FOR YOU

by Shade

Perched on the third step of her ladder, Catherine viewed the city beyond her balcony. “A new perspective,” she murmured to herself. Dismounting, she folded the ladder and stowed it just inside her bedroom door. She had finished just in time; the predicted snow had begun, big fluffy flakes drifting slowly through the dusky twilight.

A movement caught her eye as she turned from the door; he was there. Wondering “How does he do that?” for the hundredth time, she ran to him and was enfolded joyfully into his warm embrace.

“I have a surprise for you,” she smiled up at him. “Wait here.”

She touched a switch beside the door, and dozens of Christmas lights glowed softly into the darkness.

“I put them up today. For you.”

“A canopy of stars.” Vincent was enchanted. “They are magical.” He gathered her into his arms once more, and she felt the brush of his lips on her hair as he whispered, “But you will always be my light.”

Again they held each other, as the snow fell around them, bespangling Catherine’s hair, Vincent’s mane, and the cloak that wrapped them both. Above them, the lights that Catherine had lovingly strung twinkled gently through the cloud-reflected glow of the city.

“Merry Christmas, Vincent.”

“Merry Christmas, my love.”