XIII

The darkness of the night was decorated with the colors of the stars, and the sand of the beach was washed by the waves of the ocean. I lay down on the white sand, even though I knew that this would leave dirty marks on my clothes, my hair and my feet. I didn't care.

The freedom that always seemed impossible was now being felt.

I looked up at the dark sky with its flashing white dots. It feels like my heart is expanding, filled with so many liquid stars, and flowers that I think it might explode. I'm lying here, and everything feels real,

A stroke on my cheek makes me turn my head. Brown eyes, a wide smile that paints love, a look of hope.

My heart skips a beat.

One glance and I forget all the darkness that surrounded us. How it would all destroy us. All that was now behind me, and all I had to do was move closer. Kiss those full lips to tell myself that this was real.

The lightning came.

His lips felt different.

The kiss was different.

Not as soft as I remembered. Not as warm as