Final day!! 1000 words! This challenge has been an unexpected journey, I'll tell you that, but I'm happy with this one, at least how it ended. From the start, this was where I wanted Wille to end up, and I hope I did it justice. Thanks to @10daysto1k for hosting!
Itâs loud. The crowd is thick. There are colors everywhere.
Wille couldnât be more happy.
Looking over at Simon, he smiles and squeezes his hand.
âHaving fun?â Simon asks with an equally bright smile. And if that wasnât the understatement of the century.
âYes!â Wille yells over the speakers blasting Born This Way. âAre you hungry?â
Simon shrugs. âI could eat.â
They make their way through the crowd and over to the food trucks, ordering, then finding a spot at a picnic table. It has a good view of everything going on, but is a nice break from the excitement.
Wille takes the moment to just take it all in. He canât believe he was ever hesitant to ask Simon if he wanted to go. He canât believe it took him actual years to work up to courage to ask.
Simon kicks him under the table.
âWhat?â he asks through a mouthful of food, careless about manners in this sea of people in front of the love of his life.
Said love of his life smiles some strange mix of bashful and playful before saying, âHave I told you how good you look?â And no matter how many times Simon has told him that today alone, the blush that covers his face is still just as ardent. He hides it under a scoff.
âAfter this many hours in late July heat? I seriously doubt that.â Wille had spent damn near hours on his look for today, which was hard to do considering the heat. He was sure that he had visible sweat stains under the arms of his white crop top and that his makeup was smudged beyond belief from the sweat and the sheer number of times heâs brushed his hair out of his face. None of it has stopped Simon from complimenting him, though. âBut yes, you have mentioned.â
In response, Simon just leans awkwardly across the table between them to place a chaste kiss on his lips.
âWhat do you want to do next?â he asks once he pulls away, but not really leaving Willeâs personal space.
Wille thinks for a moment. âDo you want to check out the vendors before the parade?â he offers, and like he has done for everything today, Simon just smiles sweetly and nods. âIf thatâs what you want.â
The block that the vendors take up is massive. Booth after booth after booth fill up any open space in the once-empty field and spill over into the neighboring streets. It would be intimidating if Wille wasnât overwhelmed with excitement at the moment.
While photography is Willeâs main hobby and creative outlet, he has tried his hand at about everything he can find a lesson or club for in Stockholm. Unsurprisingly, Wille talks to crochet artists, jewelry makers, 3D print designers, and metal workers.
And Simon better be proud of his self control. Despite everyone he has talked to and the number of business cards he has acquired, Wille has determinedly not bought a thing. Of course, there are many things that he wants to buy, but with a little more thinking, he realizes that there are definitely many things that doesnât really need.
All of this is true until they pass a booth that would otherwise be of no interest to Wille. That was until his eye caught on a sign that reads PRIDE FLAGS 200 kr.
âWait,â he says suddenly as an idea hits him, pulling Simon to a halt.
âWille,â Simon borderline whines for the first time all day, âyou said that was the last one. We really should go find a spot to watch the parade or weâre going to miss it. And trust me, you donât want to miss it.â
âI know, I know,â Wille says, distracted, already wading through the crowd towards the booth. âJust⌠one more thing.â
He makes the transaction quickly then lets Simon pull him away with a fond smile on his face.
They find a spot to sit on a raised patio at a restaurant along the parade route, close enough to feel involved but not taking opportunities from the excited children and families to be right beside the road. Wille thinks that might be his favorite part, the families. Seeing kids be true to themselves so young or same-sex couples successfully raising kids and letting them enjoy community.
It makes Wille so happy, warms him from the inside out despite the heat, and he welcomes it, overjoyed that these children are allowed to experience what he never could, not truly nor fully.
Once they make themselves comfortable, Wille pulls out the rainbow flag he just bought. Of course, heâs already decked out in rainbow; itâs the only way to be on-theme. Simon even let Wille paint a rainbow flag on his cheek.
But the flag in his hands right now feels monumental, like something real and tangible. He stands and drapes it over his shoulders, turning to look at Simon with a cheeky grin. What he sees when he turns, though, is something unexpected.
Simon has Willeâs camera raised to his face. Wille had taught his boyfriend how to use it once, but Simon has only ever done so a couple of times, having confessed that heâs afraid that heâll break it. Wille brought it today to commemorate the event, to really show the peopleâs celebration and pride.
By the time any of this registers, the camera has clicked and flashed, catching Wille off-guard. He shakes his head.
âDamn, is it really that bad everytime?â
But Simon isnât listening. Heâs staring at the photo on the cameraâs tiny display screen with that fond expression Wille doesnât see too often. After a moment, he tilts it to let Wille see.
And there Wille is, standing with a rainbow flag draped across his back, looking back at the camera with a face painted with glee and more rainbow. Behind him, Stockholmâs pride festival in all its glory. It couldnât be a more beautiful shot.
