Where Time Stands Still

by N.S. Perkins

wouldn’t only be sexual attraction. She’s someone I would want to get to know. Someone I’d want to explore, to discover what makes her cry or light up. Someone I’d know everything about.

Dark hair tousled, brown eyes glinting, he gives me all of his trust with a single nod. It’s one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever been given.

Aaron is standing on my landing, dressed in dark jeans and a clean white shirt, a dark wool coat on top. Snowflakes dust his dark hair, which is combed to the side. He’s a dream. I mean, I must be dreaming. “What…” I start. He smiles, which makes him even dreamier. “Merry Christmas, Wren.”

Wren throws her head back, her laughter brighter than the sun.

“When are you going to realize that making you happy makes me happy?”

“You’re too good for me.” “Wren,” I say as a gush of wind drags snow around us, shining in the moonlight. “Nothing could be too good for you.”

In this moment, I realize if there was one thing I could wish for, it would be to live in a world where time stands still. Where Aaron and I could keep living without growing old, our bodies stuck in this place in time. This way, nothing would stop me from begging him to stay with me. I wouldn’t ever get sick. He’d never have to say goodbye. We could just be, together.

“God, how can you not see I’m so in love with you I can hardly breathe?”

“And what I’m sure of is that I’d much rather have the certainty of you than the possibility of something I might never want.”

“I don’t care that you don’t love yourself enough to believe I’d be lucky to be with you.” A kiss is pressed to the crown of my hair. “We’ll work on that, and in the meantime, I’ll love you enough for the both of us.”

Maybe not all love stories need to last a lifetime. Maybe the most beautiful ones are the ones that develop despite the fact that they won’t.

“It’s your mom, Wren. Even if she isn’t the person she used to be, she’s still the person who raised my person, and I’m honored to have the chance to meet her.”

“Wren,” he starts, making me shiver with a single word. To my left, the sun is creating a warm, pink glow over the water, reflecting in Aaron’s whiskey-colored eyes. “I won’t be long, because if I started to say everything I love about you, we would be here until next week.”

“I could also promise to love and cherish you until death do us part, but I assume this is a given. So, instead, I’ll make you another promise I think you need to hear.” He takes a step forward, our bodies two magnets. Hands in mine, he murmurs, “I promise to remember everything.”

“I know forgetting scares you, and I get it. I get it so much. But don’t worry about our memories, cariño. They’re safe with me.”