Simply, easily we fall in love. We fall straightforward so carelessly and effortlessly into the vast ocean of two peoples lives rushing together like a river to the sea. We come crashing into a wave of so much emotion and are crushed by the tidal love of one person. That one person. The very essence of your being. It's hard to believe that God can put someone on this earth that can love you unconditionally and so completely devote their heart to you. But what happens when a foolish mistake takes all that away from you? When you let go too easily. When you lose the greatest gift ever given to you… someone's heart. How can you retrieve that? How can you save yourself from drowning when you lose the one thing keeping you afloat?

So perfect… the rain beating on the roof of the car, so rough that you can hardly see the road. Headlights burn against the wet ground as it is beaten by the whips of raindrops. Driving too fast through a mysterious appearing puddle oasis, the car jumps and water is showered across the road. And you, sitting in the passenger seat leaning on your hand staring out the window at nothing. Staring straight through the passing cars, through the trees, through the old shopping centers into nothing. And it occurs to you that you are not thinking of anything, so your attention turns to him. He stares ahead as if no storm has shattered his silent driving attentions, as if the sun shone like a hot July day at the beach. And your heart belongs to him. He holds you although he isn't touching you. And you look at him. And you wonder why it was him. Why did you deserve him? Was this some kind of cruel joke by God? A trick from the devil himself conspired in the belly and at the root of all evil? Nothing so pure, so perfect as he could ever be wrought even by Lucifer himself. He was formed by God, an earth angel, your angel. Sent to you to be your saving grace.

She watches you so close. Even when she turns away her eyes still burn for you. She sees your soul. You belong to her. She breaks down your self-defense and leaves you stunned cold, stopped dead in your tracks. Like a crackling hot fire on the coldest of January nights. She warms your soul; she melts your heart. You long to touch her. To feel her breath on your neck and her soft fingers on your back. That gentle touch that could stop the world from spinning if it so desired. Your arm resting on the console and the other steering the car but your mind not caring where it takes you as long as she comes too. And she's watching you. She thinks you don't notice but you do. And you pass her a glance and see that face, like a porcelain doll: so innocent, so graceful, so everything; and you can't hold back your smile. And, out of the corner of your eye, you see her faint blush even through the darkness and her slight smile. You know that smile.

He gives you butterflies. Through a tunnel. His face glows orange from the lights and a perfect unbreakable silence is maintained for a few days in time as you move under the harbor of the tunnel roof only to be shattered by glass raindrops beating down on you again. And you take a deep breath. That smell, his smell. A comforting piece of himself. His essence and you want to touch him. You want to feel that skin and touch the hands of a man. A man who has grown up so fast in a world so hard on him. A man who has be beaten and bruised, whipped and burned by traitors and liars, cheaters and fascists. A man so deep, so warm, so…everything. And the clock hits midnight. It glows bright green across your hands. His strong, protective arm on the console. You stare without knowing that you stare at it and dream of that arm holding you close, closer. And you are startled by a warm, soft, gentle touch across your cheek.

She looks at you with bright blue eyes. Eyes that show you her heart, her soul. You look away only to glance at the road and look back to feel a tender, porcelain hand on yours as it lay on her cheek. And you take that hand and press it to your lips and close your grip tighter as you bring it away.

He has no idea that as he holds your hand, he is squeezing your heart. You feel so protected, so safe.

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