Tentacles

11

That night, I had a dream.

It wasn't a dream, it was more like a memory.

I was ten, Emily was 8. I was on the bottom bunk of my old, clunky bunk bed and Em was on top.

I peeked up at her, to make sure she was okay. She had her arms extended towards the glow in the dark stars on our ceiling, just barely visible in the fluorescent green light of our digital alarm clock.

"What are you doing, Em?" I asked, careful not to wake up out grandma who was sleeping on the other side of the wall.

She reached out, arching her back, just inches away from the ceiling. "I'm trying to get to heaven."

I woke up with the scent of bacon in the air and an empty gap where a certain beauty should be.

I trudged into the kitchen, where Hailey was making bacon and eggs, a specialty for us.

"Special day, huh?"

Hailey smiled. "I'm finishing my Accosiates in Astronomy. The museum down the road has An open spot."

I grinned and kissed her lips, my hands snaking behind her and grabbing the plate of breakfast on the counter behind her. 

I twisted around and sat at a stool. 

Hailey leaned forward and rested her elbows on the kitchen counter. "Hey, the museum is quite a drive. Would you- can you-"

She sighed.

"Do you want to get a house with me? I'm talking two-story, brick and mortar, white picket fence. Would you be willing to put up with me?"

I left my plate abandoned on the marble counter.

I hugged her around her waist and pulled her close, out noses barely touching as we breathed the same air. "I mean, I dunno, I'll have to think about it..."

She rolled her eyes as I planted a kiss on her lips. "I would be honored, m'lady." I pulled her into a dip, causing her to giggle.

I pulled her back up. "I love you," I whispered in her ear.

Hailey hummed in agreement.