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Morning. A lull of peace, the smallest capsule of tranquility before the rush of the day would bring the world full speed. You’ve always enjoyed how intimate and slow-paced mornings at home were, but your comfort had been compounded since he had moved in.
You could smell the burn of coffee and smell of breakfast from your room, as your body ached and you let out a stretch to try to relieve yourself of the distress your body’s contortions mid-sleep had left your bones in. He was considerate of your space always, letting you hold him close when needed, the warmth of his skin radiant as it stripped away any of the chill that winter nights had brought to your shared home.
Reluctantly, you managed out of your bed and head for the stairs, scaling down delicately as you caught a glimpse of his tanned frame from far out. Dressed in only his boxer briefs that clung tight to his form, Noah was prepping your coffee, just as you liked it, his eyebrow raised as he noticed you finally coming down the stairs.
“Good morning,” he murmured, as you wiped your eyes. “Sleep well?”
“Yeah, I did. As well as I can,” you said, sitting up on the bar in your kitchen. He passed over a steaming mug, as he smiled gently.
“I think we should be able to replace that mattress next weekend,” he said, returning back to attending to the eggs on the stovetop. “I know you said not to worry about it, but I want to help out.”
“Noah…”
“It’s nothing. I want to make sure you can get a good night’s sleep. It’s important, after all.” He’d turn away from you, to begin plating the meal he’d made for you. “As is a good breakfast.”
He’d sit at the bar with you, a plate and mug of his own in hand as they were placed adjacent to yours. His five o’ clock shadow helped accentuate his chiseled jawline, as you felt yourself getting lost in the different angles.
“I was thinking,” he managed, between bites. “That we could go to that park we’d passed by. The day we moved in? The ones with the pretty pink cherry trees? You always said you wanted to go.”
“I did, didn’t I,” you responded, sighing. Even after you’d moved in together after a year of dating and started life anew in a new city, there’d still hadn’t been times for the prolonged intimacy that you know Noah craved. Work was busy, and though his hours were flexible as a librarian, your demanding job as a business executive left little room for play. Yet, you’d gotten the day off, and it seemed apparent Noah wanted to take advantage of it. You remembered his words from the first night you’d spent together, that being with someone in moments of prolonged silence was a sign of closeness. And after you’d passed by that park on that first day, you wished for nothing more than to lay with Noah beneath the colors, letting your mind daydream what your futures would look like.
“So…?” He said, sipping out of his mug.
“I guess we should, then. It’s not like we’re going to have an opportunity like this again any time soon.”
“That’s my girl.”
—
A breakfast and shower later, the two of you were en route to the park, your hair blowing out in the breeze as Noah traversed the paths in the driver’s seat. He was a meticulous, careful driver, and passed through the streets with caution as you headed towards the destination.
Placing your chin in the palm of your hand as you looked out through the open window, you wondered how you’d gotten so lucky. Even after so long, the idea of being alone with Noah gave you butterflies: even riding in his car was a thrill that let the little hopeless romantic in you squeal in delight. He was charming, considerate, intelligent, handsome… and yet, of all people, he’d chosen you. And that was enough to have made your heart sing.
You found yourself getting lost in marveling at his features, before he responded to you, his eyes never leaving the road.
“You’re staring.”
“Am not.”
“Oh, really? So I just feel your gaze out of my peripheral vision because…?”
“You’re imagining things. Maybe it’s the glare from the mirrors?”
He snickered.
“Maybe so,” he’d reply, amusement filling his face. Upon turning the corner, his eyes scanned the area. “Looks like this is our stop here.”
After finding a suitable parking spot, the two of you would exit the car, taking in the nice weather and cool breeze as you walked in silence. There weren’t many other people in the park, as there was a larger community gathering spot, track and playground across the expanse of the lake not too far out. This, alone, was for people like the two of you: wanderers, either aiming to sit on the bench and take in bird song or go for a stroll and take in the sights. The sights of which were a plethora of pink cherry blossom trees, illuminated beneath the glow of sunshine.
The vision was captivating, but the warmth you felt from the beauty around you was nothing to feeling Noah interlock his fingers within yours.
“It’s even better up close,” he remarked. “Look, there’s a bench right there. Perfect.”
Without a second’s hesitation, he led you to the bench. There, the two of you sat, hands interlocked, watching pink petals descend from the sky as the breeze blew past.
“Thank you,” you managed out, cuddling up to his arm closer. “For everything, Noah.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“No, I do,” you replied, letting your eyes travel about the serene surroundings. “I… I didn’t know I could feel things like the things I do now until I met you. You just make everything seem so… worthwhile. Like all the things I’ve been working for to this point have been for a reason. That this was like… I dunno,” you said, wiping your eyes a bit as they became misty. “...like this was like the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The words felt like a relief to leave your lips, but what followed caught you off-guard. Silence. Moments passed without a reply, let alone even a breath from Noah. You felt your chest start to tense, before you turned to the side, to see Noah’s eyes starting to tear, but his expression remained calm, as he held you closer.
“I feel the same way, too, darling,” he said, cupping your face. “You’re my reason. For now and always.”
With a steady motion, he’d tenderly pressed his supple lips into yours, in a searing kiss that gave you the same butterflies as your first. Feeling the tenderness and intimacy encapsulated in a single moment, you felt like you two weren’t just the only ones in the park, but the only people in the world, and felt your heart racing. If this was what a lifetime of love looked like, you couldn’t wait to live everyday just like this: still… and still madly in love.