We enter the house together in a hurry, Darsha sitting me down in the easy chair next to the hearth in her living room, wrapped in a towel.
"God, I am so sorry, I didn't think the water was that cold," she apologizes profusely. Before I can say anything else she darts out of the living room into the kitchen area to put some tea on the stove.
I try to stifle the chatering of my teeth and the shivering of my frigid skin. I make a mental note that going swimming in local lakes in October is decidedly NEVER a good idea unless it's a quick jump in and out. but shoot me, I couldn't resist Darsha in that red swimsuit!
I wrap the towel tighter around me as she appears again, handing me a steaming mug of lemon herbal green in a welcoming ceramic mug. I grip the mug in both hands, trembling but grateful, blowing on it first as she kneels on the floor and feels my forehead.
"I'm....n-not.....really used t-to this..." I manage to chatter out as i bring the mug to my lips. The hot liquid's effect is near immediate. Or maybe it's her body's proximity to me that's helping even more...
I stow the random thought away as she looks at me with concern. "Not used to what?"
I hesitate to speak, even now as im looking in her questioning eyes. They're so damn beautiful I could get lost in them, but I manage to stutter out a half sentence.
"Suh....someone.....c-caring..."
she doesnt break my gaze, even now, as I'm struggling to keep my eyes open.
She sighs and takes my hands, rubbing them. "of course I care."
Maybe it was the way she said it to me. Almost a whisper, so much concern and heart in her voice. Like a promise she's making to herself as much as to me.
"I feel.....warmer now," i mumble. "Is that normal?"
She blinks. "what?"
Is her concentration as messed up as mine? Does she feel the same as I do? Like I could kiss her right this minute even though most of me feels like a slowly warming ice cube--
"Oh, my god, that's not normal. You're warmer?" she questions.
well, so much for that. "Yeah, I'm warmer. Is that good? Kinda sleepy too.."
"Oh my god, that's not good, it means you're freezing! Listen to me, okay? I need you to stay awake, alright? You think you can do that for me? Just keep drinking the tea okay? I'm gonna call a paramedic."
I blink out the fog a few times until my eyes briefly foucs on the mug inf ront of me. "Oh....okay...."
Minutes pass, and the paramedics come, shining lights into my eyes and taking the blankets off and getting my body temps back to normal as darsha looks on, being quite attentive and watchful. I smile weakly at her from the couch.
After an hour, they pronounce me healthy enough for proper sleep, and my body is at safe thermal levels. They ask if they can drop me off at home, but Darsha tells them otherwise. They leave and she (and I) thank them profusely.
She sits down on the floor just below me, tired, but clearly relieved.
"I'm sorry for tonight," I tell her, just as tired, but thankful I won't run the risk of dying in my sleep.
"God, I never should have had the idea to ice plunge. I'm the one who should apologize, not you. God, I nearly killed you." She looks like she's about to cry.
I put a hand o her shoulder. "Worth it."
Tentatively, and holding back tears, she puts her hand on top of mine. she gives it a squeeze and I squeeze back.
"Look on the bright side," I tell her.
she turns her whole body to sit in front of my face, a tear down one cheek as she sniffles, and laughs a little. "There's a bright side to death?"
"well....yeah. The way I see it anyway," I tell her.
She leans in closer and I put a hand to her cheek.
"I'd rather be a ghost floating by your side for all eternity than face all the ages of this world alone."
That's what gets her to smile. A bright, knowing smile, with jsut the hint of mischeif in it. "Wow...it's not everyday I hear a line from my favorite movie used in a real-world context."
I smirk. "You're right. I should come up with my own material."
She lays on top of me and I gulp. But then i put ym arms around her waist and hold her there. we seem to just....fit together. Naturally. "It's still sweet, though," she beams.
And then it happens. we share our first kiss.
some of it i can't feel as my lips are still gaining sensation back, but I close my eyes and try to enjoy it anyway. Soon, it's not an issue at all.
She reluctantly breaks the moment. "In different circumstances this would probably be taken further.."
"What do you mean....oh..." realization dawns on me, and a moment of silence hangs in the air between us.
I kiss her again, but briefly. Still jsut as sweet though.
"we've both been through a lot tonight, so...let's just sleep, okay?"
She lays her head on my chest and sighs exhaustedly but happily. "Hmmmmm, no objections here, handsome," she utters with a yawn.
I kiss her forehead and run my fingers through her hair.
we say our goodnights.
The fire in the hearth winks out, eventually.
But we are already in the land of good dreams.

END.

(comments encouraged and appreciated. THANKS FOR THE READ!)

Sweet story.

Thanks.

I love the story, it was like I was there with all the visuals.

That's what I was going for so mission accomplished, I guess. Thank you.
I'll definitely be writing more if people like it enough.

UPDATE: Working on Part 2 to this short story!

Thanks, JRonin!
I needed a re-affirmation of love, which is what your story did for me. Waiting for part II!

Ok thats a compliment! Thanks and you're welcome Liz.