Angels Among Us

Chapter 20:

Chapter 20:

One breath at a time.

That was my motto for the last five months.

It was really all I could do. I needed to get my life back and try to be happy again. This was much easier said than done but Niall had his charming ways of helping.

It was now the twenty-fifth of May and my twentieth birthday was tomorrow. I laid on the queen bed the Niall and I shared while I flipped through old photo albums from past birthdays. The first few were happy and joys filled with balloons, laughter and love. On my seventh birthday everything had changed. There wasn't a party, celebration or and ounce of happiness. Just pain, disappointment and grief after my mother's passing. Every year from her death on my dad and I would go to her grave and spend the day with her. It wasn't a great way celebrate my coming of age but at least we were all together in spirit. However, Niall didn't know about this tradition and I highly doubted it would be presumed any longer. Having enough of reminiscing precious memories with my father and horrendous ones with my mother, I set the books on my dresser and walked outside into the mid spring sun.

"Hello there beautiful!" Niall greeted with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey." I semi-shyly returned.

"What are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"I don't know. Just hanging out here I guess. Are you doing anything?"

"I'm doing whatever you want to do hun." Niall spoke chivalrously.

I blushed a bit before replying. "Then we are doing just that. This place is beautiful in spring. I cant wait until summer!"

The distant Eucalyptus trees swayed in the light breeze while hawks gallantly soared in the sunlight. Inside the white fence bright wildflowers popped out of the green grass. Beyond the gated area the peaceful creek flowed freely and irrigated an orchard just down the dirt road. It was truly country living which was new to be but I loved it.

"I do too! It gets pretty hot and humid in summer. That makes the creek a nice place to float around on tubes." Niall explained.

"That sounds so fun!" I exclaimed with excitement. "I've never been down there. Can we go check it out sometime?"

"Why not right now?" Niall interrogated with a wink.

"Thats true, lets go!"

We walked down the dirt driveway and down a fairy steep hill. On my right was an overgrown field covered in weeds and to my left was an old fenced in coral and small stable.

"Whats over there?" I asked.

"The old owners used to raise pigs and sell them I think. I just haven't done anything with it. Its still in pretty nice condition thought." He replied.

"You should do something with it." I stated while observing it closely.

Niall let off a mischievous smile and chucked under his breath a bit.

"What did I do?" I laughed.

"Nothing. You are just... Cute."

I didn't fully believe him but accepted. We kept walking down another hill until we got to the creek. It wasn't more than ten feet across but was enough for water to trickle its way downstream.

"Its nothing special." Niall shrugged.

"I like it." I assured him.

After heading home the breeze turned from a warm breath of fresh air to a howling gust. Niall and I headed inside and decided to spend the rest of our evening with a new movie while cuddling in bed. Despite the amazing reviews, I didn't find it all that great.