Perception

XXXIII

It was more than three kilometres from where they were to Central Station, Anna knew. But she was enjoying walking next to Eli so much that she never suggested taking a tram.
And neither did he.
It was a good job she hadn't taken up Sarah's offer of the high-heeled pumps really, and had stuck to her comfy sneakers. She could easily walk for ages on her sneakers.
So they walked, soon crossing the bridge where tomorrow all the market stalls would be selling their wares again, and then they went through the narrowest of shopping streets.
It was fun, being in the Kalverstraat at night. During the day Anna didn't like it much, here. Too busy. Too many people, too many tourists everywhere. But now, in the darkness of night, lit by the street lamps and the shop windows, she was enjoying it.
And it was the most natural thing in the world to hook her arm through Eli's as they walked along towards Dam.
"Are you not cold, Eli?" she asked him as they came past the hidden church with its great wooden door. She really liked that church, during the day when it was open, even if she wasn't religious. It was a little sanctuary in the bustle of the city, and she had lit a candle there with Sarah several times.
Eli squeezed her arm a bit tighter. "Nah, don't worry, Anna. Not cold at all."

There was an undercurrent to his words she didn't quite understand, and for the first time she kind of wanted to get some sort of sense. Was he cold, but he didn't want to tell her? Or was he not cold... maybe because of her?
There were people milling around everywhere even now, quite a few tourists out to have a good time, and some unsavoury characters that she could only assume were there to sell them unsavoury products.
But no one bothered them.
It was so nice that she was almost sad when she saw the imposing shape of the monumental station looming in the distance after a while, its shadow stark against the night sky.
No, strike that. She was definitely sad that this walk through the darkness would come to an end soon.
They hadn't spoken much, really. She hadn't felt the need to, when it was so comfortable to just be here next to him, walking along the quieted streets.

They crossed the square and made their way through the station and onto the ferry, easily finding their own place by the front railing again. There was hardly anybody on the boat, so late in the evening. She was feeling cold again now, despite Eli's jacket, and she couldn't stop the little shiver that pulled through her.
"Cold?" he said, softly, and he held out his arm.
"Hmh." she hummed, and she closed the little bit of distance between them, stepping into his arms again and snuggling into his chest. There was no one but them on this side of the ferry now, the few other passengers all huddled in their light summer jackets on the chairs underneath the bridge.
And she was warm again, because he held her, and she was comfortable, because he smelled nice and he felt nice, and suddenly she felt some of her walls crumbling before her very eyes as she raised up his face to him, inviting him in.
He gazed at her, and the moment could have lasted only seconds or an eternity, for time no longer existed. Then he smiled ever so slightly, ever so lovingly, as he bent forward and let his lips touch hers.