Chapter Text
I swear the sun was brighter that day, in a good way. The light was evenly spread everywhere, and the September air was sweetly chill, like someone spritzing you with a fine mist of water from time to time. Butch always looked beautiful in the sunlight. I could always see every feature I love about them. Well, there wasn't anything I didn't love. The sunlight made them glow, as if a god or goddess descending from the clouds. They looked golden, and as they looked back at me, I knew that they were completely mine.
I carried the blanket while they carried the basket. They were insistent on keeping its contents a mystery to me. They love making surprises, even little ones. I didn't fight them over it either. I let them have their fun. They giggled the whole time, their lips always upturned.
They abruptly stopped when they found a spot they liked. Their smile was even wider than before. “Come, come here, darling,” they'd said. I had unrolled the blanket, and Butch put the basket on top. They sat down almost immediately, taking out plates and various foods like sandwiches and mini fruit pies. God, I remember it like it was yesterday. It really was a beautiful day, pleasantly cool, and best of all, my girlfriend was taking it all in with me.
Butch had always told me that they didn't mind if I called them my girlfriend. In fact, they didn't like “partner” at all, made it sound too “professional” according to them. One thing always bothered me, how they'd said “‘Girlfriend’ is a temporary term anyways.” I didn't want our love to be temporary. I knew we'd go down in the town's history as one of the very few gay couples the town produced, but did they not think we'd make it far? More than a few years down the road?
After I had sat down and all of the food was laid out, Butch looked in the basket again as if looking at a cute little chick. They handled the object with a delicate touch, using two hands to scoop it up. It was a small, baby blue box with a matching ribbon tied on top.
“Annabelle?” Their voice sounded shaky, scared but excited. They opened the box. “Will you marry me?”
Temporary. That's what they meant. Girlfriend was temporary, fianceé was temporary, but wife was forever. Our life together was forever, lasting and meaning more than any title could ever hold.
Of course I said yes. We giggled for a minute. Pure, unbridled joy. We had to get up and bounce in circles. Then they pulled me in, whispered “I chose no one but you”, and they pulled me in to kiss me. I swear, that kiss was one of the best ones I've ever had.
I was cutting their hair one morning. I've always tried to improve my hair cutting skills, but the lengths didn't usually match. Butch always said that they didn't care, and if anything, it gave a fun flair to their hair. It was never anything too noticeable, not like a toddler took scissors to their hair or anything, but you could tell a novice (me) cut their hair. I always looked forward to cutting their hair. There was something intimate about it. I've thought about it for years, but the closest thought that I've come up with was the trust they had in me. They knew I wouldn't have messed it up (too bad at least). They knew I respected, loved them, so much that I'd never do anything malicious with their image.
Or maybe that's why. They spent many years perfecting their image, how they wanted to be perceived. I would never take that away from them, and they knew that.
Anyway, cutting their hair, I asked when they wanted to get married. A few months had passed at this point, but I was ready. I wanted to be a wife, especially a wife to Butch. We decided on the one year anniversary of our engagement. It was cute, above all, and it didn't look like we were in a rush to get married, but also not looking uncommitted either.
When that day came, I had never been happier. I was in a beautiful white wedding dress with lace around the ends of the sleeves and chest. The veil felt like it was taller than I was. Daddy took my arm, and together we walked down the aisle. As we walked, I saw no one but Butch.
The closer we got to them, the more excited and happy they looked. Like they had been waiting their entire life for this moment. In the suit they picked, they'd never looked so handsome. It brought out their light brown eyes that I could get lost in. Well, I did. And for a moment, I forgot we were getting married. I couldn't stop smiling the entire time, my joy wouldn't allow it. Our wedding wasn't big, just a selection of close family and friends. We exchanged vows. I looked deep into their eyes as the minister said, “You may now kiss the bride.” They dipped me, and somehow, topped the kiss they gave me when we got engaged.
Except that didn't happen. Everything is true until the wedding. We had plans to get married. We did. They proposed on a beautiful September day while having a picnic. I loved cutting their hair. But that damned sheriff found them again. Somehow. After the first time, told Butch to be careful. I told them that maybe we should move someplace safer. They insisted that they could defend themself, defend us, even taking a few self defense classes in the city. But it wasn't enough. The damned sheriff found them again. That damned sheriff took Butch from me.
We would've gotten married. Could've gotten married. But now they're gone. gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone gone GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE GONE
HE TOOK THEM FROM ME
They're gone they're gone they're gone they're gone gone gone gone gone gone gone
For some time before I met Butch, I knew the sheriff wanted me. For a time, I thought about just letting him have me, to end the chase. I felt I would end up in his grasp one way or another, and I'd rather go on my own terms. But when I met Butch, we started robbing those banks, I never felt happier. I knew I would be with Butch. The sheriff would never have me. He will never have me. Over my dead body.