So Close

Sierra isn’t sure how it happened. Before it became complicated between them, she spent the night at Ramin’s house like it was nothing all the time. She doesn’t know what changed, but she had stopped crashing on his couch so often. Maybe it was around the time that she began to realize she would rather sleep in his arms than on the couch.

But now she’s there again, curled up on his sofa, wrapped in a soft blanket that smells like him. She sighs, pulling her knees closer to her chest, and tries to block out her conflicting thoughts so she can sleep.

She hasn’t been trying for very long when she hears soft footsteps padding over the floor, and then someone is touching her arm. She lifts her head to see Ramin grinning at her, his brown eyes twinkling, and all she can think is that he shouldn’t be allowed to look that sweet.

Still, she can’t help but laugh as she sits up. “Ramin, what are you doing? It’s two in the morning.”

He sits beside her. “I couldn’t sleep,” he explains.

“So you decided to wake me up?” she teases.

Ramin grins. “You weren’t asleep.”

Sierra leans into him as she laughs, her head falling on his shoulder. “You know me so well.”

He presses a kiss to the top of her head, and she hears him laugh into her hair. Heart fluttering, she straightens again, pulling the blanket closer around her. “What did you want to do?”

He stands again, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet. The blanket falls from her shoulders. “C’mon,” he says.

“Where are we going?” she asks.

Ramin just grins and leads Sierra into the kitchen, unexpectedly twirling her around on the way in. When he spins her back in, he wraps his other arm around her waist, stopping her fast, holding her to him chest-to-chest. Her hand falls instinctively into place on his shoulder, and she stares at him.

His arms are strong. He could probably break her in half if he wanted to, but she feels oddly safe, so close to him. He looks at her intensely, and then to her astonishment he begins to sway back and forth, turning them in a slow circle.

A question is on her lips, but she doesn’t voice it. It’s as though a spell has fallen over the room, and the last thing Sierra wants to do is break that spell. Neither of them smiles now. They are too busy gazing into each other’s eyes as they dance. Ramin is humming, and then singing softly under his breath, and Sierra’s throat feels tight as she listens to the words.

“You’re in my arms, and all the world is calm

The music playing on for only two

So close together

And when I’m with you

So close to feeling alive

A life goes by

Romantic dreams must die

So I bid mine goodbye

And never knew

So close, was waiting

Waiting here with you

And now, forever, I know

All that I wanted

To hold you so close…”

Sierra is blinking back tears, and Ramin is looking at her adoringly, and there is nowhere in the world she would rather be than here in his arms.

“So close to reaching

That famous happy end

Almost believing

This one's not pretend

And now you're beside me

And look how far we've come

So far we are, so close…”

Sierra is definitely crying now, the tears flowing freely down her face. Ramin looks close to tears himself as he wraps both arms around her, holding her tight and leaning his forehead against hers.

“Oh how could I face the faceless days

If I should lose you now?

We're so close to reaching

That famous happy end

And almost believing

This one's not pretend

Let's go on dreaming

For we know we are…

So close, so close

And still so far…”

Sierra attempts to stop her tears as the last soft note rings out. “Ramin…”

Ramin touches her cheek, forcing her to look at him, and his dark eyes are tender. He leans toward her, and she leans toward him, and their lips touch, chaste and sweet – just the barest whisper of a kiss, but it is enough.

Too soon, they have parted, and she rests her forehead on his again. Through her tears she can see his smile, and that is, perhaps, even better than a kiss.