The forest winds whispered through the branches, their brittle snap startling against the cold morning air. In that crisp, biting cold, Tara's embrace felt like a refuge, warm and steady. Breathing in the faint scent of herbs that seemed to cling to her, Tara leaned her chin gently on Selena's head and asked, "Do you want to head back, or would you rather stay a while longer?"
Wrapped in long, thick coats, they were mostly shielded from the cold, but their faces and hands stung from the wind. Tara shifted to stand against the wind, her figure creating a barrier for Selena. Glancing up, Selena noticed the redness in Tara's ears and cheeks. She reached out and touched Tara's cold face, her fingers a comforting warmth against Tara's skin. She breathed a small puff of warm air over her hands, then cupped Tara's cheeks between her palms.
Tara blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned by the sudden warmth, before giving her a lopsided, sheepish smile. "Sister?" Her hair was disheveled, stray strands poking out from under her scarf. The look made her appear endearingly vulnerable, and Selena smiled, pinching Tara's cheek playfully.
"I'm ready to go," Selena said, "just let me say goodbye to Grandma."
Selena knelt and opened a small packet of her grandmother's favorite butter biscuits, carefully setting them beside the gravestone, along with a tiny cup of wine. She could almost picture her grandmother's gentle hands lifting that cup, savoring it in small sips. The image warmed her as the winter wind carried the smell of the wine far and wide. She brushed her fingers across the name etched into the stone, whispering, "Goodbye, Grandma. I'll come to see you every year. You can't be mad at me for visiting now. You'll have to let me stay."
She felt Tara's hand, comforting, light against her back, and that touch alone was enough to ease the ache in her heart.
As they began their walk down the mountain path, Selena took Tara by the hand, insisting on showing her a small hollow she used to play in as a child. Tara willingly followed as Selena led her to a frozen stream, its surface covered by a thin layer of ice. Like a child, Selena couldn't resist testing the ice with her boot. Without thinking, Tara took out her phone and snapped a quick photo of this rare, carefree moment.
Just then, Selena slipped, letting out a sudden yelp. Tara's heart leapt, and she hastily shoved her phone in her pocket, grabbing Selena's arm and pulling her to safety.
Selena stumbled into her arms, her chin knocking lightly against Tara's collarbone, making her wince. Ignoring the sting, Tara pulled back to check Selena's face. "Are you alright?"
But Selena only buried her face in the curve of Tara's neck, refusing to respond. Her warm breath brushed against Tara's skin, tickling.
Tara tilted her head, trying to catch a glimpse of Selena's face, only to find her suppressing a grin.
"I was just teasing you," Selena admitted with a laugh. "Did you really think I'd fall in?"
They say that when someone is loved, they return to the joy and playfulness of childhood, and here was Selena, smiling with the easy innocence she had thought long lost.
Tara brushed a fingertip over Selena's dimples, her touch feather-light. Looking deep into Selena's eyes, she said gently, "You don't have to pretend to be happy just to comfort me. I'm here. You can cry if you need to, but I hope you smile more often. Your grandma can rest easy, knowing you're alright. If you stayed sad forever, she'd never stop worrying."
A flood of emotions rose in Selena's throat, but she found herself unable to speak. In the silent language of a gaze, she traced Tara's face: her strong brows, dark lashes, and eyes that held her with a steady, unguarded affection. Tara could see through her facades, always encouraging her not to hide her sadness, but to be genuine.
In that place, beside the childhood creek, Selena found herself imagining a future with Tara—perhaps a future filled with such quiet, enduring love.
Tara seemed to sense her thoughts. She tilted her head, grinning slightly, and asked, "Shall we head home?"
As they walked, Selena nudged Tara, teasing, "I felt something hard in your backpack when I hugged you earlier. Were you carrying bricks?"
Tara laughed. "Not at all, Sister."
"Then what's inside? You guard it like treasure. Let me see!"
"No way, Sister!"
