The Lullaby Nights

♥ Prologue

DEDICATED TO
𝚝𝚟𝚎𝚜𝚑𝚊04
For all the effort, help and belief.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵.

༺♥༻

SPRING 2017

HARLEY

A warm breeze entangled itself in the strands of her hair, orange like autumn leaves. I watched Nina's curls float in the air in a vigorous flurry as she turned her rosy cheeks to me.

'The night is beautiful, Harley. This place is beautiful.' She beamed, admiring the beach we'd selected to visit. Her baby-blue eyes creased at the corners and cast heavenwards, losing themselves in the infinity of the night firmament above our heads.

I followed her actions and looked up. The darkness shimmered with billions of dots, as though the sky comprised diamonds. The stars gleamed identically to her eyes when she felt happy. I loved seeing her so content. It'd been almost three years since I asked her out, and never had I regretted it for even the briefest moment.

I loved her.

Waves swooshed calmly in front of us, foaming right before they came to touch with smooth, wet sand. I stood up from the grass and proffered my hand.

Nina furrowed her brows, yet a wide smile slowly stretched her lips, glossed with a strawberry balm. 'What are you doing?' Her voice, tinted with a bit of amusement, filtered into the warm wind as I pulled her up.

My eyes dallied around her dappled face. She had exactly fifty-two freckles. I knew because I had counted them one evening when she was deeply asleep, and I'd found myself unable to look away. She was just as gorgeous in her dreamy state as she was now, here, in my arms, tilting her tiny chin upwards in order to meet my stare.

Her petite, yet voluptuous body gave some of its warmth towards my own as I pulled her into my embrace.

'You look marvellous, Jack.' I gave a mighty chortle as she narrowed her eyes in a silent warning, but behind those slits, there was a smile hiding regardless.

The orange colour of Nina's hair combined with her angry expression always reminded me of a jack-o'-lantern, so I used this nickname in order to tease her.

'Harley Hill, would you mind being quiet for just one night?' A benign smile, so habitual for her, twitched her lips as she interlocked her fingers at my nape.

'Anything for you, my little squash.' I pinched her nose and removed one of her hands from my neck. Then I kissed each of her knuckles, knowing that those fingers wouldn't stay bare for much longer. I knew she was the one for me. I needed to marry her.

She overlooked my silly words and rested her head against my chest. Her rosy perfume permeated the early night breeze. The smell was delicate, just like everything about Nina. She was gentle like her touch, her melodious voice, her way of being. Sometimes I believed she was afraid that if she became a bit more fervent, the world around her would fall apart, just like a rose did when it decayed and lost its petals.

I wanted her to know that it wouldn't happen. I needed her to know that she was safe with me.

My whisper was as soft as her hair, into which I spoke, 'Nothing will ruin this life for us.' I enveloped her tighter in my arms. 'Not a single thing.' I kissed the top of her head, and inhaled with serenity, but clunky certain the future would bring us the best.

The following week, Nina had been diagnosed with cancer.