Falling Like The Stars - James Arthur
"I swear to God, when I come home, I'm gonna hold you so close…..I swear to god when I come home, I'll never let go…And I need you to know that we're fallin' so fast, We're fallin' like the stars, fallin' in love…And I'm not scared to say those words with you, I'm safe, We're fallin' like the stars, we're fallin' in love"
Henry clutched the small photo of his fiancée close to his chest as he closed his eyes and imagined her tucked safely in his arms. He was unsure how it was possible for it to physically hurt to be away from her, but hurt it did. He could swear her perfume was in the air around him and he could hear her beautiful laugh ringing in his ears. She had become such a huge part of him, he was certain they now shared the same heart.
He thought back to the first time he'd seen her and a smile crossed his lips. Elizabeth Adams had been at the same party his friends had dragged him to and as soon as he'd walked into the room, she was all he could see. The beautiful blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. The toned legs that seemed to go on for miles. The smile that illuminated the entire room and her eyes. Those eyes were the most incredible shade of blue he'd ever seen and they were so bright it was almost as if everything else around her faded to black and white.
It had taken 3 knock backs and an embarrassing evening involving a Jane Austin costume before she finally agreed to get a coffee with him. And it was the best coffee of his life as they had become inseparable pretty quickly.
She was a true beauty inside and out. He loved everything about her and it had scared her when he'd first uttered the most important 3 words he would ever say to her. And then there was that night, that beautiful night as they lay on a blanket under the stars eating pizza and drinking cheap wine and she'd said it. "I love you Henry." And he was certain his heart had doubled in size right then. She had obviously said it many, many more times after that. But that was the time he would always remember, and it's the memory that would bring him home.
The moment he had slipped that ring onto her finger and she'd uttered that breathy "yes.", agreeing to spend the rest of her life with him, he knew he had to move heaven and earth to get back to her, no matter what. She was everything and more and the life they were about to build together was like the brightest beacon of hope he'd ever known. Yet the thought of having to leave her, even for a single day had broken his heart several times over. But her pride in him always compelled him to carry on... For her.
Henry had always been rather articulate so his letters unfailingly managed to express just how much he loved her and missed her every second of every day. There was so much he wanted to say to her and she'd always smile and tell him they had a whole lifetime ahead of them. To fill with quotes from his favourite saints when the need arose or whisper sweet nothings to each other in the middle of the night after making love. And then she would tell him to come home safe to her because her heart couldn't beat without his.
The hours turned to days and the days turned to weeks. They spoke on the phone as often as they could but the sorrow in her voice when they had to say goodbye always tore him apart. He couldn't think about that right now though. Right now he had to focus and be the best he could possibly be. He had to push aside his feelings of despair and resentment at being away from her for an hour because time was far too short to waste. He would soon be on his way back again, away from her again. But for the next hour their hearts could beat together in the same place and she could fit into his arms where she belonged.
He took a deep breath and opened the door… "Elizabeth Baby…. I'm home."
