Flight from Within

Chapter 31 - Lost

She hesitated, shocked, for a moment. Then her head jerked up towards mine, deepening the kiss, as her arms snaked around my neck. I hugged her waist and gripped her tunic as we both pulled away.

"Tanix..."  She whispered. Her eyes searched my face as her fingers traced my features and raked through my hair again and again. I watched her with a warm, distant and dreamy smile on my face. I stroked her cheeks softly as I slowly came to a realization.

I liked this girl. I liked this girl... a lot. It was scary how much.

"Sorry. I guess this lighting just made you too beautiful." Her head smacked against my chest as a raging blush erupted on her face. I laughed and embraced her, kissing her head again and again.

Sky

See, we never really realize how good something is until we've lost it.

How pure it is. How beautiful. How happy it makes us. How much we really need it.

And it can all end.

Just.

Like.

That.

---

I woke up and made a quick simple breakfast. I got everyone else up promptly, meeting a few groans and "whyyyyy"s.

"Because we are visiting Sarah today, and Tanix wants to bring her lots of flowers!" I yelled up to Theus who was the slowest to get up. "Lord knows why..." I muttered.

"Goodmorning, Angel." I was met with a warm kiss to my head, and my spirits were immediately lifted.

" 'Morning." I kissed his cheek and looked into his eyes lovingly.

"Have I told you I love you recently?" He said tugging me closer by my waist.

"Only a dozen times, yesterday." My hands rested against his neck his kissed my forehead, cheeks, nose and lips, gaining giggles and smiles from me.

"Guuyyyys, gross!" Theus interrupted us from the stairs. "I mean, honestly." Daniel ignored him and nuzzled his nose in my neck. Theus screeched "Ahhh! My eyes! They're burning! Burning! Ahhhh...!" He dramatically slide to the floor, clawing his face until Tanix gave him a noogie.

"So we are going to see Sarah, today?" He said, messing with his hair and shirt. I gave him a look.

"Yes..." I walked to the kitchen setting out plates for each of them. 

"And we're bringing her the flowers, right?" I sighed smiling over at him.

"Yes."

We all came in later yelling surprise and holding out our flowers to Sarah. Theus though it was stupid, cliche' and childish - which it was - but she appreciated the gesture.

"Oh, my goodness, you guys, thank you so much!" She took them all and put them in vases around the Life Tree and gave Tanix a kiss on his cheek, much to his pride. I gave Daniel a look, his face matching my own.

You'd think I'd remember these moments after that look with Daniel. You'd think I'd wanted to hang on to those last moments.

But I don't. Each time I think about it, all I remember was laughter.

And maybe that's good. Maybe it's best that I remember those last moments in happiness and joy.

But it all ends with one blinding, red light. And a deafening boom.