Date: Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:01:38 -0800
From: Ashley Young
Subject: The Fireplace

[[ Copyright by Ashley Young, December 10, 2007. ]]

The air was warm and smelt of fresh pine, chopped and neatly laid in the
fireplace which had been forgotten about since the very first days; small
cinders sparkling up into the chimney as the soothing orange flames
danced across the logs excitedly, producing the rooms only light,
flicking against the edges of nearby objects in a sort of eerie way.
Eerie, yet calming.

    A few sparks traveled outward, much like small fireflies, buzzing
into the silence of the room before flickering out, caught by a bird of
night. Small, metallic-gold bands glinted. Snow on the outside
windowsills shimmering as if piles of glitter poured there in excess by
some overly artsy child. The room was truly at peace, noise to a minimum
beside the ambient chime of the entertaining fire, the rustle of sheets.

    A slim hand, grasped within a smaller soft hand, lay upon a fleece
blanket, thumb tracing over the back of the other. The blanket draped
over the cuddling forms, accenting every curve they had to offer along
with the bizarre piece of furniture.

    The back rose up much like a chair, but at a small angle that grew
out to support a back if needed but also comfortable for a sleeping
person. Along a longer side of the piece, a sort a wall sprouted out, on
a similar angle, but not as drastically small and more for support than
comfort of sleep.

The fire danced on, telling tall tales of the pine, flicking a romantic
light upon the feature of two faces -- calm and relaxed, eyes slipped
closed. The smaller of the two rested between the legs of the second, her
back rested up against the chest of her female companion; head tilted off
toward the other's neck but seated comfortably upon the shoulder.

    This room held love, filled to the brim and spilling over. It was
this room, this fragrance, and this light on a cool winter's night that
brought out all best intentions. Tears of joy were shed once more, almost
on occasion, from share memories and soothing silences. Words weren't
needed to be exchanged, it was a sort of telepathic connection that was
held, even as smooth, velvet lips brushed against each other in a loving
touch, a shy, quivering hand cupping a cheek as reassurance that it
wasn't all just a dream.

    It was far from a dream. It was a dream come true. To lie, hand in
hand, engaged and in security of the other. To breathe the scent of not
only the sweet burning pine, but of a long time lover, to feel her hair,
her skin, her breath and her lips. Everything. It was now that it was
actually all reality. It was now that it had been reality for some time
but still feeling as new as the day before.

    Love had been shed several times, expressed in more ways than one,
all pure and innocent. Gleeful giggles and chimes of laughter filled each
day, night bringing around the silence of thought and enjoyment. A time
to relax from a morning and afternoon of relaxing. It was all refreshing,
each and every moment. None of it tiring or boring and never grew old. It
was reborn each day without a moments notice.

    It was this love, so pure and gentle, that grew into an ocean for all
to see.

    Within this room lie two women, hand in hand and cuddled happily in
front of an open fire, crackling with romance. They had defeated all odds
set against them by society. They had faced down all the hardships
together and never wavered in strength. They had joined together, so much
further together, than ever though possible, with love.