Artis Hart was used to waking up, getting ready, treading to work, spending mindless hours in front of a computer, turning down offers to hang out after work in a bar, to come home and lose herself in the memory of a certain pair of forest eyes.
So when evening rolled by that day, she wasn't expecting anything to happen.
Except, she found Ethan Brewer in her front door, looking exactly like the one she had just met in her dream last night.
His face was devoid of any emotions but his eyes— god his eyes were a different story.
Artis swallowed.
She wasn't going to get fooled again. Her stupid interpretations can go to hell for all she cared.
But when Ethan Brewer bent down to swoop her up in his strong arms, smelling like freshly baked cakes and bacon, and kitchen, and like Ethan, she was sure neither her interpretation nor her imagination was rich enough to conjure something this surreal.
Ethan broke the hug to look at her with apologetic eyes.
He stretched a hesitant hand towards her, not sure, and Artis felt herself bite her lower lip, her heart hammering inside her chest just like when she was sixteen.
His feather hands tucked unruly almond strands behind her ear and that's when her eyes fell on his fingers.
There was no platinum band.
They still had so much to talk about.
That night when Ethan decided to brilliantly show up in front of Artis' house out of nowhere, truth be told, he was scared out of his wits.
Finally he had figured out his priorities. Finally he wasn't a coward. Finally he was ready to go to Artis.
But what if she had a life of her own? With a man perfect for her? Or a life where she needed no man?
Well, you can't blame a guy, can you?
But then, he wasn't expecting her to slap him across his face. Shutting the door on his face? Yes. Slapping the life out of his face? No. But right when she had slapped, his heart did this weird jumping exercise that seemed to lift all the heaviness he had been carrying for years.
And then she smiled. That beautiful sunny smile that took his breath every single time. And he knew.
That it was worth it.
Spring saw them walking shyly side by side. An occasional brush between fingers. Blushes that would put roses to shame. With the whole bundle of flowers and smiles. Never once behaving like they were twenty six and twenty four.
Summer saw them in sundress, shorts and lemonade. Hand in hand. Head on chest. Him introducing her to his parents who were happy for their child. While her parents were simply happy to see that specific smile they haven't seen in years.
Autumn saw them dressing as Harry Potter and the snitch to Halloween while golden brown leaves showered them everywhere they went, catching the colour and warmth of her eyes, his heart playing a staccato.
Christmas saw them meeting under the town Christmas tree at five. Artis in her old green dress. Ethan in his favourite blue turtleneck sweater. The date was late by nine years but oh well, better late than never.
"Hey," said Ethan Brewer as feeble signs of the first snow around them.
"Hi," she breathed out.
He was still shy. She was still awkward. But he couldn't help tucking chocolate strands falling adorably from her woollen beanie, behind her ear.
They hadn't admitted their feelings aloud. Not like that. But maybe it could wait. I mean, passing an agony of eight waiting years puts things like confessing their love to the back seat. It was evident in their eyes, in their hands, in their breaths. So why word it out when things are perfect?
Or maybe, they would one day.
But right now, underneath the Christmas tree, they were once again eighteen and sixteen.
They are together
and at the moment,
that's what really matters.
fin.