Fragments

VIII

Inspired by the songs Fast Car by Tracy Chapman and Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran, and my daydreams. This one's actually happy, although it's pretty cheesy (sorry). Slight twist at the end.
Enjoy

***

"Coming?" I could hear the smile in his voice, even in the darkness. He linked his fingers with mine and tugged on my hand, and I followed him away from the car and into the night, with nothing to guide me except his hand in mine, and the orange light from the streetlights behind us.
By the fading light from the road, I could see a thicket of trees ahead of us, and a trail worn by feet in the grass that lead into the trees. Then, the light was gone and we were alone in the darkness.

Long grass brushed against my calves as I walked, tickling my bare skin. The air smelled like spring and nighttime, perfumed flowers and dew and secrets. His hand was warm in my own; I could feel his pulse faintly in his palm. I could hear his footsteps ahead of mine, and my breathing, syncopated with his, and the slow heartbeat in my chest.

"Almost there", he whispered. I nodded, although he couldn't see me. He hadn't said where we were going, only telling me it's a surprise.

Shafts of moonlight dappled the ground, falling in between the trees' branches. By the dim light I saw the trees thinning out and coming to an end.

He stepped to the side and in the silvery moonlight, I saw him smile.
"Go ahead." His breath fanned out on my face.
I walked past him, out of the trees and into a field which I couldn't see an end to.

Then I looked up.

Above me was the universe. Stars, but like I'd never seen before. Away from the city lights it was like a different sky. Magical didn't do it justice; wonderful was too weak; beautiful was too plain. It was nothing and everything and life itself, and words couldn't begin to describe it.

I heard his footsteps behind me. His arms encircled me from behind and hugged me against his chest. I smiled and leaned my head back on his shoulder, feeling his stubble against my cheek. A sigh slipped from my lips as I stated up at the sky. I felt his heartbeat speed up slightly through his t-shirt, and I turned around in his arms so my chin rested on his shoulder.

"Happy birthday to my favourite boyfriend," he whispered in my ear.
"I love you."