BECKETT
The first time I wanted to kiss her, the moment was nothing like I expected.
We were dirty from the fields, sweaty. We were in the barn, shoveling horse manure.
I remember she looked up at me, after I said some stupid joke.
Her eyes twinkled. She tried not to laugh, but her lips tugged upward, about to give way.
I wanted so badly to lean in and kiss her lips, kiss her smile.
I remember thinking I hadn’t seen anyone more beautiful.
How did we get so far away from that?
How did we get here? With knives at our thighs and a gulf between us?
I wanted the “us” back. I wanted it so badly it hurt my every cell.
But for now, all I could do was keep her safe.