“You. You said goodbye to me. And I knew that it would be worth my whole life if I could have another day with you,” his smile trembled for a second. “I know one day we’ll have to part, but... so do all people. I’ll take what I get. I got one more day.”
“Lots more days, Baby.”
She pulled him underneath herself in one lithe glide, caressing his face as she brought them together.
Later, as he slept, Sophie lay awake, eyes wide in the darkness. More than human. Maybe that meant more than a human’s lifespan? She hugged her lover tighter, his head pillowed to her small, firm breasts as he slept. More days with him?
She no longer dreaded knowing.
DECEMBER 19TH WAS THEfirst day of break. They had agreed to spend Christmas with their respective families, then she would spend a few days with him and he would spend a few days with her. Her parents had objected until she’d called their bluff and said they were invited to come and stay in Pine Ridge, too, if they wanted to take the time off from work and be houseguests of Mrs. Smith. After being assured that she would have a guest room to sleep in, their vociferous objections faded to a dull grumble. She promised her parents that after meeting Jesse, they’d be eager to come up for a weekend.
Jesse rocked on his heels, hands behind his back as they stood in the frosty air outside of Ramsey. Sophie’s car was parked on the street and his was idling behind it. Around them, other couples kissed and roommates shouted admonitions to text when they arrived at their destinations. Car doors slammed and trunk lids were wedged shut over overflowing baskets of laundry.
“I want you to have a Christmas gift early.” He stepped back as Sophie moved to hug him farewell.
“But I’ll see you on the 26th!” Sophie cried.
“I wanted you to have this now. And um... if your parents like it, that will warm up my welcome, right?” He winked.
“If they hate it?”
His face turned worried and wide-eyed. “Then I didn’t give it to you, got it?”
“You goof, just show it to me.” Sophie shook his elbow lightly.
“Yeah. I... You know that fairytale you liked?”
“Snow King and the Night Queen?” Sophie’s eyes lit up and she waited expectedly for Jesse to push a book into her hands.
He thrust a flat velveteen box in front of him, the square filling his palm.
Sophie’s mouth dried out, even though it wasn’t a ring box. Jewelry was serious. Wasn’t it? Trying to keep calm, she smiled warmly and whispered, “Thank you, Jesse.”
“I can hear your heart beating,” he whispered back, lightly touching her collarbone. “I promise it didn’t break my bank.”
Sophie lifted the lid on its tiny silver hinges.
Nestled on a smooth, thin layer of black velvet was a silver bracelet. Two small silver charms rested in the center, a snowflake and a crescent moon with a star on its tip. “Oh, Jesse! It’s beautiful. I love it.”
“For my Night Queen.”
“I love you. You’re perfect for me, you know that?”
He didn’t answer, sucking in lungfuls of frosty air he didn’t need. When he spoke, minuscule tendrils of fog hovered near his mouth, unlike the larger clouds of mist that came from her. “I’m dead, Sophie. I’m not a living human.”
“You’re alive to me. To us.” She was startled. Why such a grim reminder, now?
“I know. I’ve been thinking— the night is like death, away from the reach of the sun, cold is like death, away from the warmth of life,” he swallowed, eyes drifting to his shoes and then steadying on hers. “Death was not just the end of life, it was the end of love. I believed that for so many years. Then I met you. I don’t think death stops true love. I think maybe it just moves it to a different kingdom.”
Sophie blinked, tears forming on her dark lashes. “That’s beautiful.” This time, he didn’t move back when she moved to kiss him. She hugged him tight as they kissed the world away.
“You’re always welcome in my kingdom, Soph, whatever little corner of the world it’s in,” Jesse whispered when they parted.
“I can’t wait to welcome you to mine. Drive safely, Jesse.”
“You, too, Beloved.”
“MOM. MOM! CAN YOU PLEASEstop vacuuming? For five minutes?”
