exist in her presence, and everything else lost its meaning. The universe seemed to shift until Sara became its center in the rare, quiet moments they were awarded alone together. 

 

The woman in his arms suddenly shifted and thrust back into his hands, while hers travelled from his back to his shoulders, lifting her head from its resting place between his neck and shoulder, pushing slightly against his shoulders. She slowly untangled her legs from around his waist, putting her feet on the ground next to his hips but keeping her knees bent. He understood right away and loosened his grip on her enough so she could look at him without craning her neck.

 

“Hey…” She cleared her throat when she noticed how hoarse she sounded. The result of the hours she had spent crying before finally falling asleep from sheer exhaustion.

 

 “Hi.” Oliver smiled at her tenderly. “How are you feeling?” it was easy to detect the slight concern in his voice even though it was just barely above a whisper and crystal blue eyes studied cerulean hues carefully. 

 

“Honestly?” Sara considered lying for a minute, but this was Ollie she was talking to. Besides, he’d know that she was lying. He could always tell. Just like she could always tell when he was lying. They’ve known each other for too long, have been through too much together to lie to one another. There was no point and no need to. They would never judge the other. So, she continued with the truth after a short nod from him: “I’m not sure.”