Silent Solitude

Chapter 25

When my 3rd grade teacher had told fifteen wide-eyed students that just because stars weren't visible during the day, didn't mean they weren't there, I had nearly gone into shock.

Because what do you mean, were stars still out during the day?

Why would anyone not want to see them all the time?

They were so beautiful, I told her. I would want to stare at them all day every day.

I think that was how my brain felt whenever I heard the familiar, feather-light footfalls of my boyfriend. Because what do you mean there would come a time when I didn't see him every day, morning and night?

"Pixie," he greeted, wrapping his arms from behind and planting a gentle kiss on my collarbone. I closed my eyes, inhaling the familiar scent and presence of New York's frosty morning air and Grave's Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille cologne that I'd bought him. It smelt warm and comforting, and I instantly knew he would have to smell like that whenever he walked near me.

"Good morning," I mumbled breathily, smiling as a few strands of his hair tickled my chin.

He squeezed me tight like he was embracing me for a significant reason.

"Can you feel it? Winter slowly leaving us?"

I nudged his arm. "Look at you, poet man, but yeah, I do. Spring's approaching."

He nodded, still wrapped around me. "You love spring."

That was true. I loved spring.

"It's the prettiest time of year, all the colors, flowers—"

He interrupted me with a slight chuckle. "Perfect weather for love under cherry blossoms right?"

I snorted. "That too I guess."

He pulled away, hand in hand with me as we walked along our usual path. I hadn't exactly been expecting to see him this morning. He often skipped Walks this early, but it was always better when he was around.

"I love you till the stars fade," he told me softly.

I squeezed his hand, confused but not complaining. "Till they relight."

Most of the time, I didn't mind silence. But call me paranoid and anxious, I could sense something wrong. It stretched, the silence until we'd reached the end of the trail and sat on a bench. Sometimes, if we got here on time, we could see the sun over the Empire Srate perfectly. But it was harder to see during the winter.

"I'm sort of going to miss winter," Grave declared with a sigh, smiling against the chilly air. I shivered.

"I'm not. I'm so glad I'm going to Duke next year, the warmth."

College wasn't something we talked about often. Not if we could help it. But I knew the distance or not, we were staying together, we were bound together.

"Beachy too, surfing or whatever," Grave added with a grin.

"Or whatever, I hate the feeling of sand in my shoes."

He frowned. "Just don't wear shoes then."

I sputtered. "Do you know the amount of bacteria and garbage that's thrown onto the beach every single day?"

"I mean, yeah. Markus was going on and on about the environment the other day in chemistry, but it's a beach. Don't wear shoes if you don't want to," he replied with a shrug.