One Life ✓

One Dance: A Short Story

Grace
Just after the Med Convention incident

"I'm okay," I say, trying to get up without TC helping me. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"A hundred percent?" he asks, arms still vaguely around me like a safety net.

I came to my feet slowly. "Yup."

"C'mon. I have something to show you." He takes my hand.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," Tee says.

"You said that so many times before at Hopkins," I yawn. "And it was always just you wanting to get laid. In an on call room. Tee, imagine how the poor interns feel when they try to open the door and realize they don't have a place to nap? They're still kids. They don't need to know what doctors do in on call rooms!"

"That's not true," Tee bluffs. "Don't yawn. It makes me think you'll fall asleep halfway."

"Ewww." I punch his arm. "That's unreal. I may be unwilling, but I don't fall asleep. How could you think I'm so lowly?"

"You fell asleep once," he points out.

"We both fell asleep that time," I counter. "You said you were tired and I said ditto."

"You crashed first," says Tee with a smile.

"Fine. You win. But—"

I am cut off with the beautiful sight before my eyes. The illegal tailgate is now an official ME violation, lined with scented candles. They smell like vanilla, which, according to TC, is my smell. Fairy lights adorn the canopy. The pool has rose petals in it, and an old fashioned stereo sits off to the side.

"What's this?" I ask.

"Wait." Tee turns on the stereo and a song picks up. It's You and Me by Lighthouse.

"That was our song!" I feel my eyes tear up. "Oh, Tee, that was our song!"

He leads me into the middle of the tailgate. "That is still our song."

"Honestly. You shouldn't have," I start.

"I kinda just wanted you to know that, after everything, I'm still going to be here for you. I don't care if you wanna be all tough and say you're okay, but I'll make you deal with me anyways." He takes a deep breath. "Because I really, really, seriously love you."

"I really, really, seriously love you too." I dab the salty tears from my cheeks.

"May I, ma'am?" Tee extends his hand to me, grinning.

I take his hand. "Why, you may."

In TC's arms, close enough to feel his breath on my neck, I rest my head on his shoulder.

"I want to have this dance with you forever," he whispers. "You are my heart, and I am yours. I'll only beat for you, Grace."

I kiss him under the stars, among the light of a hundred candles, the smell of vanilla wafting through the air.

And I don't know why, I can't keep my eyes off of you.

🕯🕯🕯🕯🕯