not mine. blah blah blah.
onward.
He didn't know what possessed him to come here. "Here" currently being her front porch. They'd had another fight. It seemed like more and more of their time was spent fighting anymore. He didn't want that. But part of him knew it was for the best.
That part of him was currently being ignored though as he stood hesitantly on her porch. It was late. He shouldn't be here. But for some reason he couldn't quite let their fight go this time. He didn't know why he was here. Maybe it was the way her face broke in the split second before she turned and stormed away. Maybe the constant battle was just starting to take it's toll on him.
He drew a breath, running his hand over his face. The breath left his lungs slowly as his hand raised to knock against the door. He silently prayed she wouldn't let him in.
Fighting was a constant for them. It was familiar. It was comfortable. Lately though the words had been sharper, the deliveries more biting. It seemed like all they were ever doing was apologizing. Tonight she'd said she couldn't do it anymore. Maybe that's why he was standing outside her door waiting for her. Maybe it was the sigh she'd let out once her back was turned to him. It wasn't her usual sigh of frustration. There was something broken about it.
The door pulled open. He squinted slightly as the light of the house poured into the darkness. She was gazing up at him wordlessly.
They used to be friends. He hadn't seen her laugh in longer than he cared to think about. They used to share secrets. Secrets that no one but each other would understand. He hadn't heard her whisper in what felt like forever. They used to sit in silence and just enjoy the quiet presence of someone who understood. He hadn't realized how precious that time was before it was gone.
"I'm so tired." She whispered as they held each others eyes. She was leaning against the door frame like it was the only thing keeping her standing.
He wanted to tell her he knew. He wanted to tell her he was tired too. He wanted to smile at the memory of the last time she whispered those words softly into the night, as they sat outside the home of her past life. He wanted to cry at it.
He knew why he was here. He reached out and cupped her face in his hands. He didn't allow either of them time to think before he sealed his lips against hers. She met him at once and all the fear and sadness and pain they'd been harboring melted into the background of the moment.
He rested his forehead against hers. Their breath came out in puffs against the cold night air.
He knew he should go home. Before they spiraled any further out of control. He tried not to think about how it was the most in-control he's felt in months.
It was her soft voice that broke him.
"Come in." She whispered.