Work Text:
I am seven years old when we meet.
I am riding my bicycle in front of our house, curious about the big truck in front of yours. You're taller than me, even if we seem to be the same age. I can see you smile at me, a big smile that make your eyes so small I can barely see them anymore. The former owners of the house were an old couple so I am happy to see a kid my age in the neighbourhood. Pa is here too, with her glasses bigger than her small face, her little hand never leaving yours. You introduce yourself to me and then to my mom and dad. You're so well-behaved, they like you already. We soon become friends, the three of us. We go to play in the park at the end of the street, we ride bicycles in front of the houses, we eat popsicles sitting on the strairs of your porch. Being an only child, I feel like I found the siblings I never had.
---
I am ten years old when we become best friends.
We are playing near the small pond in the park, until we hear a scream. It's Pa. She fell in the water, nearly drowning. She's like a sister to me, so I don't hesitate and jump into the cold water to save her. You're like paralyzed by the fear of losing her. When the shock is gone, you give her a tight hug, as if you're afraid she would disappear in the bottom of the dark lake. You're still shaking when we come back to your house. Your mom make us hot chocolate, and even when she's wearing dry clothes, you still hold your sister in your arms, as if you want to warm her up. When you walk me home at night, you hug me too, saying thank you for saving her life. From that day, you started to introduce me as your best friend.
---
I am eleven years old when you slept over mine for the first time.
We put both our matress on the floor so we can keep talking during the evening. We end up talking all night long about anything. Comic books, cars, super heros and how you like Iron Man and I love Spiderman and who is the strongest between the two. I also play some easy songs with my guitar and you say I am really cool and you want to learn how to play an instrument too. A few months later, your parents get you a whole set of drums and you start learning how to play. We start to sleep over often, almost every week, playing music and video games until we fall asleep together in the same bed.
---
I am fourteen years old when I think of you as more than a friend.
I am sleeping at your house, in your bed. You got a king size bed for your birthday so we don't need to sleep on the matress on the floor anymore. It's still early in the morning, but I am already awake. You're here, next to me, sleeping peacefully. You are beautiful. The sunlight caressing your tan skin, the way your dark hair is framing your face, enhancing your sharp jawline. I want to touch you, to smell your scent, to kiss your lips. I do nothing. I just lay in bed, looking at you, until you toss in your sleep to face me and you put your arm around me. Then, you sniff my neck, and you tell me to go back to sleep, without opening your eyes.
---
I am fifteen years old when I admit my feelings for you.
It's raining. My photography club activities just ended, later than usual, and I don't want to make you wait since we usually come home together. Your rugby practice is already over, I know you want to go home to take a shower, you must be covered in mud with this weather. I rush to our usual spot, but you're not here. I look everywhere, on the sport field, in the locker room, in the main hall, I can't find you. I start walking back, until I see you at the bus stop. I am about to run to you, but you're not alone. You're with Ink. She's laughing with you, and then the both of you look into each other eyes. Everything is silent except for the rain pouring and my heart beating fast in my ribcage. You take a step forward, and the next second your lips are on hers. You part away, smiling at each other. A few minutes later, I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. You walk away with her, while I'm reading your text saying that you already went home because of the rain. I stay here a little while, with my tears and my broken heart.
---
I am seventeen years old when I get hope again.
As usual now, we are in your room. It's so much more confortable than mine with your large bed, and your scent is everywhere in the room.Once again, I am trying to comfort you after a break up. Your relationships never lasts more than a few months. I am always the one who motivates you to go hit on the girls that catch your eyes, because I want to see you happy, but you eventually end breaking up because this one is boring, or that one is silly, or the other one litterally drool inside your mouth while kissing. But that night, you say something that fuels my hopes again. In the end, you're the only one I don't want to lose in my life.
---
I am eighteen years old when we kiss.
It's the last day of high school. I promise myself if you reject me today, I will bury my feelings for you and move on. After saying good bye to our friends, we decide to our usual spot. It's a big tree near the sport field, where I used to watch you play rugby during practice, while drawing or taking pictures. The silence between us is comfortable as we sit here, watch the night taking over in the sky. Your hand brush against mine. We don't need words when our eyes are speaking for us. Our lips met, and my heart is melting. I want to cry, I was waiting for this moment to come for years. It's my first kiss. We come home hand in hand, and nobody is really surprised when we announce that we're together. We go to my room, and I can finally spend my first night in the arms of my boyfriend.
---
I am twenty years old when we move in together.
We started studying in the same university so we could see each other often, and now that our relationship is steady and smooth, we deciced to start sharing the same flat when entering our third year as students. Being from different faculties is not an easy thing, our buildings are far from each other and we don't have much lectures in common. But when we have time, we try to eat together or to meet in the univertisy's library. I go to cheer you up at your rugby games, And you always wait for me outside the room when I have presentations. And every night, I can sleep peacefully in your arms, warm and safe.
---
I am twenty-three years old when you propose to me.
You prepared a sweet dinner, and now you're in front of me, one knee down as you hold a cute ring. Of course it's a yes. You're the first to cry when you hug me, my tears start to flow when you put the ring on me. I take a few seconds before realising it's your dad's ring, you added a ruby and an emerald gemstones on it, and the first letter of our names inside. We spend the end of the night kissing and making out on the balcony, the moon is our only witness. When we go to sleep, you hug me tight, and I spend some times looking at the ring in the night.
---
I am twenty-eight years old when I get married.
I am walking down the aisle, my father looking proudly at me. I try to smile, but I'm already crying. My head is dizzy with emotions as I continue walking to the altar. My heart is beating fast, I can bearly hear my own words when I prononce them. I do
. Sweet lips met mine, a hand caressing my cheek. I feel the love and the warmth around me. But nothing will never be as warm as you.
I am twenty-eight years old today, but you'll forever be twenty-four.