Sandy
The ocean was still and the night air was calm, with only a gentle breeze that carried the scent of saltwater through the castle. The rhythmic sound of placid waves lapping at the shore lulled me into the most serene state I had felt in several months.
I leaned over the balcony railing. My eyes slid shut so I could fully feel the salty spray on my face. Only days ago, I stood in this same spot… alone, troubled. As I stared over the horizon and watched the stars appear through the last rays of dying sunlight, I felt… fulfilled.
"Sandy?"
I turned at the sound of Aila's voice. She was poised in the doorway, wearing a maroon evening gown with long sleeves. Half her hair was pulled back into a low bun, and the other half lay in thick coils over her shoulders. She stepped into the light of the room and lifted her face.
I hesitated there for a moment, to take her in as if my brain was trying to memorize every detail. Her hands folded daintily, her uneven dimples appearing through her glowing smile, ringlets of loose red hair framing her face… She was so breathtakingly beautiful… more beautiful than I even remembered.
Her eyes connected with mine, and we simply stared, a silent conversation passing between just us.
She cleared her throat and brushed off her dress. "I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"
Instead of answering, I drifted inside the glass doors, pushing them open fully, and brushed past the sheer curtains. I grasped both her hands in mine. She chuckled lightly.
The touch of her fingers sparked remembrance. I gasped and signaled for her to wait. Before she could ask, I brushed past her and bent down at my dresser. I pulled the bottom drawer open. There was a tiny black box sitting inside, waiting.
I gently lifted it from the dark shadows, into the light where Aila could see. She raised an eyebrow as she examined the box, then fixed me with a curious expression. She kneeled beside me and drew closer. "Is… is that…?"
I cracked the box open. Two rings, one a simple band and the other a glittering diamond, were nestled inside, untouched for several hundred years.
Aila and I were so close, both bent over the rings. I scooped the jewelry into my hand and set the box aside. With a deep breath, I met Aila's eyes. I lifted the band out to her. She hesitated a moment, and then her expression softened with understanding. She opened her palm and accepted the band.
I reached out, and Aila placed her hand on top of mine. I gently drew her delicate fingers closer, separating the fourth. I slipped the ring on. Then, she took my hand, and her smooth, warm touch caressed my gold skin tenderly. She slid the band over my finger.
We lingered there in silence for a moment, admiring the beautiful rings. I never thought I would ever wear the band again. I was actually surprised it even fit anymore. Afterall, I was not the same person I was when I bought them. I lifted my eyes to Aila. Neither of us were the same as we once were. And yet, the rings still fit.
I rubbed my thumb against the white ridges of her knuckles. No matter who we were, we still belonged together… we would never truly be separate.
Aila knocked me from my thoughts when she chuckled and sent me a hopeful glance. "It only feels appropriate to dance now."
I gasped, held up one finger, and bounced into the air. I quickly conjured a few dreamsand candles on the balcony, then a spinning record player. The needle touched the CD, and intimate instrumental music joined the sound of the mild ocean waves.
I slipped my hand into Aila's and guided her onto the balcony. A soft smile pulled at her lips as I led her closer. She nestled her head under my chin.
We swayed together. The entire time, I could feel her chest rising and falling against mine, and I could feel how she rubbed the back of my head with her thumb.
I lifted our arms and spun her, to which she giggled. "You always did have a dramatic flare, didn't you?"
I wriggled my eyebrows at her, and she chuckled. She let her head fall against my shoulder.
The world slowly disappeared. I wasn't even sure whether the song had ended. It was only us, rocking back and forth in each other's embrace. Finally, I entwined one hand with hers, slid my other arm behind her back, and dipped her.
Her face glowed in the moonlight, and her smile filled her entire face. There was so much intelligence behind those eyes… so much grace and dignity… and there was something else now too. Something I had not seen in decades. Something I thought I would never see again.
We rose upright, our faces so close. My hand almost automatically found her cheek. She leaned into the touch. She followed when I pulled her closer.
I paused for just a moment.
My eyes fell shut, and I tilted my head. Our lips touched. I was lost in the soft and gentle feeling… just like I remembered from all those years ago. I kissed her once more.
We parted slowly, meeting each other's eyes, and then we pressed our foreheads together.
"This is what was missing," she murmured. "You…" she sighed, and her smile reappeared. She gathered me in an embrace. "You saved me."
My throat swelled, and I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I buried my face in her hair and kissed the side of her head. But I knew the truth…
She had saved me.
