Chapter Two-Hundred and Thirty-One

Claire sat on John's bed, tugging on the ties of her hoodie as she waited for him to return from his shower. She sighed, taking his open notebook from his night table and running her fingers over the lines of writing. She didn't read the words, but only enjoyed how clean his penmanship was.

"Read." John's voice smiled from the doorway. "You can always read it. I don't mind if it's just you." He scrubbed his towel over his head, making his hair stick up in stringy sections.

She nodded, turning through the pages until she found one that seemed to call to her.

I'll Love You...

On the day we say 'I do', our hearts and souls
will unite. The hopes and dreams of
many will become reality when the
Greek wanderer marries his Irish rose

I'll love you for forever and a day
I'll love you until hell freezes over
I'll love you even when you're angry
No matter what, I'll love you true

I'm counting the days until we
exchange promises and build the
last bridge across the oceans
of matrimony and love.

Forces conspire against us, to derail
our future. We fight to keep our fates
on track and from tearing each other
apart when suspicion wins.

I look forward to riding the waves of
life's ocean with you by my side, facing both
good and bad times together. I look forward to
all this and more for the rest of our lives.

She lifted her eyes to him, standing to touch his back when she saw that he was enjoying just being in the same room with her and looking out the window that overlooked their spot on the beach. "I'll love you always." She breathed, kissing his neck and trailing down his shoulder to the first letter burned into his side. "No matter what."

He sighed in contentment, pulling her close to him as the music from Clarissa and Thomas's record player floated into his doorway. "I'll love you until my heart gives its last beat, and my lungs will no longer take breath." He swayed her from side to side, dancing with her across the carpeting, the sound of the waves and the soft music playing in their ears.

She closed her eyes, resting her cheek on his chest to feel his heart's strong beat deep in his ribs. "I like this." She breathed, kissing his skin as his lips pressed to the crown of her head. "I don't want it to end."

He smiled, rocking her as he'd seen Clarissa and Thomas do when they didn't know anyone was there. "It never will." He tipped her chin up to look into her eyes, noticing how they reflected the stars that shone in his window. "Mi Estrella."

"What does that one mean?" She asked, letting him twirl her and pull her back to him.

"My Star." He placed his hand over hers, his eyes shining with pure affection in the brown orbs.

Thank you HMG2000! I love your poems and can't wait to see more of them!