Sweet Dandelion

by Micalea Smeltzer

Ansel told me he’d see me tomorrow and I felt nothing. No excitement, no fluttering in my belly, not a thing. But when Lachlan said it? I felt it all.

The dark and quiet have no labels. They judge no one.

His blue eyes lighten at the same time he smiles—and that smile? It’s like a brand across my heart, a fiery piercing feeling as he signs his name across it in ownership. He doesn’t even realize it belongs to him.

My heart fills with something out of this world, the kind of feeling people search their whole life looking for, the kind of feeling wars are fought for. Love.

TAYLOR ALLISON SWIFT are you HERE?!?!?!

I gave him everything, but he gave me nothing.

I gave it my all he gave me nothing at all

Lachlan pulled me back to shore, but it’s me who’s choosing to stay.

Period

“Yes, you. I watched you persevere through physical therapy, how you fought to walk again, how you refused to let what happened rob you of your freedom, happiness, of life. You kept going even when you didn’t want to. You gave me the power to keep going too. I said to myself one day, if Dani can do this, then you can too.”

“If you dream small you’ll never even touch the ceiling.” I give him a soft smile. “But if you dream big you might be lucky enough to touch the sky.”

“I’m here, Meadows. I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go. I won’t let the dream get you while I have you.” I open my mouth to argue that his presence won’t be enough to chase it away, but I opt against it, and then by some miracle when I do fall back asleep to him humming in my ear, the dream doesn’t return. I think Ansel Caron might be my knight in shining armor. I’m sorry, Lachlan.

Like a dandelion, I’m resilient. I can be cut down but I keep coming back. I won’t let life beat me down into nothing. I will grow, I will become.

He’s right, I never read the letter, but it can’t possibly change anything. Right?

You have your wings, Dani. Use them to soar.

I love you, Dandelion Meadows. You’re my sunshine.

I didn’t realize it, but every day since I got on that plane and left the States has been leading to this. Every city, every adventure, every step forward, was to bring me back to him.

“You’re loving me in the light.”

The past doesn’t have to be an anchor, it can be your wings.”