They continued bantering as they packed their things, preparing to leave. But as they reached the yard, they found themselves blocked by a group of men, led by Selena's brother. They formed a semi-circle at the gate, clearly not planning to let the women leave easily.
Tara stepped forward, placing herself between Selena and the crowd. Her eyes glinted with an intensity that bordered on hostility, her usually composed demeanor dissolving to reveal a protective edge. Even Selena's brother, used to intimidation tactics, faltered under the force of Tara's presence.
For a moment, he noticed the faint scars on Tara's knuckles and recognized the quiet strength of someone unafraid to defend themselves. The thought of challenging her felt suddenly unwise.
Selena felt her heart sink. Once again, her family was putting on this shameful display in front of Tara. She clenched her jaw, her expression a mask of controlled disdain. "What now?"
"Listen, Sis," her brother sneered. "You're out there making big money while we're stuck in the dirt. I'd do even better than you if I got a chance. How about taking me with you? I could make you proud."
Selena's calm shattered with a laugh, bitter and cutting. "You think we're the same?"
Her brother gaped. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Tara leaned in close to Selena, her voice a low murmur, warm as velvet. "A queen, unmatched." She turned to Selena's brother, her voice cold and taunting. "And a pig."
"What did you say?" he snarled, his face reddening with anger.
Selena's brother hesitated as Tara stepped closer, her thin, wiry frame carrying a barely restrained strength. For all his bluster, he seemed rooted in place, unable to move forward. Still, he pressed on, "You old maid—no man wants you. Just give me thirty grand for my wedding, or you're not leaving this yard. What good is your money, anyway? You don't even have a man to spend it on!"
His outburst rattled in the tense air, a desperate attempt to guilt Selena into compliance. His eyes flickered with an uneasy guilt, but he silenced it, rationalizing that his mother's encouragement had justified this ploy.
Selena's hand was held firmly in Tara's, the warmth of Tara's palm grounding her. Tara leaned close, her voice a low murmur, "Sister, you've been dying to know what's in my backpack. I think now's a good time to show you."
She slipped her pack from her shoulder, shrugging off the weight as she rubbed her sore shoulder. The zipper gleamed in the sunlight, and Tara's long fingers slowly opened the bag. From within, she pulled out handfuls of crisp, neatly stacked dollar bills.
Selena blinked, shocked. Tara, her voice calm but firm, addressed the group. "Let's get a few things straight."
Her brother's eyes widened, but any retort he had caught in his throat as Tara's steely tone commanded his silence. He stared, bewildered, at this petite woman who carried an aura that demanded respect. Tara took a step closer, locking eyes with him.
"First off, her name is Selena, not that idiotic nickname you call her. If you can't manage that, don't call her anything at all. It irritates me. And when I get irritated, I make things difficult for people."
"Second, she's single because she chooses to be. And let's be clear, if you think joining your family plot is such a high honor, I'd be more than happy to expedite that process for you. Why not try it out, hmm?"
"Third," she paused, pulling Selena protectively to her side, her tone softer but no less resolute, "I am her support. And as long as I'm here, none of you will ever touch her again."
With that, she flung handfuls of dollar bills into the air, letting the bills flutter down around them like a dazzling snow of green.
"Oh my god, American dollars!" her brother gasped, instantly abandoning any lingering protest as he dropped to his knees, scrambling for the bills.
The other men, noticing his frenzy, joined in, greedily snatching at the bills scattered across the ground. Whatever plans they had to stop Tara and Selena were forgotten in their rush to collect as much cash as they could.
As Tara tossed another handful, Selena finally caught her arm, urging her to stop. "Enough. Don't waste any more."
She felt a pang watching the money fall to the ground, every bill as precious as the hard work it represented.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Tara pulled Selena out of the yard. Once they were safe, she unzipped her now-deflated bag, showing Selena the remaining stacks of cash and clothes inside. Tara tapped the dwindling stack of bills and shrugged, "Don't worry, Sister. There's still a bit left."
