One Heart- The Greatest Showman

Chapter 85

Lizzy Pov

After the never ending lights of the city, I think I underestimated the utter blackness of night time in the woods. In my mind the trees would be black trunks against a bluish charcoal sky, the path would become deepest brown and the moonlight would bleach the stones within it. Hadn't every painting of woods at night been like that? Even if there was a moon tonight its silvery rays would not penetrate the dense canopy above. I was in way too far in to turn back, the twilight he had mistaken for night had passed rapidly. It could be no blacker in a coffin, six feet under and piled with dirt. Slowly, I began to breathe the cool air more rapidly. The darkness pressed in on me from all sides and my body screamed for me to run.

Stepping into the forest robbed you of one sense and heightened the others. It was disorientating to be almost blinded but given the ears of a wolf. Even the soft susurration of the branches felt heavy in the ears. The sense of smell was sensitized, the loam in the earth and the decomposing leaves made the atmosphere close and thick. The blackness nurtured a sense of claustrophobia inside you even though the woodland stretched unbroken for miles. The narrow path, which was made uneven by the knotted roots that crossed it, branched at intervals. There was no map to follow, but even if there was the perpetual dark would prevent you from using it. Only the fairy tales and stories would take you through. That's why the children were told them every night before bed. They were the only way to navigate.

I was so trapped in my thoughts that I almost didn't notice the horse that had come running out in front of me, cutting me off completly. I quickly pulled on the reins, singalling to Chestnut to stop galloping.

In the moonlight it was hard to make out a clear defintion of the horse, but i could almost grab a small slither of a black and white mane. The rider I came to recongnise instantly.

"Phillip." I breathed out as he got off his horse, myself doing the same. I was happy to see him before remebering, "you're not meant to be here!"

"And yet I am." He said with the slightest tone of sarcasm maybe? Irony perhaps? "You are positively mad Lizzy, if you think I am going to let you do this on your own." He announced as he walked closer.

"Well I made it evidently clear that I would be doing this by myself." I retaliated.

"Well I ignored that." He said, smiling sheepishly for a few split seconds before it was replaced by a thin line.

"Phillip! I don't want..." I began.

"To see me get hurt. I know. But what about me? Do you think I want to see you get hurt?" He questioned and I was without words. I hadn't really thought of that had I? I knew he was going to be hurt if I got hurt but he was probably having the same thoughts that I was having. He came closer, wrapping my cold hands in his warm hands. "We said it together. Sickness and in health. Forevermore. We do this together Lizzy, okay?" His tone was gentle as he placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Okay." I whispered. I'm pretty sure he was a bit surprise that I didn't argue back.

"What? Not extra comment? I had a whole speech planned." He laughed as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Well I'm all ears if you would like."

"No. I'm pretty sure it was awful anyway."

I let out a small laugh as I placed my head onto his shoulder.

Together.

We do this together