Sugar, Honey, & Iced Tea

raindrops

The rain tap tap tapped on the window panes. Filling the silence in the small, cramped bedroom. 

Kristin was listening intently, breathing softly as to not wake the sleeping girl on top of her. Stroking the girl's hair, staring at the floral quilts piled on the bed around them, trying not to worry but doing nothing but that. 

The future? Uncertain. She loved her; they loved each other. But circumstance always had to have a say. They'd been sneaking under her mother's nose for months, and there was always a risk of getting caught together. Mary told her not to worry, she's on a work trip and won't be back for days. But she still felt trapped. Hell, it wasn't even her own mother they had to worry about, why was she the most worked up? 

Trapped. 

Kristin kept thinking. She Knew why. Mary was stuck with a pretty terrible excuse for a mother. Sure, she wasn't neglectful. But Kristin knew what she'd do if she found out her one and only daughter was dating a girl. 

Trapped. 

Mary said she hasn't done anything terrible in a long time, but Kristin knew better. She remembers the bruises on her arms she had noticed when they first met. She recognizes the distant look in her eyes. She recalls the nights Mary came over and couldn't say a word, nights Kristin vowed to get her out of that place one day. 

Trapped. 

Just like the rain, keeping them inside, tucked away from the world, Mary's mother had them ducking for cover, and taking shelter in any small way they could. 

During late night phone calls, whispering as to not wake anyone.

Meeting up at their favored date spots, but never arriving together as to not tip up her mother. 

And, when at all possible, in each other's arms while her mother was away, getting every moment possible together, even if at the risk of an early return. 

Trapped.

But hopefully, one day, never again.