The last Ride of Hairlip Green

The Love of a Lifetime

As the conversation flowed between them, Green and Belle shared stories of their separate lives, filling the empty spaces that had been between them for so long. Hours passed like minutes, the time slipping away as the familiar weight of each other's presence began to settle in again. The sun had begun to set, casting a warm orange and pink glow through the windows, which danced across the mirrors lining the walls. The colors softened the harsh edges of the world outside, as if the universe itself had paused to allow them this moment.

Though nearly a decade had passed since their last intimate exchange, sitting together now felt as though time had melted away. For Green, it was like slipping into a comfortable memory—one that he had forgotten how much he longed for. As Belle spoke, Green couldn't help but be drawn to her eyes, the same blue that had captivated him so long ago. They were still as striking, though the innocence they once held had been replaced by a quiet strength, the depth of things she had seen and survived. Yet, in them, Green still found a part of her that hadn't been touched by the world's cruelty, still as beautiful and endless as the holler they'd once walked together.

Belle, mid-story, caught Green's gaze and paused. Her voice faltered for just a second as she noticed the intensity of his stare. She knew exactly what he was seeing—the same woman who had stood at the altar years ago, but changed by time and hardship. She had thought she had closed the door on those old feelings, but now, as she stared into Green's deep green eyes, that door creaked open once again.

His hand had been resting gently over hers for hours, his touch warm, just like the night of their wedding. There was a tenderness to his hand, a reassurance she hadn't felt in years. The warmth sent a familiar flutter through her chest, reminding her of how it felt to be held by him, to be loved by him. As she stared back into his eyes, the air between them thickened, charged with a history both heavy and sweet. Belle hadn't realized until now just how much she had missed him, how much she had missed this—a love that was too big to erase, no matter how far they had traveled or how much they had changed.

And in that moment, as the sun's final rays danced across the room, everything else faded away. There was only Green and Belle, together once more, caught between the past and the present, unsure of what the future would bring, but certain that here, right now, they were exactly where they needed to be.

Green broke the silence, his voice low, but full of the desire that had been simmering between them for years. "Let's get a room," he said, his words more of a question than a statement, though Belle knew exactly what he meant.

A soft smile tugged at Belle's lips, a smile that spoke of memories long buried and emotions rekindled. She nodded, her heart beating a little faster than it had in years. Without another word, they stood and made their way up the stairs, their feet moving quickly, but silently, like two squirrels darting up a tree. The air between them was charged, every step a promise of what was to come. Just like those squirrels, they were both racing toward the same thing—something that had been elusive, something they had both wanted for so long.

The door to the room creaked open, and they stepped inside. The room was simple, yet cozy. The walls were draped in green wallpaper, its floral pattern faintly visible in the soft glow of the hurricane lamp, casting flickering shadows on the walls. The bed, a metal frame, sat in the center of the room. In the lamplight, the metal had a golden sheen to it, giving the room an almost ethereal quality.

The space felt intimate, almost as though the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting. The air seemed to hum with anticipation, mirroring the way Green and Belle felt. They stood for a moment, taking it all in, both of them realizing that they were no longer the same people they had been when they first walked into each other's lives, but still drawn to the same connection, the same pull of desire. The years apart had only made this moment more precious, more urgent.