A brave, untamed, reckless kind of love

She looked up at the swaying inferno over her head and wondered, ‘did the flame in my heart… set the trees on fire?’

A lazy chill creeped into the air. Not the bite of winter, just a nip to announce that a brand new season was at hand. A lonely streetlamp cast an artificial glow onto the French pavement, illuminating fallen leaves in a garish of warm yellow light. Twilight bathed the Seine as the streets of the most romantic city in the world gilded in gold.

The walkway ahead of her twisted like a silk scarf; twirling, leading into the horizon. The dancing lights of the famous tower, in all their vibrant tones, passionately kissed the sky. Her footsteps echoed sharply on the deserted street, sounding overly loud in her own ears, just like her booming heartbeat. Every step she took felt cushioned from below and the next one almost encouraged, bringing her closer to the glistening spectacle ahead.

This sight could have easily belonged to another time, perhaps a place where time was truly forever. A place of eternal serenity.

Her solitude was stripped by the sound of his footsteps, as he stepped in from the shadows. She could hear that he was slightly out of breath – a breath too complex to be described by a metaphor. Yet he failed to contain his smile as he caught up with her. He never had any trouble finding where she was. They had been running forever, searching forever, but in the end, all paths had led them back to this pavement – and each other.

Even now, without looking, she could feel his smile playing with her hair. A smile that roared in the dark… braiding a million promises into the autumn air.

She turned around to look at him and somehow forgot to breathe. All of time collapsed into one tiny second and exploded at light speed. Fragments and pieces of her small confused world began falling into place, now that he was by her side.

He was handsome, of course, but with a soul that was simply beautiful. She envied the crisp breeze, seductively caressing his hair, exactly the way she wished to, softly at first but tousling strands as it exited. Strong arched brows and lashes that should probably be illegal, surrounded eyes – the color of the earth after torrential rains.

Eyes, hiding a mischievous glint that tugged at the corners of his mouth, always fighting a smile, piercing her skin, greeting her soul.

Eyes, she was destined to surrender to.

As he slowly walked up to her, she paused for a moment. Feeling the ambiance, absorbing the mellow sounds, taking in the night’s aroma, just letting herself be still. The cold night and his nearness had painted a bright red on her cheeks, the same color as her dress. The cool breeze weaved a chill through her veins and made a home somewhere deep in her heart. It filled her with a nostalgia she had no recollection of. A calming happiness she had never felt before.

She breathed in, inhaling this memory and locking it in her vault.

Vowing to be beamed into this exact moment, another day, maybe from another place, another time.

Joining her path in sync with her steps, he carefully slung her smiles over his shoulder. Like a traveler carrying his meagre belongings, finally on his way home.

Unsaid promises brimmed from their pockets as their fingers slowly entwined. In those fingers, cupid lurked in ambush, lacing their existence together, never to part again.

How could these two ever be put into mere words? An entire ocean of ink would not be enough to describe the exchange that took place as soon as their hands touched. They were a starburst of light amongst the dreaded, darkening dusk.

They were all the stars, in all the galaxies, condensed into two never-ending smiles.

They were in love.

A brave, untamed, reckless kind of love. The kind that requires courage, invites you to walk into the light after a lifetime of shadows. A love that doesn’t speak of half-spoken promises or meaningless words. A love that has no bounds; neither length nor limit. It is absolute. A love that forgets to think beyond the present moment yet promises each other an eternity.

A love  unafraid of  ‘tomorrow’.

A love that demands the heart of a lion… because it leaves no survivors.

As her hand got engulfed in his, she looked at him, as if asking, “are you sure?”

He locked her fingers tighter within his, glueing his heart to the palm of her hand. And within the fraction of a second, the greatest symphony in all of history filled the air. Because he whispered,

“Always – you.”