Selena arched a brow. "You used real money?"
"Of course," Tara replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I went to the bank specifically for this. They can't actually use it, though—not without explaining where it came from. It's just trouble for them."
Selena stared at Tara, a mixture of amusement and disbelief flashing across her face. After a pause, she reached out, lightly tapping Tara's forehead. "What a waste, you troublemaker!"
Just as Tara opened her mouth to defend herself, Selena closed the distance, brushing a kiss over the corner of Tara's lips. Her soft whisper was accompanied by a trail of warm tears, salty and unbidden. Tara's hand found the small of her back, returning the kiss with gentle reassurance as they held each other tightly, the world around them finally silent.
As they parted, Tara's normally pale lips had taken on a rosy flush.
Selena's breathing was still uneven, her lipstick slightly smeared from the intensity of the kiss. Tara lifted her chin, her thumb tracing over the shimmering gloss left on Selena's lips. Smiling softly, she said, "You're my girlfriend, Sister. I'd spend as much money as it took on you without a second thought. You don't need to remember all of it."
Selena glanced at her, licking her lips as if by chance, her tongue brushing lightly against Tara's finger—a teasing gesture, her question seemingly innocent. "But that was a lot of money. You must've saved for ages, didn't you?"
Tara lied smoothly, "Not at all. I just saved up here and there."
In truth, her bag had carried every bit of money she had saved since high school. Years later, Tara would still think back, grateful that she had set aside enough to buy Selena's freedom, releasing her from the clutches of that unbearable family.
On the flight back, exhausted from the three days of turmoil, Selena fell asleep quickly, resting her head on Tara's shoulder.
In the soft light, she looked ethereal, blending perfectly with the sea of clouds outside the plane window, like a portrait in a dream. Tara, not one for poetic thoughts, found herself entranced by Selena's peaceful face, her prayer simple: "Stay with me forever, Sister."
Selena gave a sleepy hum, as though annoyed at being disturbed, and Tara smiled, sinking down to rest her head beside Selena's, letting sleep take her.
The consequence of taking so much time off was that both of them had to catch up on work immediately. As soon as they landed, Selena was glued to her computer screen, her focus unbroken for hours. After staring so long, her eyes felt dry and sore, and her head was throbbing. She reached into her drawer, vaguely recalling that she had left some eye drops there, but a quick search yielded nothing.
Closing the drawer with a sigh, she leaned back, rubbing her temples to alleviate the headache.
Behind her, there was a soft chuckle.
A pair of warm hands rested on her temples, pressing gently with a practiced rhythm, the right amount of pressure easing the ache in her head. Tara's voice was barely a whisper, soft as a feather's touch, "Does that feel good, Sister?"
Selena's hand, which had been resting on the desk, suddenly clenched, and she murmured, "Yes, very good."
As Tara finished the massage, Selena's vision seemed to brighten in every possible way.
Tara was leaning against the desk with one leg propped up, her posture relaxed yet graceful, her shirt slightly unbuttoned, hinting at the faint outline beneath. She glanced down with a faint smile, seemingly unaware of her effect. In the dimly lit room, Tara's smile was like a spark, catching Selena's attention entirely. She subtly reached over to the light dimmer, lowering the brightness, feeling as though the dim light was enough to mask her reaction.
Tara laughed softly, the sound strikingly clear in the quiet office. "Sister?" she asked, as though oblivious to the effect she was having on Selena. Reaching out, Selena took her hand, pulling her closer.
"Tara, you've got talented hands," Selena said, her voice slightly hoarse.
Tara smiled, a teasing edge in her expression. Her hand slipped from Selena's grasp, wandering playfully over the buttons of her shirt. "Sister, these hands can give you whatever you need."
She leaned closer, her tone more serious yet laced with a subtle playfulness. "Don't bottle up your feelings, Sister. If you need to release them, I know of some very good ways to help." Her smile grew as she leaned in, her voice barely a murmur. "And I'd love to help you let go."
