to be by your side is a lovely way to burn

when miss maria reynolds walked into (her) life

Eliza's heart pounded harder and beat faster alongside every thunder that hit the ground, she squeezed her eyes shut at the never ending lightnings, and yet, was found sitting at her couch under the open window of her living room- a storm was just the ideal weather for that particular week- that was, if she wasn't absolutely terrified of it.

But, this time, Eliza felt the fresh, cold, watery air as the only way keep her calm when she felt like her soul was in flames, burning. God, she hoped he was burning too.

The street was dark, darker than the usual because of the thunderstorm, but even then, she couldn't have missed the dark red spot running from house to house- Eliza had barely squinted her eyes to understand the figure as a woman knocking at every door, when she stood up on her feet and ran to her own front door as fast as she could, opening it with a yank and wincing at the strength of the wind.

"Miss!" Eliza shouted from her door, hoping to get the red dressed woman to listen to her. The rain was heavy and the sky had never been louder, Eliza could barely hear herself.

With sigh and a split-second decision, she lifted the hem of her dress just above her calves and ran like never before to her neighbor's door, where the red (at the moment, more wine than red) dressed woman stood, waiting for any answer at all.

"Ma'am?" she shouted again, now close enough to be heard- the woman turned her head so quickly at anyone acknowledging her that Eliza worried for a whiplash. A short-lasting moment after having registered who had called her, the woman widened her eyes and gave an instinctive step back.

Eliza frowned with the reaction, but couldn't give it any thought as another lightning split up the sky. "Come with me, it's this one right in front" she pointed to her house at the other side of the street.

The brunette seemed awfully hesitant and, dared Eliza wonder, scared? But without sparing another second, she gently grabbed the woman's wrist and before guiding them to her house, shouted "You can leave right after the storm is over if you wish to" which, apparently, did the trick since she was met with no resistance at all this time.

Once both women stepped inside the house, Eliza immediately closed the door and the living room window, then lighting up the fireplace and then, finally, really acknowledging her guest- who wow; could anyone actually be literally breathtaking or had she actually gotten a fever from all the hours spent in front of that open window and was, then, hallucinating?

Never in her whole 26 years of life had she ever seen someone so effortlessly gorgeous like the woman standing in front of her, with the most beautiful chocolate eyes she had ever seen in a face that was undoubtedly sculpted by no one other than God and with those wild brown curls cascading down her shoulders that even wet were-

Oh God, the woman that was still completely soaked! Eliza quickly snapped out of her stupor and offered a smile to the brunette "My apologies for staring- I just don't remember having seeing you around the neighborhood?" the other woman smiled shyly, almost apologetically and finally spoke "I'm from a poorest side of the city" she had the most unique voice Eliza had ever heard- it wasn't husky enough to sound harsh and not silky enough to be tiring.

But whatever perfect mix of tones it had, she was sure she could dwell on it over and over onto her head, if it wasn't for the visible shiver that passed through the red dress.

"Oh, here, you can undress from your garments" she guided the woman a bit closer to the fire "while I find you fresh clothes and a blanket" Eliza pointed upstairs, to where her bedroom was.

"You're too kind, miss" the woman, now sounding small enough as a girl, chided in "you do not have to worry about it, I do not wish to intrude even more- only the fire should be more than enough"

Eliza surprisingly found herself a little disappointed with the woman's strong wish to leave, she really could use a company other than her sisters and children- but she could feel the woman's discomfort at being there and wouldn't force her to stay.

"While you would be a welcomed addition to my day, I respect your wish to leave" as a response, the woman bowed her head thankfully for it "however, I do not wish to see you hypothermic, miss, so I'm bringing you the clothes and the blanket"

They didn't know each other, but the woman had accepted there was no way out of it with Eliza and, with a defeated nod of head she smiled again; just as small, just as apologetic as before "I can't thank you enough, miss" Eliza smiled, thankful for at least another hour of company.

"in all honesty, I should be thanking you, miss...?" And there it was, the same look of fear and shame she had worn until minutes before, with a fearful step back, her beautiful, big eyes stared holes into the ground and she opened her mouth once before closing it again.

The woman, now again looking like a little girl, twisted the hem of her wet dress, released a shaky breath from her mouth and, locking eyes with Eliza, opened her mouth a second time:

"Reynolds, ma'am"

Her voice was small, loaded with shame, almost unheard- she opened her mouth a third time "Maria Reynolds"

"...Oh" was all Eliza could muster with her heart falling to her throat and thundering on her years.