Astrid didn't really know how they got into this situation, but she couldn't be happier.

George's hands gripping around her waist, her head laid softly on his shoulder as his nose rested in her hair.

They swayed slowly; left to right, a slight bounce but nothing too animated. They weren't showing off, had no one to dance for except themselves, in their own little bubble.

Hopefully, there would be a day when she and George were more than just two people in their own bubble. Where they could walk hand in hand together down the street without caring who saw. They wouldn't need to hide behind closed doors with quiet music.

But that was all they had, for now.

George's thumb traced her side, skin on skin. His smooth skin always surprised her, there was nothing to the man that would shout his use of moisturiser but she was happy he did.

The song changed, slow again, a sigh left her lips, head-turning into his neck just that much further, lips grazing his skin.

A smile came to her lips as his heart speed up beneath her head, hand moving to rest on his chest - just to feel for a while, to know he was real, not just a figment of her imagination she'd been daydreaming for months.

This wasn't George's usual music, if anything it was the opposite, it had surprised her the most when it came on.

They'd been making dinner when the song had come on, George's hands holding her waist, a simple pizza that'd already been in the oven for fifteen minutes - she didn't want to think about how soon they'd have to break apart to save it from burning.

He soon twirled her around, hand above her head, bright shining smile on both their faces.

Neither had spoken, but they didn't need to, their hearts beating in rhythm with each other shouting everything they couldn't even whisper.

She wished she could capture this moment in time forever.

It'd sit on her shelf, maybe, feather dusted whenever she deemed fit and put in prime place for anybody to see, or maybe it'd be put in a box at the back of her cupboard with all the other stuff she hid from their 'relationship'.

Stupid stuff lay in the box, and she'd simply die if the boy in question ever found it, filled with receipts and sweet wrappers. Anything she could find that would materialise what they were doing.

This wasn't a normal relationship.

She didn't have dried rose petals she could keep for their wedding or stuffed animals holding crimson love hearts she could tuck into her bed sheets every morning.

What she did have was small, but gave her comfort.

Sure she'd walk past Clinton cards and stare down the couples buying teddy bears for each other, exchanging them with bright grins and unguarded love in their eyes and feel faint. Sick to her stomach at the idea that the one person she'd want to do that with just...couldn't.

Or wouldn't.

She wasn't sure which was worse.

So instead, in exchange for the materialistic items to show his feeling, she stored these memories in their own little box.

A box in her head filled with kitchen swaying and shower dances, with late nights on his bedroom floor and early mornings spread along the couch with only his body as a blanket.

They were stored away in the cupboard of her mind, no way for him to find them at all.

Maybe he had his own little box and one day they could exchange them.

Taking turns to show their favourite memories like it was Christmas morning, ripping off the wrapping paper and ribbon that held them so dearly.

Each studying the other face closely to see if they too held the moment so near to their heart.

"This is nice"

His voice was soft, muffled by her hair but she heard it clear as day, their close proximity helping.

She hummed in agreement.

"I wish it could last forever"

He was silent, fingers digging into her sides.

George hoped it'd say everything he couldn't, but Astrid heard nothing.

A tear brimmed her eye.

Maybe she'd want to hide this memory away after all.

———————

Written: 24th December 2022

Published: 25th December 2022

Merry angsty christmas to you all :)