YELLOW

1st of September

Her birthday was a day I eagerly anticipated, the anniversary of the moment the woman who transformed my life came into the world. I felt a childlike excitement, like a kid on Christmas morning. The calendar marked September 1st.

As I lay beside her, she looked like a sleeping beauty, peaceful and serene. Suddenly, I sprang out of bed, racing to the drawer to grab my Polaroid camera. With my knees sinking into the mattress, I began capturing images of her as she slept, the camera clicking softly with each shot.

"Say cheese! Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!" I sang playfully, laughter bubbling up inside me as I snapped photo after photo, the prints scattering across the bed. Olivia stirred, rubbing her eyes and looking at me with a mix of confusion and amusement. "Marcus, what are you doing?"

I continued to flash the Polaroid, the photographs falling like confetti around us as she reached for the camera, her laughter infectious. "Marcus, ugh!" she exclaimed, giggling as she tried to wrest the camera from my hands.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the birthday girl is awake and ready to conquer the day! What would you like to tell your fans?" I teased, pretending to be a cameraman, until I felt her hand grasp my shirt, pulling me down to her. Our eyes locked, and I could see the spark of mischief in hers.

"I think morning sex would really surprise your fans. What if you have some underage followers?" I joked as she was rolling her eyes and giving me a gentle slap.

"You're definitely a dork," she whispered, yet her smile betrayed her. She pressed her lips to mine, and in that perfect moment, I captured the best Polaroid of the day: her tousled hair framing her face, our bodies close, and the warmth of our lips meeting, sealing the joy of the morning in a single image.

I let the Polaroid slip from my fingers, landing softly on the bed, as I traced my fingers over her skin, treating her as if she were the rarest diamond. After all, she was carrying our little gem, and in that moment, I felt like the happiest jeweler, cherishing the beauty before me.

Making love to her had always been my vulnerability, a bittersweet dance that intertwined passion with the fear of hurting her. The thought haunted me, lingering in the back of my mind, reminding me of how precious she was. Her hands roamed over my abs, feeling every contour, while our foreheads pressed together, our breaths creating a gentle rhythm that echoed softly in the room.

As I lay on her belly, her hair brushed against my face like a tender caress. My eyes were closed, savoring the moment, when I felt Xante kick for the first time on that day. A wave of warmth flooded through me. "I wish we could stay like this forever," I murmured, the wish escaping my lips like a prayer.

Her soft laughter filled the air. "We will stay like this forever, silly. What's going to change that?" she whispered, her fingers tracing delicate patterns on my skin, igniting a spark of longing within me. I turned my face to gaze up at her, searching her eyes for the reassurance I needed.

"Time," I replied quietly, the weight of the world pressing down on my heart. Then, with tenderness, I placed a kiss on her belly, feeling a connection that transcended words. But before I could fully comprehend the moment, she pulled me into her arms—those arms that had always been my sanctuary, my source of strength, yet also my greatest weakness.

In her embrace, I felt the world fade away, leaving just the two of us suspended in a cocoon of love and hope. Each heartbeat echoed the promise of our future, and in that fleeting moment, I realized that no matter what time brought, this bond we shared would remain unbreakable.

As night fell, I donned a classic black tuxedo—the very first one I wore on our first date. I stood outside, heart racing, holding a large bouquet of red roses, the petals vibrant against the twilight. When she opened the door, it felt like a scene from a romantic movie. There she was, bathed in the soft glow of the porch light, wearing that stunning yellow dress that had captivated me from the start. A cheeky smile spread across my face as I stepped toward her, watching her descend the stairs.