The breeze of summer that night felt different. Leo and Maria lay on the hood of his old car, parked near a lake right in front of Maria's house. The evening felt quiet, like the world had fallen asleep and left them alone.
The night was filled with ecstasy as the sweep of stars above them reflected in the still water below. Maria felt magical, every time she got to stay side-by-side with Leo felt surreal. A moment she wished never went by with time.
As they lay below the endless stretched sky, Maria would not stop looking at Leo in admiration while he dreamt of how he wanted his future to be. He talked about the life he'd build, the money he'll make and the people who would remember his name. He talked about how he was going to establish his wealth away from his family. To him, his family wealth felt like a cage and Maria was his only sense of freedom.
"I'm going to have a family with you," he continued.
He said it like a promise and she believed him because she loved the way his voice trembled when he dreamed.
"You're going to forget me when you get rich" she teased
"You think?" He asked immediately. "I will never"
"I don't need the city, I just need this" she searched for his hand in the darkness and squeezed it gently as she smiled.
"You'll change your mind" he smiled back at her, his hand tracing her wrist.
The atmosphere was filled with the sense that this will last, and none of them were able to let go of this faith. At this moment, the air seemed cooler as a wind came off the lake. Maria shivered and Leo draped his jacket over her.
"You always know how to calm me," she said, her voice barely a breath.
"You make it impossible to think," he answered.
The honesty in his tone undid her. The jacket slipped from her shoulders, and suddenly the night was too quiet, too close.
"Leo" she called out "I don't need the jacket, I need you to make me warm"
Leo's eyes lit up in excitement. Severally he had wanted to make love to her, but she had been unsure of his feelings after it.
"I should go" he said but he didn't move
A chill crept into the air, turning her breath to mist. Maria rubbed her hands and glanced towards the dark outline of her house
"You should come in" she offered "you can warm up before you drive"
"Are you sure about this?
"I've never been more sure Leo"
The house smelled of soap and old pinewood. The clock on the wall ticked too loudly. He followed her through the narrow hall, their shoulders brushing in the dark. When she turned to face him, the space between them felt smaller than it had by the lake.
Just as they got into her room, Maria took off his jacket and then her bra from underneath her top. Leo stood, watching her in admiration and yet unsure of why she had agreed to do this.
He reached for her, and the space between them dissolved. The world narrowed to warmth and heartbeat, the scent of rain and his skin. Somewhere beyond the room, thunder rolled; the sky broke open as if the night itself couldn't bear the weight of what they were about to do.
He shifted his head closer to hers, his eyes fixed with hers. Their close lips touched each other gently, he took the lead and kissed her softly and soon roughly. His hands moved with precision around her body. Soon they laid naked, Leo got on top and soon he was inside her. The first thrust hit the windshield, washing the starlight into silver streaks. To Maria, every thrust came with more trust issues but to Leo, every thrust felt heavenly.
THE NEXT MORNING
The morning light was merciless. It poured through the thin curtains, spilling over tangled sheets and half-spoken promises. Maria blinked against it, smiling for a moment before remembering the silence beside her. The space where Leo had been was empty.
She rubbed her eyes and looked over the other end of the room, Leo was already half dressed.
"You're leaving already"
"Yes, I have to be home before my dad finds out that I was gone" He avoids her gaze, feeling a little guilty of the intimacy from the night before
"Will you come back"
"I always do Maria" He grabbed his car keys "I will" He slammed the door behind him.
The night replayed in her mind like a dream she wasn't ready to wake from.
Every touch, every whispered word still clung to her skin. She could still feel his heartbeat against her palm — wild, certain, real. For the first time, she hadn't felt small. She hadn't felt like the girl from nowhere; she'd felt seen. Chosen.
He'd said her name like it meant something. She wanted to believe that it still did.
Maria ran her fingers along the pillow where his head had been, catching the faint scent of his cologne. A stupid thing to smile about, but she couldn't stop herself. Maybe this was how love was supposed to begin — quietly, with sunlight creeping through cheap curtains and a heart too full to breathe.
But then came the silence. The other side of the bed was cold. His watch was gone from the nightstand. And that hopeful little voice in her chest began to tremble.
She walked to the window with thoughts still swimming through her mind. She watched him start his car. For a minute her chest felt cold "what if he doesn't come back as promised"
As his car rode into the dusty road until the heat blurred it off, her heart kept racing.
"No, he promised" she thought out loud, brushing off the doubtful thought of their romance. Still she couldn't get rid of the feeling that the night had taken something from her, something she will never be able to get back.