Where Time Stands Still

by N.S. Perkins

“When are you going to realize that making you happy makes me happy?” I’m afraid that she’s going to think I’m too much, but instead, she blinks and grins softly. “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?”

“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.

Let’s make memories, no matter how long they’ll last.”

“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.”