The old swing chain squeaked as I pushed myself slowly back and forth. The cool late night air brushed gently across my cheek and caused my body to shiver. I zipped up my jacket halfway so that I could lean all the way back and stare up at the stars. I’d always thought it was so cool how sometimes if I looked at nothing else but the sky I could sort of forget about my surroundings and feel like I was floating. The sky was so clear that night and the stars shone so brilliantly next to the full glow of the moon. There was not a cloud in the sky to block the breathtaking sight stretched out before me. Nights like that one are when I actually feel humbled to live in a place where magical sights like that can be viewed on a nightly basis.

I was so fixated in my own thoughts that I didn’t even hear you come up and sit next to me. It wasn’t until you spoke that I was transported from my daydream back down to reality.

“When I was a little kid I used to come here alone and swing for hours on end. I would swing back and forth with all the strength that I had. Always trying to get higher and higher, closer to the sky. I always believed that if I tried long enough and hard enough that I could fly up among the birds and away from everything. I could fly away from all the problems that my mom and dad were having and away from all the insecurities I felt about myself.”

I was so shocked from hearing your angelic voice and your confession that I fell completely out of my swing. My face turned so red that I thought I was going to die from the embarrassment. I did not dare look up to gauge your reaction until I heard you start to laugh. No sound has ever sounded so real or so pure to me. Even in my own miserable state I did not want to move or say anything for the fear that you might stop. Instead of offering to help me up or apologizing for blatantly laughing at my clumsiness you let yourself fall back into the grass with me. Once you finally stopped laughing long enough to speak it became clear that you were completely comfortable being here, lying on the ground, beside me.

“So do you always make such graceful first impressions or are you doing all of this just for me.”

You were clearly being playful with me and here was the part where I was supposed to real you in and say something clever and witty. Instead I choked on my own tongue and stuttered out a response that clearly could not be considered English.

“Well, I just…didn’t realize that uhh you were…and I was surprised…uhh…umm..and I fell and you..uhh.”

That, of course, only made you laugh harder and despite how beautiful it was I couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed at how smug you were being. Just as I had collected my thoughts and was about to dazzle you with my quick wit you did something that left me completely breathless. You fell quiet and then you grabbed my face with both of your hands and kissed me hard and passionately. I became a pool of melting butter at the touch of your hands and the warmth of your lips. It was the realization of every fantasy I had