Risk it all
Coz I'll catch you if you fall wherever you go
If my heart was a house
You'd be home.
(Owl City)
The night was a dark and cold one....
It was like all those nights they had fought all by themselves....their memories being the only star that emanate just enough light to fight all through the night.
But they had made it alive....
They had survived to make a beautiful night out of all those dark and cold ones.....
The temperature dropped outside but they were warm in each other's arms.
He was so exhausted.....he could hardly able to keep his eyes open....
He had been hyper excited since morning about decorating the house and shopping and baking and everything...prancing around the place like a little kid in his new hand-knitted Christmas sweater.
She and Coco the beagle sat in the corner, watching him dance around all day, singing merry songs like he'd been possesses like the ghost of an elf or something....
He got annoyed at them after a while for being lousy and lying about on the couch being useless.
"Quit killing my buzz and get off your lazy ass!"he scolded.
"It's three whole days before christmas!" she mumbled, not even bothering to look up from her book.
"Its only three days before christmas!"he exclaimed, dramatically.
"Do you realize that christmas being celebrated on 25th december is nothing but a myth? A research I came across yesterday had credible proofs that the birth of christ took place on 17th April instead you know.....its really rather interesting....the three wise men the magi that came from the east could have been Persians and-" she began.
"Nice try, baby. Come on, we're going ice-skating,"he interrupted.
"I feel like the...Girl Interrupted,"she groaned as he made her put on her coat and firmly wrapped a scarf around her neck.
"But the Mayor of Casterbridge is Thomas Hardy at his best! How can you suggest we do something as mundane as ice-skating in the middle of a work that gives one a perspective on adversity and conflict, the demon that thrives-"she said, sounding like Bill Nighton.
"And she says I'm dramatic," he shook his head at her.
*******
The field was frozen over and there were people on ice-skates....some soaring, others falling flat on their stomachs.
The two of them had never been near snow before that winter....let alone ice-skate.
But as always, he was thrilled to try out anything new....
The instructor helped them out. She soon caught the knack of it and skated away, laughing....enjoying the rush of the wind on her cheeks.
She looked around for him...and there he stood....in the corner of the frozen field....like a miserable and helpless little boy....
Her heart went out to him.
He caught her eye and smiled like a doting aunt, waving to her to go on without him.
But she knew better because she could read his eyes.
His eyes were still as concealed and a little withdrawn but everyday his dark eyes, set deeply on his dawn shaded face got a little more easier for her to read.
And she read that he felt a bit unsure of himself....
So she went to him and gripped him by his elbows.
"Hold me," she said to him. He clutched her arms.
"Follow me?" she asked.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Relax....don't key up....you can do this," she smiled at him.
He nodded, concentrating on his feet.
She jerked back with her foot and they moved backwards.
He soon relaxed. She pulled back but he caught her wrists.
"No, don't let go," he said, his voice trembling.
"I won't." she promised but freed her hands and skated away from him.
She stopped and turned.
He was watching her...scared and puzzled.
"Come on.....come to me....you won't fall...I won't let you fall...."she pleaded.
He looked into her eyes.
He took a deep breath and decided to trust her words.
He pushed off with his foot.
He glided towards her.
He somehow went off-balance in the end.....and she let him fall...right into her arms.
*************************
That night was the coldest one of the year but they snuggled closer in the darkness for he liked the darkness just like she did. They had found a beauty rare and unfathomable in the darkness of their lives. It was a light burning bright in the darkness that they both lived for.
And to see the light they needed the darkness.
The tip on the iceberg did not touch them...for they were quite warm in their safe haven.
