Catania
It was morning again. Shaina felt the sun touching her bare arm, but also felt she was not ready to wake up yet. Outside, the sun was already on the horizon, warming the island with its heat embracing each person in every place they were, the two of them being no exception.
The woman was lying in bed, covered only by the bed sheet. She had been awake for a while now even when her eyes were still closed, a half, yet honest smile forming on her lips. She felt happy—extremely happy—in ways she never thought possible. The sensation and emotions still vibrated in her cosmos and skin. She could still feel his arms around her body, holding her tight, while his lips had formed the words ‘I love you’ and she had felt lost in the sentiment.
However, Shaina was afraid. She feared that she would get up and everything would have disappeared, that all would have been nothing but a dream. The woman held tight to the pillow, embracing it—pretending it was him. After many minutes which she could not even count, she felt how the bed was moving beneath her while someone made himself comfortable, sitting by her side.
Her fear increased when a hand—a warm hand began to caress the strands of her hair, pulling them behind her earlobe, her face being exposed for the other to admire it. Shaina heard her name being whispered with tenderness and love; her entire body shivered. However, the hand abandoned the caresses making her pout, “Don’t,” she said.
Aioria smiled when heard her, “I thought you were asleep.”
“I thought you were gone already.” She answered opening her eyes to see him sitting by her side.
“I told you I’ll never leave you, remember?”
The woman remained silent for a moment. Yes, Aioria had said that the night before; and yes, she had not believed him. She was not used to that—“I’m sorry…” she began, “I just—”
“It’s ok” Aioria answered while she gave him a strange look that made him smile again. His eyes were shining as they had never shone before, “It really is.”
The man stood up and entered the bathroom. Shaina sat on the bed and watched him through the door which remained ajar. She knew he had kept his promise. She saw the blankets and the pillows on the rocking chair—which was now inside the room—“Did you…” she began to say and went quiet when saw him walking out the small room.
“Pardon me?” He asked when he walked out, drying his hair with a towel. To him, Shaina was the most beautiful woman ever, even now, when he could see her recently up, not being able to stop staring at her.
“Did you spend the night sitting over there?” she said, pointing out at the big chair.
He nodded, “It wasn’t comfortable, though; but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything in the world.”
Shaina noticed she had blushed. Aioria, on the other hand, walked toward the bed, kneeling before it. He tenderly took her hands in his, “Told you I’ll never leave you, didn’t I” she nodded, “I told you I loved you last night, I tell you the same now and will tell you so again tomorrow and every day…” he stopped talking when she freed herself from his grip and took his face in her hands. Aioria could not decipher the look on her face, feeling out of his body when her fingers touched his lips to be replaced then by her lips. The man propped his body up, taking her in his arms, holding the woman tight, and then holding to the kiss—to the moment.
He broke the contact desperate to see her eyes, “Tell me with your words what your soul is screaming…” Aioria could not stop looking at her; his hands nervously touching her face, “tell me, Shaina, please—”
“I love you, Aioria.” She said softly; in a way she never thought her voice would possibly sound, looking right into his green eyes, while they opened in surprise and joy.
Aioria did not let her say one more word. He kissed her again, deeper every time, trying to hide his own fears. He was afraid of losing her in the middle of some sort of mist, the one their reality was, for he knew, saying those words had not been easy for her.
“Mine, mine alone.” He said, kissing her once again.
Shaina nodded, not being able to say anything else. Feeling him closer. Realising her words were nothing but her truth. She was his, as much as he was hers—he had been for long.
Soon, the only obstacle between them was their skins, but not even that prevented them from becoming one.
For the first time.
Ariadne, 2005