Liberation [completed]

Park Date- Mia

I said it. I said the three-word sentence that I had repeated continuously since I talked with Asher. I said it out loud, to him and he heard me. I didn't say in my head, I said it out loud! And he said it back! He said it back to me with just as much conviction and love. I just knew he meant it each time he said it. It felt like he understood what the words meant and he was willing to commit to them each time he said it.

Asher looked like I had told him I had a third arm when I mentioned it. It wasn't one of those moments I had built up to. I had done that a lot in the past couple of weeks. As we spoke or just sat together, I'd start a conversation that I hoped by the end, I'd have told him. But each time I tried, I chickened out. Each time that happened I'd catch the disappointment in his eyes and I felt guilty for causing that look in his brown eyes. Other times, I'd just call his name to get his attention and when he was finally looking at me, I'd chicken out.

This morning though, it wasn't like we were talking about anything romantic at all. We were talking about my father for god's sake. There was nothing romantic about it. But Asher said something that made me feel so much love for him that I couldn't seem to keep it in any more. I don't even remember what he said but made me feel so important and special. The words were out of my lips before I could even really process my actions.

"Hmmm, I shouldn't have let you come out in those shorts" Asher's voice brings me back to the park we were walking in. We had both stopped to admire the view of the lake for a while and my mind travelled to this morning.

"Why's that?" I ask him curiously as I turn to him and hug him around the middle.

Asher steps behind me and snakes his arms around my waist pulling me back into him, "You look far too sexy in it. All the men here seem to be staring at you" he says possessively.

I grin and feel myself blush, I kinda loved his possessiveness not that I'd do anything to make him be possessive or jealous. It was just how he was and I liked it. "Well, that's unfortunate cause you don't get a say in what I wear mister"

Asher hugs me tightly from the back and squeezes my stomach, "I'm pretty good at convincing people." he murmurs as he buries his head into my neck and I feel his lips on the exposed skin there.

It was almost summer and the weather was getting warmer so I had tied my hair up in a bun and wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Asher had worn the most casual attire I had ever seen him in: He was in khakis and a polo shirt. You just couldn't seem to take the richness out of this man. Either way, he looked really smart and good looking.

"Sure you are. And you're one to speak! You look like someone who just finished modelling for those polo shirt brands and decided to take a walk in the park. I bet if I actually cared to look, I'd find most of the women here staring at you" I say turning in his arm and wrapping my arms around his neck.

Asher chuckles at my comment and looks at me with that look that made me nervous and feel so energised. "God, I love you...." he says like it was unbelievable how much he loved me.

Hearing the words from his lips made my stomach flip around in excitement and happiness. Saying those words this morning, opened up a whole new life to me. I couldn't stop my mind from imagining little moments with Asher. The craziest I have had so far was us decorating his apartment together. That place was so empty and lonely, it was slightly depressing at times. If not for the classy, modern look it had going on, I'd hate it.

As we walk deeper into the park, Asher holds onto my hand and we both admire the trees and nature around us. It was so weird that this whole part of the earth had slipped by me. I meant trees and animals and plants have been apart of the earth for so long and I barely stopped to take notice of it. I was always too involved in my life that I didn't stop to admire the simplicity of nature around me. When I looked over at Asher, he had the same look of awe on his face that I was just feeling and I knew that he was feeling the same way.