The gentle, loyal Tara had become something of a provocateur, her teasing both genuine and bold. Selena could only remember the gentle yet unyielding sensation of Tara's fingers over her hand, then a blur as she somehow found herself on Tara's lap, her breath mingling with Tara's.
The following morning, they awoke on the small couch-bed in the office. The cramped space barely allowed two adults to stretch out, and Selena felt every ache in her back and shoulders.
She moved carefully, hoping not to disturb Tara, but Tara, ever the light sleeper, stirred as soon as Selena removed her hand from her waist. Her dark eyes gleamed in the morning sunlight, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. "You're up early, Sister. I'm still so tired—I don't want to get up yet."
Selena chuckled, tapping her lightly on the forehead. "Come on, we're still in the office. I thought you were especially keen on not being caught."
Tara sighed, dragging her jacket on with exaggerated slowness, her mind somewhere else. Watching Selena's silhouette backlit by sunlight, her only thought was, I'm not afraid of being caught; I'm afraid of getting in your way.
Just as they were wrapping up, the glass door to Selena's office swung open. Both looked up, startled, to see John, who seemed equally taken aback by their presence.
For a moment, John awkwardly patted his pocket, then handed Selena a document for review. His voice was strained as he attempted small talk, "Uh… Miss Selena, did you sleep here last night?"
Selena's office had a small lofted area with a couch for overnight work, so John knew it was possible. "Yes, had to catch up on work after being out for a few days," she replied, glancing at the report and missing his awkward glances around the room.
When Tara walked out, her gaze met John's for a fleeting second before she offered a perfectly polite smile. "Good morning, John."
John seemed momentarily off-balance at her calmness, replying with a shaky, "Uh, good morning," before nodding quickly and shuffling out.
After signing the document, Selena handed it back to him. "If that's all, you're free to go. Just keep an eye on Wayne's team for me."
"Of course," he replied, nodding quickly before leaving the office.
Once he was gone, Tara stepped closer, eyeing the door thoughtfully. "Sister, is he usually in this early?"
Selena shrugged. "Not really. Maybe he had something urgent this morning. Why?"
Tara hesitated for a moment, then shook her head, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Nothing, Sister. Just realized you haven't told me good morning yet."
"Good morning, good morning," Selena said with a sigh, the fond exasperation in her tone unmistakable. "Now, get back to work on those reports."
Tara smiled, her goal achieved, and moved to her desk. But even as she worked, her mind kept circling back to John's expression—both the unease and the strange hint of resentment as he had looked between her and Selena.
That night, after work, they picked up the kitten from Lena's place.
The little Ragdoll kitten had a sweet temperament and quickly warmed up to Tara, rubbing its fluffy head against her leg. Watching them, Lena gave a playful sigh, dabbing at her face mask. "If only you two had been clear about each other sooner, I'd have known from the start! Could've saved us all those confusing months."
Selena and Tara exchanged a glance, chuckling at the mix-up that seemed so funny now. Tara scooped up the kitten, smiling. "It was a lucky mistake."
Lena studied them, noting the small but significant gestures, like how their hands stayed linked even while feeding the kitten. She gave a playful huff, smiling at the sight. "Honestly, the two of you are so well-matched, it's a little sickening for us single folks."
The kitten, seeming to understand, let out a mew, as if echoing Lena's sentiment.
Tara cradled the kitten in her lap on the ride back, Selena driving carefully through the neon-lit streets. Glancing over, Selena caught a glimpse of Tara and the kitten nestled together, the scene unexpectedly serene and heartwarming.
Finally, she spoke. "We should give her a name."
Tara looked down, thoughtful. "What should we call her?"
After a moment, Selena replied, her voice soft, "Let's name her Iridescent."
Much later, Tara would discover the meaning behind the name—that meeting her had made everything else in Selena's life pale in comparison, like fleeting smoke in the wind.
A romance spoken in gestures and a quiet love that Selena never needed to put into words.