for my wifey. love you, bunny.
~~~
"Time flies," he remarked. "It seems only yesterday we were chasing fireflies."
She hummed a light mm-hmm of agreement. "Yes. Oh, to be innocent again. How I miss those simple days."
They sat side by side, gazing at the beautiful sunset. All the while, Marian was thinking, this could very well be the last one.
After a short moment, she decided it was time. "I need to tell you something."
He turned to her, sensing something life changing. "Carry on."
"I . . . I might be . . . I don't know . . . going blind," she confessed.
His mask of calm fell as he realized that this was not a joke, on where Marian would say "Gotcha!"
No, this was real. And terrifying. He pulled her into a light hug, and tears soaked his shirt quickly. "Friends don't keep secrets," he muttered.
"Yeah, I-I know. I was j-just scared, you know?" her voice cracked as another sob came up.
"Well, I can't say I've done much better. I have to tell you something too."
"Well, go on," she urged.
"I kind of like you."
"Well, we've been friends for years, and I would like to think you did," she said, knowing exactly what he meant. She just didn't want to talk about it.
"Okay," he said simply.
A light drizzle interrupted the more-than-gentle breeze and forced the pair inside.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" she offered.
"No, thank you."
"Drew, you've never refused tea before."
"I know."
Understanding his dismissive tone and hurt feelings, she didn't push him.
"So, would you like to say the night or . . ."
He nodded. "I'll take the couch."
"You sure?"
He nodded again.
~~~
"I want to climb up a canyon wall one day. The orange sunset and hammer-shaped beauty that swept the world into a daze. I want to feel on top of the world. I want to know that I conquered sight before sight conquers me. If that makes any sense."
"It makes perfect sense. What doesn't make sense is why we aren't already in the car heading to California."
~~~
"Look! It's a road runner! Oh, Drew, look!"
"I see. It's cool."
"You're no fun to drive with."
"Well I'm sorry, but I don't want to die, quite frankly."
"Stop trying to be British."
~~~
"Mariam?"
"Yeah?"
"How much longer until . . . you know."
"Just drive."
~~~
"Don't write on here! It's illegal!"
"Well, I don't think many Drew's will ever be in this very spot in the future."
"It's vandalism!"
"Done! Wow, it's hard to write on here."
"You're evil."
"I know."
~~~
"Look! We're so close!"
"A few more yards, Mariam. So many more."
~~~
They never made it to the top of the canyon. Mariam's vision gave up jsut as they reached the the halfway mark of the one Mariam wanted to climb.
Evem though Drew kept apologizing, she dismissed him. She was satisfied that at least the light faded with a brilliant orange hue and a spectacular view.
~~~
