A Moment to Last Forever

It all happened when the lights were out.

As he lay there, his mind was completely at ease. He could hear the wind swirling about outside, diving down alleyways and pushing leaves along the cobblestone streets. An occasional gust would come by and shake the windowpane. The glass was as old as the building itself, set into the wood some time ago, becoming loser each year that passed. He was amazed by the sound of its rattling that it had not yet fallen out. Outside the window, he could only see into the city the slightest bit - the tops of other buildings, illuminated by the glow of the moon. The stars shown brightly in the sky above roofs, glittering millions of miles away. What other windows he could see were dark. Who ever or whatever was behind them was long asleep.

He liked it that way. They were alone.

The room itself had seen better days. The walls were barren. It was obvious over time layer after layer of paint had been applied - trying to hide the years had had passed. The ceiling was stucco - and slightly discolored. A faint yellowish brown - clearly from cigarette smoke. Although it had been listed as smoke free, a thick haze still lingered throughout the building - in the main parlor, stairwell, and hallways. Seeping into everything. It didn't bother him though - reminding him of what his grandmother's house used to smell like. Rich from the stink of ashtrays. There hadn't been much room to spread out. Literally just two small beds, a desk, and a tiny wardrobe. But it all didn't matter too much. They wouldn't be staying long.

As he listened, he was content. Just lying there in the dark. It was a perfect moment. Just enough moonlight was falling in through the window that he could make out the shape of the bed they were sharing and the curve of her hips below the densely knit blanket. It had been some time since he had been this happy. Other than the occasional reminder of the wind outside, the world seemed to stand still.

His heart was beaming.

Below the blanket he could feel her radiating warmth. It was hot - but not overwhelming. Just what he needed. It was the kind of warmth that embraced him. Wrapped itself around him and held tight. It never became too much - too unbearable, causing sweat. The kind that in the morning he wouldn't want to leave the blankets. Couldn't be forced to. Every couple minutes or so, he would smile. Underneath all the layers, he could feel one of her fingers twitch against his forearm - her body in such a deep state of sleep, nerves occasionally firing unannounced. Something about it was so endearing. Simple yet charming. He listened to the tempo of her breathing. Felt her heartbeat echoing against his own. Watched her chest slowly rise and fall. Waited for each breath to make contact with his skin, warming it for just a second. It was dark, but he could still imagine the lines of her face, the curves of her cheeks, her eyelashes, the shape of her nose. It would always be there, engraved in his mind.

Best of all was how they fit together. Like puzzle pieces. His hand in the curve of her hip, her head resting on his shoulder - showering him with waves of auburn. As if they melted into one. A completed picture.

It was amazing to him that something so simple could make him so happy. Just one tiny moment, that could seemingly be taken for granted. Lost amongst a sea of others. Yet here he was. Soaking it all in. Never wanting it to end.

Tonight belonged to them.



e