Breaking Free

16.

That morning, Tasha woke up to the smell of fresh coffee. She turned over in bed, expecting to see Kierra still asleep beside her, but Kierra was already up. Tasha could hear her humming softly in the kitchen. Smiling to herself, Tasha stretched and got out of bed, walking toward the kitchen. She found Kierra standing by the stove, making breakfast. A stack of pancakes was already on a plate, and she was frying eggs in the pan.

"Good morning, babe," Tasha said with a sleepy smile, wrapping her arms around Kierra from behind.

"Morning," Kierra replied, leaning back into Tasha's embrace. "I thought I'd surprise you with breakfast today."

"Well, it smells amazing," Tasha said, peeking over Kierra's shoulder at the food. "You know I can never say no to your pancakes."

They both chuckled. It felt good to laugh again after all the stress they'd been through. They hadn't always been able to do that lately. Kierra turned off the stove and moved the eggs to the plate with the pancakes. She turned around to face Tasha, still wrapped in her arms.

"I've missed this," Kierra said softly. "Just being here with you, feeling like ourselves again."

"Me too," Tasha agreed, giving Kierra a gentle kiss. "We've been through a lot, but I'm glad we're here now. Together."

They sat down at the small table by the window, enjoying their breakfast and the peacefulness of the morning. The sun was shining, and the birds outside were singing. It was a perfect day to start fresh. As they ate, they talked about their plans for the day. Kierra suggested going for a walk in the park, maybe even having a picnic.

"I'd love that," Tasha said, her eyes lighting up. "It's been a while since we just enjoyed the outdoors together. We could pack a lunch, bring a blanket, and just relax."

Kierra smiled. "That sounds perfect. I'll make some sandwiches, and we can grab some fruit and drinks from the fridge."

After finishing breakfast, they cleaned up the kitchen together. It was a simple task, but it felt nice to do it side by side, working as a team. Once the dishes were done, they quickly packed a picnic basket with everything they needed. Kierra grabbed a soft blanket from the closet, and they headed out the door, hand in hand.

The park was just a short walk from their apartment. The trees were full of green leaves, and the flowers were in full bloom. They found a quiet spot under a large oak tree, spread out the blanket, and sat down. It felt good to be outside, enjoying the fresh air and each other's company.

They spent the next few hours talking, laughing, and sharing stories. They reminisced about their first date and all the fun times they'd had over the years. It was nice to remember the good times and forget about the troubles they had been through.

At one point, Kierra lay back on the blanket, looking up at the sky. "I feel like I can finally breathe again," she said. "Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders."

Tasha lay down beside her, reaching for her hand. "I know what you mean. I feel the same way. It's like we're starting over, but in a good way."

Kierra turned her head to look at Tasha. "I'm sorry for everything, Tasha. For all the times I've been hard on you, for all the things I said. I didn't mean to push you away."

Tasha squeezed her hand. "It's okay, Kierra. I know you didn't mean it. We both made mistakes, but what matters is that we're here now, trying to make things better."

Kierra nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I love you, Tasha. I don't ever want to lose you."

"You won't," Tasha said firmly. "We're stronger than that. We'll get through anything as long as we're together."

They stayed there for a while, holding each other close, letting the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze wash over them. It was a moment of peace, a moment of healing, and they both knew that it was the start of something new.

As the afternoon turned to evening, they packed up their things and headed home. They were tired but happy, feeling closer than they had in a long time. When they got back to their apartment, they decided to spend the rest of the evening watching movies and just being together.

Kierra curled up next to Tasha on the couch, resting her head on Tasha's shoulder. "I'm glad we had today," she whispered. "It's exactly what we needed."

Tasha kissed the top of her head. "Me too, babe. Me too."

They sat there in silence for a while, just enjoying the comfort of being close. It wasn't about the words anymore; it was about the feeling, the connection they were rebuilding, bit by bit. And for the first time in a long time, things felt right.