Shackles & Roses

One

The sunlight is blinding as I lay on my back in the field, grass and the odd daisy swaying gently around me in the slight breeze. I look over at Bailey, smiling at the sight of her closed eyes, the wind messing with her sandy hair so that it half-covers her face. A faint smile sits on her lips, and I reach a hand over to gently cup her cheek. Her skin is smooth against my hand, and seems so delicate against the coarse skin of my hand.

Her eyes open, blinking against the bright sun, and her smile broadens when she sees me. I brighten at the sight of her, perking up like a flower when it's watered. I can feel my heart somersaulting against my ribcage. I let my hand drop back to the grass beside me.

"Hello, beautiful."

"Hello." She turns to the side to face me, ocean eyes wide.

"Did you have a nice nap?"

She nods slowly, and I push a stray curl of blonde hair behind her ear, admiring her beauty. Looking down at her where she lays, her small form is almost silhouetted against the grass, most of her head just a slight shadow with hair wrapped around her shoulders and neck like a protective blanket. Some pieces have escaped to stretch across the grass behind her, as though eager to explore. One arm rests on her stomach, the other bent above her head, fingers absent-mindedly fiddling with a few stems of grass. Her skin is sun-touched and crinkled smile lines crease around her mouth and eyes despite how young she is. That's my girl.

"What are you thinking about, Alex? You've gone all quiet on me."

"I am thinking..." I let my voice trail off, trying hard to lessen the blush creeping up my cheeks.

She raises an eyebrow, stifling a smile, and looks so funny doing it that if I wasn't caught up with embarrassment I'd laugh. Despite her poor attempts at being serious, I can see she's not going to let this go.

"I was just thinking about how much I love you," I say, then a slow whistling breath leaves my lips.

Did I actually just say that out loud? Suddenly the traffic doesn't sound so far away; the sounds of distant cars rush back up to meet my ears, mingling with birdsong, the soft brush of the wind in the hedges, and our breathing. I press pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers, inhaling the scent of grass and disturbed soil from them.

I sit up straighter, avoiding her eyes. We've never said it before. It's the truth, certainly. But I don't want to scare her off; not when she's such a little thing. Not when I love her as much as I do.

Worry laces itself through my skin, needle edges pricking. She's not going to reply. She's going to reject it. Reject me. I've messed it all up. My hand cramps from being in the air too long, and I let it drop back to my lap, heart plummeting with it.

"Alex," she says. Does her voice sound almost... regretful?

I turn my head sideways and stare straight into the sin. I don't care how much it hurts. My eyes were already watering so what does it matter? A small hand presses itself against my palm, fingers curling around mine. A small sliver of hope slices through my worry.

"Alex." Firmer this time. I hear her sit up straighter and turn back towards her a little. "Is that really how you feel?"

I nod, eyes traversing the surface of her beautiful face. So delicate; petite. Tiny features on a tiny face on a tiny body. And all of her wonderful. A button nose littered with pale golden freckles that just begs to be kissed, and soft edges, like a filter is permanently placed on her. Maybe there is; my affections.

"So much more than you could ever know, Bailey. You're my light. What would I do without the su—"

I am cut off abruptly as she springs forward to sit in my lap, surprising me. She settles a leg on either side of mine, her lips so close to my face that if I moved forward just a little bit...