They all said it was a summer fling, destined to die with the leaves on the tree. It was a passing phase, a folly of her youth and of the sunshine that beat down upon their writhing forms. But she knew better. She knew that this was the love to last a lifetime, come what may. When she was in the circle of that embrace, nothing could touch her; nothing but the synchronized rapture of their movements.
When the days began to cool, however (and she found herself wearing more layers to keep warm) she felt the first stirrings of concern. She knew it was the bare skin of her torso that kept their bond most secure, and she wondered- could they make it work, with such a barrier between them? For days she stared longingly out the window, too afraid to venture forth for fear of the rejection she might face. Were the doom-sayers right? Was this love destined to be nothing more than a heat-shimmer of a memory?
One night as she lay in her bed, tossing and turning in troubled sleep, a dream came to her. In this dream she was happy- dancing and laughing with her love, moving together as one. When she woke the sense of loss was so great it was as though someone had reached into her chest and stolen her lungs. It was then she knew- she could not let her fear rob her of the purest joy she had ever know. Better to take a chance that might fail and leave her devastated, then remain as she was and ensure her continued misery. The next morning, fighting down trepidation, she stepped out into the cold air wearing a brand new, purple jacket- it's color a symbol of her newfound courage.
Her love was there waiting for her, and she tentatively put first one hand out, and then the other- soon she was once more surrounded by that familiar, comforting embrace. To be certain, it was a little more awkward now that she was covered in thick fabric- she had to thrust her hips with more vigor to keep things going- but as she and her love fell into their familiar rhythm together, she knew that never again would she let the coming of winter separate them.
(Circle of Love)
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