39 Days

First Kiss

I woke up one morning and felt I needed to go to the market. I had a feeling. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen where I saw my dad tying his worn-out shoes, I knew he was going too. I always knew. There was an empty bowl with leftover milk in it that was placed in the sink and I knew he had already finished breakfast, he was just taking his time waiting for me.

"Sleep well?" He asked, smiling the comforting smile he always did.

"Yes, I did," I say making my way to the fridge, "thanks for asking."

I smiled with my back turned to him, in hopes that he would never stop asking me that same question every day. It gets me out of bed, it's something I look forward to, honestly.

"I'm going to head to the market once you're done. For now I'm just going to go read outside." He said while grabbing his book off of the kitchen counter and slowly opening the door.

"Don't worry dad, I'll meet you down there. Go ahead."

He nodded and put his book back, slowly closing the door as he left. I sat with my cup of yogurt mixing in fresh fruit and granola like I do on most mornings. After I finished I cleaned up and prepared watermelon for my mom; one of her favorites. She was sick in bed and I wanted to comfort her somehow. That also became part of my morning routine. I walked to her room and saw her face immediately brighten as I peeked in with her favorite snack. She thanked me as always and hugged me. And that was that. That was all she could do that day, because she was weak.

I felt awful to leave her but I knew she appreciated me going to the market with my dad. I left as quietly as possible and grabbed a small coat for the frosty morning air and slipped on my boots.

The field was dewy, everything crystal-like as the sun hit it. The crunching under my boots kept me walking because I loved the sound and I never wanted it to stop. It echoed through the field and broke silence that I would hear if I went to the market later in the day when the sun melted the frost.

I got to the end of the field and I saw him. Ian was there. He was waiting for me. I stopped instantly. I heard the silence, and I felt as if time was stopped right in front of me as the greens of the forest cascaded behind Ian, his hair blonder than ever in the sun that reflected it so beautifully, he shared a gaze with me that I never wanted to let go of.

"Goodmorning," Ian started, "how are you?"

"Good."

I was so trapped in the silence that I didn't know what to say, I couldn't think of anything in the moment. He smiled and stepped towards me even further into the sunlight, there was little distance between us now. He studied my face quietly, I wasn't sure why, but I watched him until he was finished. I was so concerned about what he was doing that I failed to notice that his hands were rested softly on my face, warm and comforting.

He sighed, and leaned in to eliminate the distance between us and kissed my lips gently. He stepped back, but not too far.

"I know something is bothering you, and you know I am always here for you, Rose."

I closed my eyes briefly, for a second, and looked up. The beautiful pastels of blue and pink washing over the sky. I wanted to cry. When I calmed down, I looked at Ian, and I smiled and nodded.

He continued, "It's unusual of you to not come with your dad, I asked him where you were and he told me you wanted him to go without you."

I looked away, defeated that he now knew me so well, "I'm okay now."
...
I felt a warm sensation wash over my body, a familiar feeling of the hug we shared that day of our first kiss. This time, it isn't just a dream.