Of course their bodies have changed. A few more wrinkles. Faded scars. Grey hairs. But Maura sees the same eyes. The ones she will always know. Everywhere. Anywhere. Jane is close enough. And the light touch of her fingers. The pulp of each digit running lightly against her forearm. Going up to her shoulder. This body she knows. By heart. By soul. By touch.
They knew this day may come. Of course. But now Maura almost wishes she doesn't. She had hoped to not disappoint Jane. Ever. And she is. Now. At the end. It's the first time she feels that she is failing her love. She replaces herself closer to Jane. She curls up into her arms. And like she have done during so many hours, she listens to the heartbeat coming from the body beside her. It doesn't feel different. Except it is.
"Maura, come on ! Why are we here again ?" Jane's voice is high-pitched and Maura feels the tiredness going with it. She turns. Slowly. Intentionally. To see Jane ranting, saying something not understandable and trying to be furious about this.
"Oh no no no Maura ! You're not going to make me feel guilty…Damn, you're the one who drag me here !" Their eyes lock. And Maura starts to smile. Slowly. Intentionally. Before starting to laugh. Really laugh. Pure ecstatic free laugh.
Jane don't understand. She got angrier. Despite the fact that she is already red and sweating, she said "You're gonna pay for that Maura. I'll swear that you're gonna pay…" Without responding and returning her focus on the mountain trail again, Maura set off. They walked for a few more hours.
At almost 5pm they are on the top. And it took Jane's breath away. She had suffered, swearing when she thought Maura couldn't hear her, had stopped many times for futile motives, had tried to blackmailed Maura, and had considered all possible scenarios for them to go back to the car. But she hadn't prepared for that.
It is magnificent.
The more she looks, the more she can't believe it. She rotates to fully see everything around her. Surrounding her. She has almost finish her rotation, thinking how she is going to do it again and again and again, when Maura appears in her visual field. And as scary as it is for her, she suddenly feels tears rolling down her eyes. Water making its way on her cheeks. She doesn't try to stop it. She doesn't try to understand why it is happening.
The silence enfolds them. Sobs are gone. Aspirate by everything around them. Mountains. Sky. Sun. Trying to make it better. So Maura pulls a little from the embrace. Slowly. Intentionally. She keeps her arms lock around Jane's waist. She nods. Takes the time to fill her lungs with fresh air. Breaths in and out. Loudly. So Jane will know that she is here.
"Thanks." The whisper dies in the wind. Jane's lips are on Maura's cheek. Softly brushing the red and fresh skin. Just under her.
Maura smiles. Her four words hang in the air as she pulls back a little to look into Jane's eyes. "Grow old with me."Of course their bodies have changed. Color. Weight. Voices. But they knew. They found their way. Hands in hands. Absently caressing Maura's fingers because she knows she isn't asleep, Jane said : "Maura, you have to rest. Please try. With me." They are still facing each other. Eyes closed. Jane let Maura's hands go to grab her by the waist. Firmly. And drags her into her chest. Carefully resting her cheek against Maura's forehead. For the first time since long ago, she don't mind for Maura to find out that she is crying. Same memory. Shared. And a lot more.
Mountains. Sky. Sun.
Jane quietly spoke. "Keep on growing old with me Maur."
