I was suddenly awakened from a light sleep by a chilly breeze blowing across the field. I hadn’t even realized that I’d dozed off until just now. Jess was still next to me, her body curled up around mine and tucked within the hold of my arms. Her deep and steady breathing against my neck told me that she was currently in a deep sleep. I’d missed this more than I ever realized. Jess’s bare skin against mine. Somehow the blanket had ended up folding over on top of us so that we were almost cocooned inside it. Today has made me realize so much. I’d realized that so much of my fear was all in my head, as fear normally is. But most of all I’d been reminded once again of how in love I was with Jess. I always say how it’s impossible that I could love her any more than I have but she proves me wrong so often. How this beautiful girl fell in love with me like she did was just mind blowing to me. The fact that I’d taken that love for granted these last few months and yet she still loved me like she did was a miracle in itself. I didn’t deserve someone as good as her but I wasn’t about to let her go now.
I was about to close my eyes and attempt to drift off again but I suddenly realized where we were and how late it probably was by now. I didn’t want to right this second but I knew we’d have to head back. Especially since I’d said we wouldn’t be out late.
“Jess,” I whispered quietly. I had to repeat her name a few times before she started to stir. Her eyelids flickered for a few seconds before they finally opened. “It’s late. We need to head back now.” My words only resulted in a groan from her.
“Do we really need to right now?” she asked groggily.
“Yeah we really do. It’s really late,” I chuckled. I started to move away from Jess to find my clothes but she suddenly clung to me tighter, preventing any more movement from me.
“Just hold me for a few more minutes please,” she said softly. How could I refuse that? I tightened my hold around her again and kissed her forehead. She rested her head on my shoulder, her fingers lightly tracing over my collar bone as we laid there in silence for a while longer. I contented myself with watching her face, lit up by the bright moonlight which sent a white glow down on us, making everything look almost devoid of color. Jess was so beautiful and I don’t think I’d ever get tired of telling her that. She never failed to take my breath away.
The wind had started to pick up by now causing the air to become a bit chilly. At that point it was time to give in and head back to the house.
Jess and I managed to get dressed and gather everything up within a few minutes. I took her hand and led her back to the truck, noting how clumsy she was right this second. Someone was still half asleep it seems.
I opened the passenger door of the truck and helped Jess in before walking over to the driver’s side. As I started up the engine Jess had scooted her way over so that she was leaned against my side as I drove. I think it’s safe to say she was right back to sleep before I even got to the road. It didn’t surprise me a bit to be honest. I could imagine how worn out she was after the day we had.
When I finally pulled up to the house I had to shake Jess awake once again. I kept my arm wrapped tightly around her waist as we walked up to the house, which was thankfully left unlocked. We made our way up to my room as quietly as possible and once inside I’m fairly sure we were both asleep immediately as our heads hit our pillows.
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It felt like I hadn’t been asleep for more than a few minutes when I woke up again, although it was obviously daylight by now. However, it wasn’t by any usual means that I was awakened. There was no alarm, no one at the door, and even Jess was still asleep beside me. No, what woke me up was the feeling of being violently sick.
