Jonathan

Beneath his fingers Nancy's hand was cold and trembling, though he didn't think that was from the cool air. He was thinking about the night she crossed over and knew she was remembering it too. How the panic reached a pitch as he cried her name again and again into an empty fog. It was still nothing compared to the panic she must have felt.

Instinctively Jonathan curled his fingers under Nancy's palm, pulled her away from the tree and wrapped his arms around her. Without hesitation, she fell into him. Her hands felt suddenly steady as she held him tightly, breathing slowly into the thin folds of fabric bunched around his collar.

For two minutes they stood in each other's arms and while their eyes were closed, night fell, leaving the moon's light to cast an icy glow across the forest floor.

Nancy lifted her head and as she withdrew, Jonathan turned toward her. For a moment he gazed into her eyes, amazed at how much closer he felt now, facing her, than when they were intertwined. Suddenly Nancy leaned forward and as their lips met, Jonathan felt a rush of euphoria.

The kiss was a moment. Like the green flash of a setting sun, it ended as quickly as it began.

As Nancy began to pull away, their lips held together with the moisture in the air, like the night was resisting their separation. Nancy's mouth quivered and she stepped away. Her eyes were locked on Jonathan's.

At an utter loss for words, Jonathan just stared at her, fervently holding the memory of her lips pressing against his and the gentle tug as she pulled away.

Nancy finally closed her mouth and swallowed, looking around them as if realizing how late it was. "Um," she said, scrunching her forehead. The sound of her voice was strange after such a long silence. "I forgot my notes in your car earlier today."

And just like that, the moment ended.