Oh my, almost Christmas! Are you all getting ready? I'm sure you're as busy as me and haven't had much time to write. But I did set aside some time for all of you, and came out with this, a not-so-Christmasy story.
Sundown. Can you believe it came this quickly? Soon the sun will set, and the night will be upon us. I look at you. You're leaning over your table, working on some project. I stay where I am, reluctant to interrupt you. I turn back to my own work, frowning as I struggle. A warm hand touches my shoulder, and I hear your gentle voice in my ear. I look out the window. The sun has almost set. The dark indigo sky takes over the heavens as I stand up. My lover's hand finds mine as we walk outside. We lay down on a grassy hill, the wind rustling in the grass. Besides the occasional sounds of birds, there is no noise. We look up, losing ourselves in the vast night sky. Stars twinkle, and if I look closely, I see them pulsing rhythmically, like a heartbeat shared. The moon rises above the trees in the distance, not quite full yet. I strain to see the lake below us. I see it. Stars are reflected, their image blurred as a single fish leaps out of the water, only to plunge back in a second later. My breath catches as I hear a howl echoing through the night, but my fear departs as my lover wraps his arms around me. The wolf's lonely cry is answered, and I hear the squawk of birds as they fly away, barely visible in the darkness. I place my hand on the ground, feeling the cold dirt against my palm. I hear the quick rustle of grass as a snake hisses, perhaps searching for prey. The night air is rich with scents. The scent of pine trees, the scent of the lake water. I inhale, letting it fill me. I hear the soft hoot of an owl, hidden in the trees. The sharp, quick bark of a fox startles me, but only for a minute. We lie here, hidden away, lost in the night. Your hand touches my cheek, and we turn to one another, never speaking a word. Words are useless here. Wispy clouds drift across the sky, covering the moon for only a minute. The wolves begin to howl once more as the moon climbs higher into the sky. My eyes close as the wind lessens to a breeze, passing through the trees. I hear the soft thump of an acorn, falling to the ground. A splash indicates that another fish has jumped. There is silence. I open my eyes; only a minute ago it seemed that they were closed. I look up. Was I asleep? The sky is growing lighter, the stars vanishing. I look at you, confusion evident in my face. You smile at me. Yes, I was asleep. I turn to face you, smiling. We stand up slowly, hands entwined, as the dawn approaches. We walk home. As the sun makes its way over the horizon, birds chirp, welcoming the day. We head off to work, just a bit more cheerfully than usual. After all, the night will come quicker tonight.
Um…I really hoped you liked this one, because I spent a lot of time on it. Please review!
