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The air was crisp. Lights hung up throughout the streets of the town to celebrate the winter season, glimmers of warm orange and bluish greens cast a soft glow along the pavement. You clung to your coat a little tighter and began walking faster as a particularly harsh gust of wind blew past.
This was the first snow of the season, and it reflected in the people roaming the streets en masse. Laughter rang throughout the area in such a way that made it unclear as to where it was actually coming from, while families enjoyed themselves; some ran through the streets in glee while others simply watched, taking it all in. Clusters of people mingled inside bars to rave about whatever sport was playing on the wobbly tv, fogged behind cracked glass and light snow. It felt like the entire town was out in this street alone, all enjoying the weather together.
However, none of that mattered to you in this moment, or maybe it never did; the only thing on your mind was your lover, only a few blocks away.
The small town that once raised you now felt far too cramped to breathe in, memories of the past and expectations of the future coiling around you so tight it felt like you could hardly move. Life had been stressing the two of you out recently. In between finally graduating college and trying to figure out post grad life together, your heart felt too heavy to enjoy the merriment of the townsfolk.
You pull out your phone and click onto your messages, staring down at your last conversation with Eren. He had sent a text, short and noncommittal, to meet up at a nearby park. While this wasn’t unusual for the man, you wished his invitation didn’t include a lengthy walk at night in the cold. You continued staring down at your phone, switching from messages to the photos app. The first photo you see is a photo of your friend group, smushed onto a small couch as Armin holds the phone high enough to capture you all. Near the back of the photo, you and Eren sat, his hand on your hip, holding you snug against him while you leaned back into him, beaming into the camera. The memory of everyone, all together and happy, pulled at your heart.
Finally reaching the park, you noticed that it was almost completely empty. This side of town was older, quieter in a way that was only amplified with the weather. The only sound was your shoes softly crunching with each step, even that feeling like a disturbance to the blanket of peace that laid over the park.
Your gait slowed to a stop as your eyes landed on a clump of strelitzias wrapped around the side of a tree. Their bright orange petals were a stark contrast against the white of the snow.
You continued on your path to find Eren, only to trip and fall over what seemed to be a large tree root. Only, it was in fact not a tree-- just your boyfriend staring up at you with a soft grin.
“Watch where you’re going,” he called out, looking at you as if you were the one laying in the middle of a dark field. You looked at him dumbfounded but only shook your head and sighed in exasperation.
“Maybe you should find a better place to lay down.” You muttered with no real bite, a soft smile forming on your face as his hand reaches over to brush snow off your knees. You caught his hand in yours as you settled next to him.
For a while, neither of you said anything. The snow continued its journey down and every so often you’d wipe your eyes to clear it off. Your hand remained in his surprisingly warm hands, even with him being out here for who knows how long. He always ran warm, and his steady breathing brought you a comfort like no other. However, even with this comfort, you couldn’t bring yourself to fully relax.
In a way, you felt trapped here. That feeling is one of the many things you and Eren bonded over almost instantly. You’d often look upon your friends and family around you, and even with the happiness you felt, living among them and growing up together, a part of you wanted-- no, needed-- to leave. To see what the world can offer you that you can’t find here. For so long, your life was contained to this small locale, and you so often dreamed of wandering throughout the earth and making the world your home.
Your mind shifted over to Eren. Did he feel the same? The dark circles under his eyes, the tiredness, his growing distance from those around him, could it all really be fixed by breaking away from everything you’ve ever known, into a place free from the expectation and desires of others? You wanted to ask him about how he felt, if he felt that this freedom was worth leaving everyone you two knew behind. But a part of you, louder than any other, wanted to savor this moment of reprieve from the world in his arms.
Your eyes gazed up above. Through the haze of snow and clouds, into the sky. You raised one of your hands. It reached out above, trying to grasp onto a future that felt like fresh air and not heavy chains. Peeking between the clouds, the moon shone down upon us, its own hands reaching out to cradle us. Your hand shook, either from how long you held it aloft or how hard you were reaching up. With a soft, almost imperceivable sigh, you relax your hand to let it drop back down.
Only, another caught it, and pushed it even higher.
You look over at Eren to see him already watching you. His green eyes bore into your own with the passion that had made you fall in love with him. His hand caressed your own while he gave it quiet support. He leaned into you and placed a kiss on your temple.
His kisses didn’t end there. He started to pepper your face in kisses. Each kiss soft and slow. You melted into his affections, closing your eyes and resting your hands on his shoulders until he pulled back, still close enough that each puff of breath you exhaled was shared between you both.
“Do you want it too?” He whispered against your lips, foreheads pressed together.
“Want what?”
“To leave it all behind. Let’s run, together.”
Your eyes shot open, scanning his face for any mirth or hints of him joking. When you found none, your breath hitched as you looked away and nodded with haste. His hand found its way to your chin, directing your gaze back onto him. Your mouth open and closed as you contemplated, in contrast to the determined look in his eyes.
“Stop worrying about technicalities. We can figure all of it out as we go.” He murmured, cupping your face. It was only then you realized how cold you had gotten, warmed up by his touch.
For the first time today, you felt a wave of calm pass over you. The coils that sunk into your skin loosened, and you could finally feel each and every sensation clearly-- His body against yours, the chill of the air, the snow freckling your face. Your smile made its way back on to your face, and you sealed your decision with a kiss to his lips.
“We won’t be going anywhere if we don’t get some sleep, that’s for sure.” You giggled, taking his hand as you move to stand up.
There may still be problems and countless things to work out, but the hand holding yours reminded you that you weren’t alone, no matter where you went.
He would stay by your side.