Between Faith and Love

to be known

That evening at dinner, March sat at the table, barely touching her food. Her mind was elsewhere, swirling with thoughts of Zephaniah and the strange tension between them. She was unusually quiet, her eyes fixed on her plate as she absentmindedly pushed the food around with her fork.

Her aunt and uncle exchanged glances, noticing how distracted March seemed. Her aunt, in particular, had been observing March more closely these past few weeks. Something had shifted in her—she could sense it. Though both of them wanted to ask what was on her mind, they chose not to push, allowing her the space to sort through whatever she was feeling.

As the minutes passed in near silence, March finally excused herself and went upstairs to her bedroom. The sound of the door closing behind her echoed softly through the house, leaving her aunt and uncle in the quiet kitchen, their concern for her growing.

Upstairs, March sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She thought about Zephaniah, about the odd way she felt whenever she was around her—confusion, attraction, and something she couldn’t quite name. She lay back, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything.

That night, Zephaniah tossed and turned in bed, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions she couldn’t shake. The lingering image of March walking away with Jehwell gnawed at her, leaving her restless and confused. Unable to bear it any longer, she made a decision—she needed to talk to March, besides no one's home at that time.

Without much thought, Zephaniah grabbed her jacket and hurried out of the house. The cool night air did little to calm her racing heart as she made her way to March’s house. When she arrived, she stood at the door for a moment, hesitant, before finally knocking.

The door creaked open, revealing March’s aunt. Her eyes widened slightly, clearly surprised to see Zephaniah standing there so late at night. There was a moment of silence as they both stood there, and March’s aunt seemed to study her, her gaze soft but worried.

“zephaniah?” she said gently. “Is everything alright?

Zephaniah swallowed hard, her heart pounding. “I—I just really need to talk to March. It’s important"

March’s aunt’s expression grew more serious, as if she understood something deeper was at play but chose not to address it directly. She stepped aside, gesturing for Zephaniah to come in. “March is upstairs, in her room,” she said, her voice kind but laced with an unspoken concern. “You can go on up.”

Zephaniah nodded gratefully and slipped inside, her footsteps quiet on the hardwood floor. As she ascended the stairs, her mind raced with what she would say, her emotions tangled in confusion and longing. Meanwhile, March’s aunt stood at the foot of the stairs, her heart heavy. She could sense there was something more between the two girls, something neither of them had yet spoken aloud. But she didn’t pry, choosing instead to let them figure it out on their own.

Zephaniah reached the door to March’s room and knocked softly, her nerves getting the best of her. “March? It’s me, Zephaniah. Can we talk?”

March opened the door slowly, her expression uncertain as her eyes met Zephaniah’s. They stood there for a moment, just staring at each other, as if both were trying to figure out what to say. The tension in the air was palpable, charged with unspoken emotions.

After a long pause, March stepped aside, silently inviting Zephaniah into her room. Zephaniah walked in, her eyes never leaving March’s face. They both sat on the edge of the bed, the silence heavy between them.

"Are you okay?" Zephaniah finally asked, her voice soft, filled with concern.

March nodded, her eyes downcast. "Yeah... I'm alright. I just needed some time to myself these past few weeks. To think."

There was another pause, a quiet that felt like it could break at any moment. Then, without warning, Zephaniah leaned forward and kissed March. The suddenness of it startled March, her eyes widening in shock. But before she could pull away, something inside her shifted, and she found herself kissing Zephaniah back.

The kiss deepened, and in that moment, all the tension, the confusion, and the unspoken feelings between them came rushing to the surface. They were lost in the intensity of the moment, the room growing smaller as the world outside seemed to fall away.

But as they continued, something stirred within March—a mix of excitement and fear, as if they were stepping into something they both couldn’t fully comprehend.

They kissed for what felt like an eternity, lost in each other's warmth and the newfound intimacy. Eventually, they pulled away, both breathless, their hearts racing. Zephaniah lay back on the bed, her heart still pounding as she stared at the ceiling, a content smile lingering on her lips. March settled beside her, feeling a mix of exhilaration and nervousness, unsure of where this moment might lead.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Zephaniah turned her head to look at March, who was still deep in thought. Zephaniah’s smile widened, and she couldn’t help but admire the way the moonlight cast gentle shadows across March’s face.

March noticed Zephaniah’s gaze and turned to meet her eyes. “What?” she asked, curiosity piqued.

Zephaniah shook her head, still smiling, the joy in her heart radiating through her expression. “Nothing,” she said softly, though her eyes sparkled with something unspoken, a warmth that wrapped around them like a cozy blanket.

March returned the smile, feeling her heart swell at the sight of Zephaniah’s happiness. They lay there, side by side, their hearts beating in rhythm as they shared the quiet intimacy of the moment. There was a sense of comfort in the air, as if they both knew they had crossed a threshold, entering a new chapter in their lives—together.

After a while, March’s eyelids grew heavy, the warmth of the moment lulling her into a peaceful sleep beside Zephaniah. Sensing the stillness, Zephaniah pulled out her phone and quickly texted her mom, letting her know she would be staying the night at March's house.

Once the message was sent, Zephaniah turned back to face March, who was blissfully unaware of the world around her. She took a moment to admire the way March's hair fell gently across her face, the soft rise and fall of her chest as she slept.

A wave of affection washed over Zephaniah, and she instinctively turned her back to March, feeling a sudden urge to pull her closer. She gently took March's hand and placed it on her waist, savoring the connection between them. The subtle movement stirred March from her slumber, but she didn’t mind; she simply settled into the embrace, her body instinctively molding against Zephaniah’s.

As they drifted back to sleep, March’s aunt stood at the door, having heard the soft laughter and whispers earlier. She peeked inside, her heart fluttering with concern and curiosity as she observed the two girls in their innocent intimacy. March looked peaceful, wrapped in the warmth of Zephaniah’s presence, and for a moment, the aunt hesitated, unsure of what to say or do.

With a worried look, she quietly stepped back, closing the door gently, allowing the girls their privacy. She walked away, her mind racing with thoughts about their relationship, a mix of hope and concern lingering in her heart as she wondered what the future held for them.