We Are The People

Contentedness

It was getting late, almost midnight and she was still outside her room, lying down on a blanket she laid on her balcony floor. Cool wind blew over her face and she breathed in the sweet, crisp night air, loving the way it filled her lungs and escape through her nostrils. She heard a rustle and a grunt and a hand shot out to grasp the balcony banister, then a head appeared. Paying it no mind, she waited for her visitor  to fully hoist himself up and sit beside her. His dark figure approached her and then silently lied down beside her. She waited in bated breath for him to speak first and as the tension between them grew, her heartbeat rose as well.

"Hi," he spoke softly. "How are you?"

It has been three years since they last saw each other. They have been friends for 18 years and they spent countless night like this before, just watching the stars and slowly getting to know each other better. There even came a time when the words they whispered, touches they made, bore more meaning than they could even express. Those nights were the most wonderful and magical. When the moon and stars were witnesses as something grew into everything.

"I am alright, how about you?" she whispered back. This time, she turned to him and the face that she saw a thousand times before had a slight difference now. Yes it was the same sardonic mouth, aquiline nose, winged eyebrows, and that kiss landing forehead, but his eyes had changed. The boyish mirth and mischief was replaced with worldly wisdom and experience. He left a boy and came back a man and more than that. Her heart beat even wider when she saw him move his face closer so he can take a good look at her. The clouds parted and a beam of moonlight hit his face and her breath hitched when she saw how ethereal he looked.

"Those three years without you were hell. I'm sorry for what I did but I will not regret it. The only thing I regret was not coming home sooner," he paused because his voice was breaking. Then he continued, "It's just that I was afraid, afraid that if I came back I'd find you happier without me. But I was wrong. I'm so sorry. If I had known, I would come home sooner." He took her fragile hand and gripped it tight. Then his tears began to fall. It brought her pain but she didn't care. He was here. Everything didn't matter, including the sickness that ravaged her youth and health, months after his departure. She didn't know how he heard the news but she spent every second, every minute of those three years, day by day, week by week, hoping that she would have enough time, time to last so she can see him again. She lifted her arm and touched his head. Breathing grew difficult and without the machine in the corner aiding her, her lungs would fail.

Eyes wet with tears met hers and she fought her own tears threatening to fall. She smiled at him and wiped his tears away. Her hands were cold, she knew, and his face was warm.

"Don't cry. You're here now. It's what's important. You're here."

She opened her arms and welcomed him in an embrace he gladly returned. Feeling him like this, hugging him, was the best thing in the world for her. Because even when they were apart, she knew in her heart and as she stared at the stars up above, nothing would ever change how they felt for each other. He was home and she was content.