Being this close to her orbit is intoxicating.
Our lips finally meet, and I swear I hear music, my eyes close and I see fireworks and the rest of my life during this kiss. I taste the love she has always shown me. Even though this is my first kiss, I could tell, right here and now, that this was the kindof kiss I wanted for the rest of my life, from the love of my life.
Our lips parted, and our eyes meet, almost like we are seeing each other for the first time. Vicé’s hazel eyes are full of stars, and her smile is as wide as the moon. Catching my breath, my brain was also catching up to the position of the sun.
Vicé noticed the wheels in my brain turning.
“Let’s let you home, Almita.” She put a hand on my leg, and gave me one more kiss.
Vicé began to stand up and reached her hands down to pull me up. Once I was vertical, she drew me into her arms for a hug. I took a deep breath in and held her closer.
“I know, I know. Let’s go. Abuela can give you a ride.”
* * * *
Although Vicé’s Abuela didn’t seem to care about her being a lesbian, she never wanted to test the limits of exactly how much she could be her whole self. Vicé told her that I was a friend that needed a ride home after doing homework on the beach. Friend. The pang offriendwhile wearing her promise ring, ached, but I understood. I would have said the same thing to my own mother, lest I fear her wrath.
Our hands remained side by side during the car ride. Pinkies grazing, eyes exchanging glances, staring at each other's lips longingly made the time in the car fly.
I stared at the ring Vicé made me—the most beautiful thing anyone has ever given me. I felt proud to wear this piece of art; to feel her love, time, and care for me on my finger with me always. This is now the most sacred possession that I own. My head is swimming until a crackly voice makes me come up for air.
“Here we are. A half mile away from your house, as requested,” Vicé’s abuela said.
“I’ll walk you a little further down the road, Alma. Wait for me, Abuelita,” said Vicé.
Vicé’s abuela nodded and turned up the radio a little louder. The sounds oftimbales, and the seasoned, tinny voice of a man in love filled the air, and muffled as we closed the car doors.
The sun has set. The grays and blues of the budding night sky envelop us among the bush, and dirt. Our synced strides crunch against the dirt, offset by a chorus of coquís. Vicé stops and turns to me.
“I think this is as far as I can go without getting you in major trouble.”
“I know. Thank you for today. For my ring.” I stare at it for the millionth time tonight, and I smile. Vicé smiles back and embraces me.
“I love you with all my heart, too,” I say into Vicé’s ear.
Vicé directs my lips to hers. We share a passionate but brief kiss.
Our lips part, but as I look into her eyes, I swear it feels like I’m still kissing her.
“I’ll see you later, Almitalinda.”
“Bye, Vicé. I love you.” The words glide across my tongue.
“I love you, too.” Vicé smiles. She waits for me to walk towards my house. I float down the dirt path, as if I am floating on air. My head in the clouds, and my heart is a cherub with a harp. My mind replays every single moment, every glance, touch. My body feels electric. Every cell of my body calls out for Vicé.
I walk into the house, and I find my mother sitting at the kitchen table. I didn’t notice that I was smiling until I feel the corners of my lips drop like a sack of potatoes. My brain has returned to my head from the clouds.
“Bendicion, Mami.”
Mami says nothing, but her eyes say it all. Her eyes pierce through me, and I lose my breath, backed against the front door, dart to dartboard. She leans back in the dining chair and crosses an arm across her chest. Never losing sight of me, Mami rests the arm holding her cigarette on top of the other. Her arm tips towards her mouth. She takes a long inhale, the tip flashing orange, like a warning sign. I lose my own breath in the smog of nicotine, as my heart races, and the butterflies from earlier are cutting through my insides, trying to find their way back to the beach.
“Where were you?” Mami asks at the end of her exhale.
The sound of ashes falling from her cigarette into her porcelain ash tray fill the space between us.
Anniversary Night Take Two by Violet Stone
Zac had forgotten his wedding anniversary, and he didn’t know how to bring it up. Sure, his husband, Luca, had got him a sweet gift of his favorite bubble bath, and while that was super thoughtful, Luca hadn’t pulled out all the stops like he usually did. Ever since they’d adopted their twin girls, Lily and Lara, their relationship had kind of felt as though it had been put on pause. So, maybe he didn’t need to feel that bad? The little hopeful thought rose like a flame before it was quickly extinguished. Yes, yes he did.
