Emma

“We'll never go gray, June murmured, and I stilled. June lifted her head, and I met her watery gaze. "We'll never get wrinkles."
"People spend a lot of money to avoid them." I chuckled.
"I wouldn't," she said, then crushed my heart when she added, I would want nothing more than to see a wrinkle form on my forehead, evidence that I was getting older and living my life. I would smile with pure joy seeing a gray hair on my hairline because it would mean that we were being given time.”
― Tillie Cole, Write Me for You

“I heard a squeal come from upstairs.
"Paige?" I raced out of the room and up the stairs, taking them two at a time in my hurry to get to her. it was pitch-black, but when I reached the top, I heard a loud bang from the bathroom and a hiss of pain. I wrenched open the door and staggered into the room, only to be greeted by another yelp from Paige.
"Grayson, I'm showering!"
My eyes had begun to adjust to the darkness, and I could just make out Paige standing in the bathroom clutching a towel to her chest. I almost slipped on the bathmat in my hurry to turn away. "Sorry! I—uh-didn't see anything, I swear!
I just heard you shout and wanted to make sure you were okay.
The power's out."
"Yes, I can see that."
"Okay, good. I'll leave you to it then ..."
"What? No. You can't leave me in the dark. Can you help me find some light?"
"Uh, yeah. Mom always has a scented candle in here somewhere." I started to turn toward the vanity, but Paige yelped again.
"Wait!" Then she lowered her voice to a whisper. "Not yet. Let me get my towel on first.”
I'd been doing my best not to think about the fact she was only covered by a towel. It was a lot harder to do when she said it out loud.
"Right. Of course."
I heard the rustle of the towel as she wrapped it around herself more firmly. "Okay. I'm ready. Where's this candle?"
"Uh, it's usually next to the sink." I turned back to face the room, doing my best not to look directly at Paige, and started to rummage around in the darkness. I was starting to see a little clearer now, but it was still dark, and there was so much stuff on the vanity I couldn't make out what each item was. As I searched for the candle, I felt Paige take a step closer to me.
Then- "Ouch," she squeaked, and as I turned, she stumbled into me. I instinctively opened my arms to catch her and then closed them tightly to keep her from falling. We were still for a moment as I held her, my hands resting on the fuffy towel, our pounding hearts the only sound breaking the silence.
When I was sure she had found her feet again, I relaxed my arms, but neither of us stepped back. I glanced down, and despite the darkness, we were so close I could easily see her gazing up at me. If I'd thought I was tortured before, being this close to her was almost unbearable. My hands were still pressed on her back, and hers were resting on my chest. Her breath caught when our eyes met and the air between us felt electric.
She lightly bit her lip again, and this time it looked as chough she too was fighting through something painful. Maybe it was the blackout. Maybe I'd finally lost my mind, but I couldn't seem to keep my feelings in anymore. They were trying to burst out of me, straining each and every seam ld stitched so diligently to keep them contained. This wasn’t part of the plan, but I was done trying to hide a love that was ingrained so deeply in my soul.
I lifted one hand from her back and reached up to push a hair away from her face. It was still wet from the shower. I moved my hand to her cheek and lightly brushed away a bead of water that had fallen there. My hand was shaking with nerves because, for the first time, I thought I might finally be ready to tell Paige the truth. Ready to risk everything.
"The way you're looking at me..." I murmured. "You have no idea how it makes me feel."
Her throat bobbed. "So, tell me."
"I can't," I replied. "But you're dangerously close to making me break all my rules?
It felt easy to admit these things in the darkened room.
As though this moment wasn't real. Like time had stopped.
"Maybe your rules are worth breaking?"
She was staring up into my eyes like I was worthy. Like, despite my many flaws, I was what she wanted. A delicate tremor rippled through me as my chest fooded with warmth.”
― Alexandra Moody, Grumpy Darling

“Please, don't," she whispered. "I can't hear it right now." But I needed to say this. Seeing Emma tonight was proof that anything could happen to us at any time. I didn't want anything unsaid. "Junebug, if anything happens to me, I want you to look at the palm of your hand, the one that holds my heart, and know that I loved you more than anyone has ever loved before."
"Jesse, June murmured.
"You have been the biggest blessing in my entire life, Junebug. Not football, not anything...but you. I just want you to know that. If all we ever get is a few more weeks at this ranch, then it will be a life well lived.”
June began to cry again, and although the moment was heavy, I felt lighter telling her these things. "You have become my life," she said.
"And for however long we have left, that will never change."
She flipped my hand over and traced a heart with her fingertip on my palm. I smiled at her. "My heart is in your hand too," she said.”
― Tillie Cole, Write Me for You