First the breath, then the kiss – just seconds to catch either one, just seconds between the two – and they are kissing for the first time.
Ashley can't remember the first kiss she ever had, whether it was little Tommy Brandt or little Kevin Sharp, on the swings as the recess bell rang… but this one puts them all to shame.
This one erases the others and wipes Ashley's past clean – a blackboard smooth, a new page.
Spencer's kiss isn't sure and that brings affection to Ashley heart, it wells up like a spring of fresh water and overflows into Ashley's eyes.
And she is crying, she is crying and falling in love and they are kissing for the first time.
Their hands fit together like puzzle-pieces, making that elusive picture on the box clear, and Spencer is slowly drifting down, Ashley over the other girl like a blanket, like a shield.
And they are kissing and touching and mapping out a whole new world.
First the breath.
Then the kiss.
And they are kissing. And they are falling in love.
And Ashley can't remember anything else now.
END
