The callouses of his hands dig into my arm as he stops me in my tracks. There is a moment where nothing is said, and he shuffles from one foot to another. His hand slides down to mine, weaving his fingertips around my own. I don’t know why I let him, the emotional exhaustion from the past week takes over me and I forget my walls. I forget to back pedal and create a safe distance between us both, a distance where I can’t see the shifting hues of green in his eyes or the light freckles across his eyebrows.
What had possessed me to offer to walk him to his car, you might ask? Stop asking difficult questions. Clearly a very mischievous wee faerie had made its way into my bones because I also agree to going for a drive.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen Camusdarach?” He asks, having the unfortunate advantage of knowing me extremely well.
“Too long,” I smile sleepily, allowing myself to be dragged along on whatever this is. The drive is a comfortable quiet as we past by sepia-toned fields darkened by ever approaching twilight. Cows call out to one another amongst the quiet of the night and old Callum Porter’s horse, Murphy, wriggles amongst the grass scratching his back. At least five local sheep are probably stuck under, or in, something as we speak. I follow Jamie as we make our way out of the car park and through the winding path that takes us to Camusdarach. Loping reeds tower over a path burrowed into the ground. With each twist and turn, one could swear they were being transported into another world. The thistles whispering to them as they left reality behind. Everything melts away, all of the weight shedding off me with each brush of the reeds against my skin.
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Tears slip down my cheeks as the path breaks and opens out to crashing waves and soft glittery sand. A distance nicker calls out to me and i swear i see an illuminated horse by the shore. I go towards it instinctually, my feet floating towards this creature with ease. The faint nicker tickles my ears once again. Who are you, friend? The question echoes in my mind as i stare at the etherial horse, it’s coat a slick midnight black and eyes an intriguing void. Muscles stretch and give as they paw at the ground, their mane dancing in the wind as they toss their head.
I’m brought out of my trance by a light bouncing off the sea. The moonlight kisses the water with its pale glow and lights Jamie’s face as he turns to look at me. His smile falters as he catches the tears on my face, gently stepping forward to sweep them from my skin. The moment stretches on forever, and I feel safe in this other world. Safe enough that when he sits on the sand and pulls me into his lap, I let him. Safe enough that I relish in the familiar feeling of settling myself into the crook of his neck.
And safe enough, that when he leans in and our noses brush against one another, I meet him halfway with a kiss. I let myself fall away as his hands wind into my hair and I wrap arms around his neck. Thoughts cease to exist in this little world of mine.
Except, one thought remains. Who, or what, was that horse?