~ Lacey ~
I lay there in a hazy bliss, unable to believe what just happened.
I did it. With Dan
It had been perfect. I really was in love with Dan, he was perfect in every way.
It was as if I could see a way forward, like I could see a future for me. A future where I was actually happy, where I was enjoying life. It would be difficult, I knew that, but I could make it happen. And I had Dan now.
I snuggled deeper into his arms, his body tightening around me in his sleep as he felt me move. I smiled.
~ Dan ~
I slowly woke up, feeling tired, but in a state of pure happiness. Instantly my mind was full of what had happened, the perfect night Lacey and I had had together.
'Dan?' She was quiet, but there was a tone in her voice which I could almost describe as happiness.
'Yeah?'
'I love you'
I leant back and looked at her. 'Really?'
'Yeah'
'I love you too' I smiled at her, and we kissed again for a few minutes, before I rolled away and out of bed. She watched me pull on some shorts, not making any effort to get out herself. I laughed and went to make some coffee.
I felt so happy. Maybe me and Lacey could actually make a life together, maybe we could do it. She seemed more at peace. I could tell she had a long way to go, but she trusted me now.
She wandered out into the kitchen, a long t shirt of mine barely covering her.
~ Lacey ~
It had been a long time since I'd felt comfortable with my body, but I decided that now was the time to let go of everything I'd been told by Jake, and believe what Dan told me.
'You're beautiful Lacey'
Those words echoed through my head, as if trying to get me to believe them.
And maybe I did.