𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙴𝙽𝙳 || Original Story

forty | rain part ii

I thought I might have been dreaming after hearing Kate sing so beautifully and having danced with her once more. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect afternoon.

It soon grew dark, though. Kate had closed the curtains and switched on the light besides the window before sitting down beside me.

I wrapped my arm around her as she cuddled into me whilst letting out a soft, content sigh, her slightly damp hair tickling my cheek. We fell into a comfortable silence for a while, the ticking of the grandfather clock and Kate's steady breathing being the only sounds I could hear. I could also just about make out the sound of the rain pattering against the windows, glad that I was inside rather than getting soaked.

"This is nice," she said eventually, her tone sleepy.

"It is," I replied. "D-Do you want anything t-to eat or drink?"

"Nope. All I want is to sit here with you."

I myself was somewhat hungry, but I ignored the feeling and smiled, glad to be living in this moment.

However, I soon got lost in my thoughts and recollected our date. I'd perhaps been bold in saying it was a date even if Kate said that's what she wanted it to be too, but I suppose if it wasn't it might not have been the catalyst to what she admitted to me.

'I have feelings for you,' she'd said and had done so with such earnest. In the days and weeks that followed I couldn't wipe those words from my memory; I later realised I wanted to echo them, but the coward in me was also a stubborn fool and opportunity passed.

But it wasn't just Kate's words that were on my mind. It was her actions. It was everything about her. It was the very image and masterpiece of her with her freckles and her smile and radiant joy.

However, I couldn't help but feel as though she was the sunshine everybody so desperately loved and I was a grey cloud, aimlessly drifting and threatening that light.

"Kate?" I then piped up.

"Hmm?"

"C-Can I ask you s-something?"

"Of course you can."

"Did... Did you really m-mean it when you s-said you had feelings for m-me?"

Abruptly, Kate sat up and looked at me with a sad, yet questioning glance, taking hold of my hand with both of hers.

"I meant every word," she answered firmly. "I'd never lie to you, Edgar, especially about something like that."

She held my gaze for a little longer before adding, "You might think it's a phase or something, but I promise you it's not. In fact... I love you."

Her words took me aback, but deep down I'd always wanted to hear them. I'd always wanted to know how sweet those words would taste and now I did. Sweeter yet when they fell from the mouth of the most beautiful woman in the world whilst she was staring right at me with such captivating eyes.