Synesthesia

In a sense this could be true.

If it didn't happen.

Oh, if only it hadn't happened.

The purple sky above us swirled with energy, sparks of blue exploding like fireworks in the midst of all its beauty.

"What do you see?" Caleb asked, pointing at the sky.

"Purple. And blue."

"What does that mean?" he said softly.

"Purple usually means happiness," I said. I really really really didn't want to tell him what blue meant...

"And what about blue?" He said earnestly.

"It means ..." I fumbled for an answer, ".... Um, strong feelings." It sounded stupid as soon as I'd said it. He chuckled his warm, deep chuckle, which sent clouds of orange into the air. Nowadays whenever I was with Caleb, a blue and orange blanket always surrounded him, along with his usual faint scent of pine needles.

He smiled. He already knew what it meant.

"Love, huh?" he whispered, "You really do, Ans?"

I blushed a scarlet red; a little trail of tiny pink hearts flew out of my ear and spun around his head. Caleb's sea green eyes softened me, yet pierced me. All at once, my heart split into a million pieces, and then it put itself back together. It was blissful pain. It was beautiful fear. I knew exactly what it was, and it terrified yet dazzled me.

I forced a smile.

He took me into his arms and hugged me. Hugged me like I was his best friend, hugged me like I was his girlfriend, and hugged me like I was his only friend.

"Yeah," I whispered, "I do."

Oh, only if it hadn't happened.