Blake told me, yesterday, that she had selected singular words for people. I've since discovered that I do something similar, in associating people with materials. In some cases, parts of people.
The first time I decided upon one for Blake was earlier today. There we were, sitting across from each other at a small white table on the dockside promenade of Kuo Kuana. It wasn't the first time that we'd decided to lounge around outside to enjoy the village's comforts and each other's company, but something today was different. Something about her posture, the cadence of her voice, and the way her ears remained perky throughout our encounter was simply different.
It was also the first time I realized that Blake has amber eyes.
I mean, the color of her eyes is obvious, and I've definitely noticed it before, but today, I got lost in them. There was nothing particularly special about our conversation until that moment. The sea breeze, the smell of fried food from nearby carts, and the sounds of bustling people around us were all things I'd gotten familiar with. Despite the normality of the situation, I found myself randomly drawn to her eyes as she was mid-sentence, and something magical happened. Something was suddenly so different.
I'm pretty sure I forgot how to breathe. I know for a fact that my tail stopped swishing and held its curled shape behind me as I simply stared, overwhelmed. The fact that Blake merely continued talking as though nothing unusual was happening only made my heart beat faster as I started to drown in her gaze. My palms became sweaty despite their grip around a cool drink, though I could no longer feel heat or cold. I think all of my senses but sight shut down to focus fully upon her face, and those eyes. She's always struck me as beautiful, but until earlier today, it was almost like I had somehow missed just how beautiful she is.
After all, today's the day that I realized Blake's eyes aren't yellow- they're amber, and that's important.
When I think of amber, I think of time. Preserved insects, trapped in their final moments, floating through history in an all-encompassing, bright, honey-colored vessel. The idea of her eyes preserving moments in time is so fitting and wonderful that it struck me like a physical blow straight to the lungs as she stole my breath with a single ordinary glance. Looking at her yesterday, I saw pain, longing, and fear trapped within those eyes. Today, instead, she's trapped me, and I'm surrounded by other captives that I thought I might never see within her.
Mirth. Confidence. Adoration.
The way she looked at me in that moment encapsulated the way I've felt about her for months. Though her lips said something that I couldn't keep focused upon, her eyes told me something else- she and I had reached an understanding. I had been worried for some time about whether or not she felt the same way, but in that moment, I knew. It's been consistent since, and that simple look seems to have crept into her smile. It's a spark. A chemistry. A reflection of me, shining within the facets of her irises.
Perhaps in this case, I've become the bug trapped in amber, preserved in a perfect moment of comfort. I never saw it coming as she surrounded and embraced me in her gaze, but I was a willing victim. Moments like that one have kept happening ever since, all day long, and each time, just looking at her eyes is enough to bring back not only the memories, but the feelings that come along with them.
I remember staring, but I don't know for how long. Seconds? Minutes? Despite my laser focus upon her, I hadn't noticed as Blake raised a brow. She called my name, and her siren song pulled me from the resin that I had willingly fallen into. She pointed out that I was blushing, and the sensation of warmth made itself immediately known upon my face. She asked if I was okay, and suddenly, I was able to function again.
I replied that I was always okay when I was with her, and my blush spread through the air to land upon her cheeks like a perfect, ruby butterfly. Our conversation resumed, and I was once again able to play my part in it. Even so, I kept my eyes on hers, and I kept finding new things to focus upon within them.
Blake has grown and changed for the better since we arrived on this island. Every day, she smiles a little wider. Every night, she moves a bit closer as we sit together around the fire pit outside of her home. Her struggles and pain are still there, but they're layered with something new. Something beautiful and befitting of her newfound strength. I'd like to think that I played a part in helping bring out those parts of her, but in the end, I know she does just as much for me.
There's a lot I don't say, not because I'm uncomfortable doing so, but because I have what I need in order to deal with my own issues. That's never been truer than earlier, when I decided that her eyes are amber. A negative thought or two has crossed my mind today, but all I have to do is take another look inside of her eyes and let myself reflect within them. I can see not only our moments together trapped inside, but the feeling she's preserved within them, too- that she and I know that everything will be alright.
I want to know what the other parts of her are made of, and I'm about to get the chance at discovering one of them. She's leaning in closer as we sit near the fire once again. Our conversation paused. I can tell that we're both thinking the same thing. Something about this moment is different, too.
Blake's lips are velvet.