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Lingering twilight bathes the landscape in shadows, and paints a brilliant violet over the wispy clouds. Below, snow lazes silently to the frozen ground, covering the trees and the house in smooth blankets of powdered sugar. Inside, the scent of clove and cinnamon trails from room to room, extending from the kitchen where you are cooking dinner. You stand at the counter, dutifully chopping zucchini while the meat roasts beautifully in the oven. Music plays softly through a little portable speaker, and you intermittently hum along, adding the sliced zucchini to a large bowl along with olive oil, salt, pepper, minced garlic, and a bit of cayenne. After giving it a good stir, you add the mixture to a baking sheet, even it out with your spatula, and slide it into the oven under the roast. You carry the dirty cutting board, knife, and mixing bowl to the sink and give them a good rinse before placing them alongside the other dirty dishes. You half-promise yourself you’ll do the dishes after dinner, and you set a timer on your phone for the food before you head to the living room, where Adam is reading in front of the fire. The room is warm and glows softly, with the only sources of light coming from the fire and the tableside lamp. You join Adam on the couch, and glance at the book in his hand.
The Odyssey.
“Are you enjoying it so far?” You ask, nodding towards the book. “I believe so” he says, looking up a you. “I… have been thinking as I read this. That I… I know how it feels. Not being able to go home. For so long I felt like I had been cursed. By the gods, by my father…” He pauses and looks forward, a pensive look on his face. “There is also… this notion in the story. Of hospitality. Kindness towards strangers. As a host and a guest. And divine punishment for not showing it.” He rests the book in his lap and takes your hand, holding it close to him. “I have been thinking about the kindness you have shown me. When you met me… and every day since.” His thumb begins to stroke your fingers, and his other hand moves to your face while he looks into your eyes. “I have been thinking… about how important you are to me. Before we met, I… was aimless. And now I am home.” “Oh, Adam” your eyes fight back tears as you reach for his face, cupping it lovingly in both hands. “I thank the stars every day that we met. You have captured my heart, and it will eternally belong to you. Wherever we are together, we will be home” you whispered, guiding your thumb across the suture on his eyebrow. You lightly pull him closer by the head, and he bows his forehead into your lips. He clearly appreciates the gesture, as his chest vibrates with a soft growl of approval. When he finally pulls away, he extends his arm to open a spot for you to snuggle into, which you immediately take advantage of. You scoop your feet underneath yourself and cozy right up to him, and he lowers his large arm to rest over your shoulders and side. Adam turns his head towards you and closes his eyes, gently taking in your scent as you bury your head in the crook of his neck. He smiles to himself, silently praying to the universe for this moment to never end before he picks up his book, opening it to where he left off.