Never with Me

by Kaylee Ryan

“I’m going to place my hand against your cheek.” The corner of her mouth tips in a barely-there smile, but I catch it. “Is that okay?” “That’s okay.” Slowly, I raise my hand and do as I told her, resting my hand against her cheek. Everything in the background fades away. I don’t hear the other patrons at the park or the cars driving by. I don’t hear the click of my sister’s camera. All I see is this beautiful woman who has so obviously been hurt in the past.

It’s sad that this man will be the first that I kiss by my own choosing. To me, this is my first kiss. That’s the only explanation for the way my heart is racing.

“I’m glad it was you.” He runs his index finger over my jaw. “It’s hard to believe we’ve never met before now.” “I work a lot.” “I do too.” I pause and then toss his words back to him. “I’m glad it was you too. You made today bearable.” “Bearable enough to steal another kiss?” “Is it stealing if I freely give it to you?”

Out of all of the hugs I’ve ever received in my lifetime, this one is my favorite.

“Never thank me for loving you, baby. It’s as easy as breathing for me.”

“I wish there was a way for you to see inside my heart. If you

could, you’d see that your name is written all over it. You would be able to see that it beats for you.”

“If you could see into my heart, you would know that there will never be anyone for me but you. You would see that my love for you runs deep in my veins.