Flickering Lights

I lit the last candle, taking in the sweet smell of the resonating scents around the room. The windows fogged up, probably because the sudden temperature change. The wooden table was draped with a silky, decorative cloth, expressing the festiveness of the approaching holiday season. The slowly cooked turkey sat on the table surrounded by all the fixings; vegetables, potatoes, and two empty wine glasses. I opened the old bottle of wine, and gently poured it into the identical glasses. I placed the bottle back on the table, and soaked in the atmosphere surrounding me. I felt it with every single sense. The smell, the touch, the taste, everything. I walked into the neighboring room which was also flooded with candle light. The nearby dresser held many fragrances, lotions and serums. I squirted a bit of a floral scented lotion into my hand which enhanced the calmness that I felt and rubbed it on my legs. They were completely exposed since the only thing I was wearing was a long button-up shirt left behind by him when he departed the last time. I peeked in the mirror on the wall across from me to make sure I looked as beautiful as he would say I am. The glow from the candlelight illuminated my face and made me feel angelic. The clicking of the opening door snapped me out of my gaze and made my heart skip a beat. Or two... or three... I whipped around, fiddled with my hair and stepped into the high heels awaiting me. I checked myself in the long mirror one more time. My white blouse was buttoned up except for a few buttons towards the top, and my sexiest pair of heels; the black ones I had to have as an impulse buy a few months back. They added three inches onto my stature and enhanced all my muscles and curves in a great way. I prepared myself for what I was about to face, and turned the corner into the dining room. There he was, his face as angelic as mine was throughout the candle light. Even without the lights surrounding us, the room would have brightened as soon as he walked in. I couldn't feel my own body in that moment. It had been months and neither my mind, nor my body, was ready for it. I immediately collapsed into his strong, welcoming arms while the tears that I had held in for so long came streaming down my face. I then realized that maybe my sexy heels weren't the best choice at this time, since I could barely hold myself up in them. Within minutes of me crying in his arms, he noticed my inability to balance and picked me up. "I'm home, baby," he said sensually while staring into my wet eyes. The only thing I knew to respond to that with was a kiss. I couldn't speak, so I kissed him, and I didn't stop. The fact that I had slaved hours to cook the perfect meal wasn't going to stop me from heading to the bedroom with him. He carried me to the next room over and laid me down softly onto the cozy bed. He walked opposite from where I was to close the doors and take off his shoes. When he came back towards me, I basically felt us melt together. As soon as we connected, our clothes began to disappear, and everything became blurry. He kissed my lips with his. His plush, soft lips that I used to know so well until he left yet again. His coarse, rough hands seemed so smooth and gentle against my skin. He ran them through my hair and onto my neck. He followed this by making a trail with his lips from mine, to my neck, and down to my collar bones. He re-familiarized himself with every inch of my body, acting as if he had seen it every day for months. Once all of our clothes had been thrown on the floor, we climbed under the sheets and made love. Just like the dining room, the bedroom windows had now gone foggy, but for a different reason. He clenched my hand in his, bringing us even closer. His sweaty chest and face glimmered in the moonlight shining through the window. With the dimming of the candles, he relaxed his whole body, and I found myself coming to an end as well.

As we lay there naked in each others arms, I finally felt the chance to rekindle the bond we had months ago, as if it had never faded away. I turned to him, grazed my trembling fingers across his cheek, which led him to turn his face towards mine, and place a kiss on the tip of my nose. And for the first time it what seemed like centuries, I heard the words that made me know that everything was going to be alright, even if I was as alone tomorrow as I was yesterday. "I love you," he said. And then all was silent.