Long Way from Home

1- One Night

The cobblestoned streets seemed to grab at her feet as she stumbled up the hill, laughing and incoherently talking to him as they walked home. The sounds of other party-goers, creating a memory of chatting and dancing the night away, drifted past as they made their way home, snatches of other nights like theirs. The narrow streets seemed endless, the tall and colorful buildings, with their iron-worked balconies, taunted her with their similarity as she searched for the one he called home. The sounds of the city were alive around her, the music flitting through the air as they traipsed by bar after bar. Time felt endless and yet so fleeting, and suddenly they arrived at a familiar doorstep. She slipped her hand through his as he tugged her through the door, pulling her closer into his side as she hopped over the concrete step.

The hollowed out wooden stairs, after decades of feet wearing them through, echoed as she made her way up. She leaned against the wall, admiring his profile as he searched through the key ring to open the door. He caught her eye and grinned, the sort of smile one shares with someone that slows down the world. With a creak, the door swung open and she scampered through, flinging herself to snuggle into the heavy blanket on his bed. He shut the door firmly behind him and turned to face her. With a sigh, he settled onto the bed, pulling her to curl into him. She melted into his side. His warm breath tickled her ear as he whispered, almost inaudibly,

"I'm so happy you are here". He felt her smile grow on her face and flipped to face her. His eyes captured hers, and in the next instant their lips met, and the world disappeared. She vaguely heard the partygoers making their way through the endless streets, and felt the weight of the moment, the intensity in how he kissed her.

Drifting out of a deep sleep, she heard his deep breathing next to her, the only real music to a backdrop of laughing and chatting that seems to never end. Unable to even guess what time of the night it was, the sounds of people outside that roused her from sleeping were surprising but still a lullaby. He mumbled disjointedly and they softened back into each other, slowly sliding back into sleep. The cool air contrasts with the heat of the blanket, enticing her to nestle deeper into the comforter and him. Inhale, her chest rises. Exhale, she felt the corners of her mouth turn up in complete contentment. Night passed into day in a peaceful cycle.

She recalled the night before as he continued to sleep. The lights flashing, momentarily blinding her. The way his eyes seemed to reach the center of her heart, the way he threw his head back when he laughed at her joke. How the conversation flowed like the wine, easily and endlessly. How honestly and earnestly he wants to be in her life. She never felt this way before- so comforted in his friendship, basking in his love. It felt more certain that he loves you, despite never having said it, than the previous who only ever said it. She knew it now; she wanted to marry him. Everything seemed possible with him. She wanted to move mountains for him, and he made her feel like she could do it. And best of all, she knew with a certainty in her soul, he felt the same.