Dani's short stories

Dance With Me

I swam out of the depths of my mind, the world around me becoming sharper as my brain fully woke itself up. The room around me was dark but warm, a comforting feeling that would lull me back to sleep if I allowed it.

I shifted, the blanket on top of me tugging along with my movement. My hands reached to my right of their own accord, following a path that had long been set out for them. A confused feeling settled over my mind as my touch landed on cold, empty sheets.

Any trace of sleep drained from my body as I forced myself to sit up. I knew that the anxiety instilling itself in my chest was almost entirely pointless, but Lyra hardly ever left the room at night without begging me to come with her and shield her from the possible monsters hiding in the dark.

I threw off my blanket, my socks meeting the floor. I don't need to panic. She probably just got up to get a drink, I reassured myself, making my way toward the kitchen. I peeked in each room I passed just in case, but no Lyra.

I arrived in the kitchen, finding it empty except for some dirty dishes and the matching yellow coffee mugs sitting on the counter. I sucked in a sharp breath and took a step toward the counter to look for a note before a loud giggle caught my attention. My eyes darted to the window above the sink.

Bright snowflakes were swirling to the ground from puffy clouds. A layer of the snow had already accumulated on the ground, growing steadily larger with each tiny crystal that fell from the quiet sky. There were no lights on, save for the street light a few houses down. In the center of the yard, Lyra stood with her head thrown back. The heavy coat and beanie she had on were coated with snowflakes, her tiny nose a bright shade of pink, but it didn't seem to bother her. A content smile played along her lips, her brown eyes hidden behind her soft eyelashes. The snow continued to fall, caressing her with soft kisses before landing before her. The wind picked up and dragged fluttering snowflakes to Lyra's feet. She smiled wider, somehow, and let out a peel of bubbling laughter.

I hadn't seen her like this in a long time.

I hurried out of the kitchen and back to our bedroom, donning my coat and slipping shoes on over my socks. It didn't take long for me to be standing before the front door, my hand on the cold metal of the doorknob.

As soon as the door opened, tendrils of wind flung bits of snow onto the floor, turning them into tiny puddles of melted water. I stepped out of the warm house, closing the door behind me.

Nothing is more peaceful than the outside world late at night. There are no unnecessary noises, no movement. Your life begins to mean more as time slows down. The air enveloped me the second I set foot on the icy ground, the night sky coaxing me into a sense of complete bliss. The bite of the wind whipped my face, but the calm I felt blossoming in my soul was worth it.

Lyra's eyes met mine, her welcoming smile beckoning me forward. My body carried itself toward her like it was a necessity and soon I was beside her, the snow surrounding my ankles. Her gaze had made its way back to the thousands of falling snowflakes, but mine remained on her, watching her kind eyes fill with wonder, her lips perking up each time a bit of snow grazed her face. She had been so down lately that this moment felt like treasure.

The wind blew past us, ripping through the treetops and showering us with more snow. Lyra giggled and her gaze found mine once more. The streetlight reflected in her eyes, allowing the depths of her brown orbs to dance with the newly awakened joy in her soul.

My heart fluttered in my chest. It seemed like years since the last time she had been this...aware. This happy. I pulled my hand out of my coat pocket and reached out to her, enveloping her soft hand in mine. A tiny peep sounded from her lips at my touch, but she soon relaxed, twining our fingers together. She cocked her head to the side and laughed, squeezing my hand before letting go.

Lyra took a step back, kicking chunks of snow away from her. A lock of her black hair slid onto her face and she quickly tucked it behind her ear. She threw her arms up, letting the snowflakes wash over her.

"Come dance with me, Caspian." She spoke, warmth laying in the undertone of her voice. I grinned and stepped toward her, retaking her hand. Her eyelids fluttered open and she pulled me closer, wrapping her arms around my neck.

Her body began to sway. I followed suit, my hands finding their way to her hips. She looked back to the sky.

The clouds had begun to clear out, bright stars making themselves visible in the darkness beyond. The warmth from Lyra's body sunk into my own. The silent world around us only made me feel whole, awake. It heightened my awareness of just how fleeting this moment truly was.

"It's really cold." Lyra mumbled, the pink in her cheeks brighter than it had been earlier.

I chuckled. "Yeah. The wind is a bit harsh."

"It's beautiful, though." She spoke after a moment's silence, her voice quiet.

I smiled, nodding. "It truly is." My eyes roamed across her features, taking in how red her face was, the blue tint to her lips. "How long have you been out here, Lyra?"

Her brows knitted. "I-I don't know, exactly."

I shook my head. "Let's get you inside. You're changing colors."

I tugged her toward the door, and she let me, following me willingly away from the cold. I pushed the door open and waved her inside.

I took a step after her, allowing myself one last look at the swirling snowflakes outside before closing the door, separating us from the cold.