The night is deep and quiet.
A small fire burns in the middle of an abandoned place; the flames rise gently, making the shadows dance on the cold walls.
The girl, dressed in black with silver chains around her neck, sits facing the fire. The orange glow flickers across her dark hair. The boy sits beside her, wearing a black hoodie, holding his hands out to warm them.
For a few moments, the only sound is the crackling of the wood.
Neither of them speaks. They don’t need to.
A cool night breeze moves through the trees. The girl shifts a little closer.
Slowly, she rests her shoulder against his.
Without saying a word, the boy tilts his head slightly toward her, as if to make sure she’s still there.
The fire burns in front of them, but the real warmth is between them.
The darkness around them is heavy, yet when they are together, it isn’t frightening.
The girl whispers softly,
“Whatever happens… this moment is enough.”
The boy takes a deep breath and quietly replies,
“As long as you’re by my side, the night is never cold.”
I stand by my man not only when life is easy, but especially when it gets hard.
“I love you, not out of habit,
out of salvation.
You make me feel like I’m still a ‘person,’
not a collection of swallowed anger and unspoken words.
For years, a poison tree has grown inside my chest,
its roots feed on silence,
and its fruits are bitter, dangerous, seductive.
But you stand beneath its shadow,
fearless,
and you remind me that even darkness
can be a place to stay alive.”