Breaking in Pieces

Dreams

To say the date was good would have been an understatement. The date was perfect; just what Dec needed before the big day tomorrow. Tomorrow. Shoot. Tomorrow was the day that everything would fall apart. His career. His friendship. His life. And this was all he lived for. (Ali, of course, was included but he knew all this before he knew Ali).
Everything he's ever known, wanted, needed, would all end tomorrow. Everything he loved dearly. He wasn't ready, yet he also was. Ready to get this over with. He didn't want to lose everything he'd ever wanted, but at this point it was almost inevitable.

    Dec wakes up about 9 am the next day to the smell of breakfast. "Shoot." He crawls out of bed and runs downstairs. He takes a deep breath. "HoneyI'msosorryIdidn'tmeanto..." Ali cuts him off. "Dec, baby, it's alright. Really. Besides, breakfast isn't even ready yet." Dec exhales and walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her waist, laying his head on her shoulder. "I love you so much." She turns her head to the side and smiles. "And I love you so much." Dec reaches out his hand and takes a little bow. "Would ye fancy a dance? Maybe dinner after the big show tonight?" Ali blushes and gives a shy smile. "Well, Declan Donnelly, I think I just would." She accepts the offer and they spin around the kitchen, dancing on clouds.

They gracefully move around the kitchen before Ali stops. "I hate to break this up," she says, "it's absolutely brilliant, but I need to finish breakfast!" She lets go and walks over to the stove. "Aw yes," Dec says, "the typical English breakfast. Just look at that form! The perfect seasoning! Absolutely magnificent!" He stands with his head high, a fake microphone in his hand. Ali giggles, amused. Dec looks at her and falls in love all over again, relishing the moment, not wanting it to end. She looks over at him and gives a small smile, head down.
Ali walks toward him and he walks toward her, meeting in the middle. Ali wraps her arms around his neck and he places his hands on her hips. They start to sway, on the same page. Their first dance song begins to play in their heads. It looks so natural, free, graceful. Like they're copying it so clearly. Dec allows himself to get lost in the moment, Ali just letting her body do the work. They don't miss a step, just like they had rehearsed and perfected it yesterday. The song begins to slow, and with it Dec and Ali. They touch foreheads as the music begins to die out. Finally, they lean in and kiss, just like their first one. At last, Dec dips Ali. When he lifts her back up, they hold hands. Ali looks at him and turns around to go flip the now-burnt bacon, though neither of them minded at that moment. It was perfect.

Dec wakes up to the sound of Isla screaming. He hears Ali shout up the stairs. "Dec, will you please take care of her? I'm busy with breakfast!" He rolls out of bed and walks over to her cot. "Yeah honey. I got it!" He lifts Isla out and rocks her back and forth. "Shh, shh. It's alright." He starts to bounce her up and down. Enjoying the motion, she looks him in the eyes and smiles. He can't help but smile back, so thankful to have such a beautiful little girl. "You're a cutie aren't ye? Yes, you are!" He lifts her above his head and pretends to drop her. She giggles.
Dec walks down the stairs, Isla cradled in his arms. "Ali, you made such a beautiful child! You, of course, are beautiful as well. We wouldn't have been blessed with this cutie if you weren't!" Ali blushes, though she doesn't turn toward Dec. Instead, over her shoulder, she shouts "have you looked in the mirror lately?" and flips the egg. "Yes," Dec responds, "that's why I said she got her beauty from her mum!" Ali rolls her eyes. "You KNOW that's not what I meant!" Dec grins. "Well, of course that's what you meant!" Ali looks annoyed. "Why are you so cheeky? I mean, it's adorable but why?" Dec gives a sly smile. "Admit it. That's why you fell in love with me! It's by far my best quality!" He sits down and puts Isla on his lap, handing her a toy. "Now that's not true." Ali says. "There's so much I love about you, and you have so many good qualities!" Dec rolls his eyes sarcastically. "God, I love you so much." Ali replies with: "and you have no idea how much I love you! Now let's eat!" Ali grabs the food and places it on the table, and Dec places Isla in her high chair, taking a seat next to her. Ali sits across from him. He reaches over for a plate and cutlery. "I had the most brilliant dream last night!" he says, putting a little bit of egg and ham on Isla's tray. "Oh really?" Ali asks, "what was it about?" She takes a bite of avocado toast. "Well," Dec says, "you were making breakfast. There was no Isla. That, of course, wasn't the good part, but the moment was nice. I woke up to the smell of you cooking breakfast. The most divine smell. I was so excited to see what you were making. After we said our 'good morning''s, which were just me talking at 90 miles per hour because I was sorry about missing breakfast and you just saying it was okay, I walked up to you and asked you if you'd like to dance. You, of course, accepted and we were swinging around the kitchen in perfect harmony, our first dance. Just like we had rehearsed it. And then, we kiss. A good, romantic kiss. Just like our first kiss had been. It was brilliant!" He was ecstatic. He takes a bite of egg. "Sounds lovely!" exclaims Ali. Dec nods. "Oh, it was!" They both giggle, and Isla screams for more food. So, Dec being the great dad he is, gives her some avocado on toast. Ali looks at him. "Avocado toast? Really?" But it was light hearted, and Dec could tell. "What?" he says, "we're in Chiswick!" He smiles, proud of himself. Ali chuckles before saying "finish your breakfast and get ready. It's almost showtime!" Dec's smile fades. He takes another bite of egg, suddenly solemn. Ali turns around, tense. "Sorry," she says, "I didn't mean to disturb this wonderful wonderful morning."

Dec finishes his breakfast and heads upstairs, dreading the moment he has to walk through that door.