Short Story: Home

 

“As the dawn sun breaks over sleepy gardens
I'll be here to do all things to comfort you
And though I've been away
Left you alone this way
Why don't you come awake
And let your first smile take me home?” *

(*Home: Jethro Tull)

***

I was walking slowly along a lengthy corridor with many open windows facing the orchard outside. From where I was, I could see the tall willows and other trees dancing to a mild breeze. A blue tit flew through one of the windows and followed me on my walk. It kept on going on its short flights, jumping from one window to the next one and always watching me, as if trying to find out what I was doing there or where I was walking to. I did not talk. I just looked at it, amazed, and it looked at me, tilting its head every now and then, like birds do, when they observe someone or something they are interested in...

I opened my eyes and stared at the bedroom ceiling, smiling silently…

***

He was still breathing heavily and calmly in his deep sleep. I looked at his face, enraptured by his exquisite manly handsomeness, thinking how lucky I was for being there… for being part of his life and for having him so deeply present in mine.

I tried not to move too sudden in the double bed, as I knew his sensitive ears would detect it and he would wake up. I stayed quiet and waited, watching him for a longer while. It was still very early in the morning and we did not have any real plans, anyway, to do that weekend, besides being together and having fun. 

As if woken by my thoughts, however, he slowly turned around, faced me and grinned with his sweet blue eyes fixed on mine.

I whispered, smiling.

- Good morning…

- Hey. Good morning, my love.

He reached out to touch me. I held his hand while still on my face, then kissed it. It was warm and soft. I have always loved his hands and his touch on my skin.

There was no morning ritual. Everything was as nice and unpredictable as it could be. My hands made their way on his body, from his head to his back, while we kissed lightly. He embraced me, bringing me closer and tighter to his strong body. Our legs entwined.

It was good to be so close together. Time could stand still and we would not worry about it… Especially on a lazy Saturday morning.

One of the most hailed emotions I have always had was that one when we were looking into each other’s eyes. It was so welcoming and so fulfilling. There was no way of hiding what we felt, once our eyes were silently saying everything. Those moments were like igniting a fire inside us and we were not afraid of being burned. That was one of them.

***

The morning air blew fiercely against our faces, when we opened the door downstairs, after a quick breakfast, heading for a stride through the park at the end of the street. I raised the collar of my winter coat up to my ears and covered part of the face and neck with my grey and blue cashmere scarf. He smiled as if saying “you people from the south are so sensitive to our cold air” … 

I felt the icy breeze and gritted my jaw. Despite of that and for a strange reason I was feeling comfortably home, like never before, while walking by his side.

The sky above our heads was pretty clear but not totally blue. Some dark clouds could be seen coming closer from the distance. He looked up and said, pointing to them:

- Either rain or snow is coming our way… and it won’t take long.

The wintry wind blew harder through the naked twigs of the tall old trees along the park unpaved lane. I heard the characteristic chirp and looked up.

- Do you hear it?

- I do.

- Do you see it sitting on the higher branches?

- Not really.

- Up there! See?

Squinting my eyes, I looked up attentively, searching for the source of that typical sound.

- Oh… now I do… but it’s so small…

- They are very small, yes.

The little blue tit flew from one branch to the other, as if following us with authentic curiosity, but never close enough to be caught by untrained eyes.

- It’s the first time I see one of these. I never thought they were so small… but they are really lovely… so fragile and shy…

Not to my total surprise, the sun suddenly disappeared behind heavy clouds.

We were half way from home, still in the woods and taking random pictures of everything around us for fun.

We knew what was going to happen, however. We had nowhere to run to. In fact, there was no use in running away from the storm. We would be caught midway nonetheless…

Then, almost in a sudden, it came down on us.

Those tiny white flakes fell silently upon my navy-blue coat and covered my shoulders with dandruff-like white spots. They were as light and ethereal as soft moist feathers, in the beginning, but soon they became heavier and the wind blew colder.

I covered my ears with the scarf and then stuffed my hands in the pockets. He noticed I was a little worried and tried to lighten it up.

- Your first snow storm…

- Not really, but the first one I don’t run away from, for sure.

- Do you feel alright?

I lied, trying not to look more worried than expected.

- Uh hum.

My jaws were clenched hard. My face was wet. My ears were freezing. I thought I was going to catch a cold, but then, suddenly, that thought just vanished away with the wind and snow. My heart was warmed up by a feeling I could define as of love and affection.

I bumped on his arm… intentionally…

People passed by in hurried steps, trying to avoid the inevitable. We did not follow them. We just kept on strolling forward at a normal pace.

I smiled at him, who seemed to be enjoying the whole thing, in spite of showing some concern about me. In my mind, to be really honest, I was not apprehensive anymore: I felt great.

He smiled at me. His handsome face and his unique way of looking at me, as if he was baring my soul and reading my thoughts, made me feel like the most special being in the entire universe.

We walked slowly, side by side, while the soft flakes were falling insistently and playfully upon us. 

I felt the urge to touch, hug and kiss him, right there, right then. In the middle of the park, however, where some people were still walking around, it was not very appropriate. We had to be discreet, so I needed to save my impulses for later.

I bit my lower lip and looked away. He noticed it and smiled.

We walked along the park lanes for a while, in silence. My mind was filled with thoughts of unpretentious happiness. I felt he kind of knew why I was smiling to myself.

For the first time in my life, I was feeling this special, appreciated, loved and safe. For the first time in my life, I was decided to share my thoughts and my future with someone who loved being with me, in private or even in the middle of many people and without any restraint. He loved my company and my attention as much as I loved his.

We acted like we had just decided that we could be and do anything and everything, as long as we were together.

I had just realized life could be so simple and so fine and that awareness was amazingly comforting to me and it felt so freaking right.

It truly felt like we were in heaven, making new beautiful memories.

***