i meant what i said

It was surrounded by gold that Crystal came to the realization that she was in love. Gigi’s head was resting gently on her shoulder as they sat on a bench, the lingering heat of the day making the touch uncomfortable but not unbearable. But this is what they did, Gigi would say, and it was true. Every day she could, she’d leave her house when the notification arrived that it was 20 minutes to sunset and walk the five blocks it took to get to their bench. And there they would sit, side by side, talking about everything and nothing while golden rays illuminated a golden girl.

The routine was ingrained in them, even as it shifted. From two strangers sharing a bench and pleasant (if not slightly awkward) small talk, they slowly started opening up to each other until Crystal found herself replying to a text Gigi had sent asking for opinions on a skirt she’d found at a thrift store nearby and realized that they were friends. Truly, honestly, friends.

It didn’t take long after that for her to realize that she liked her. 

It was hard not to, when Gigi’s emphatic defense of a weird bumpy lime she saw at the grocery store had them drinking two bottles of cheap red wine over chips and her homemade guacamole (and Gigi was right, the lime was good). It was the first time Gigi slept at her apartment, despite it only being a fifteen minute walk back home, but Gigi didn’t want to walk and Crystal didn’t want her to leave, so they fell asleep on the couch with their feet brushing and necks hurting. 

And it’s happened many more times since then. 

She wouldn’t change it for the world. Their bench, which had burned her legs when she sat on metal unguarded from the harsh summer sun, was theirs. It was a place of sharing stories, of gossiping, of gentle smiles and rowdy laughter. Of sweetness and brightness and warmth and didn’t it just feel right?

Crystal thought so. Being with Gigi, no matter what, just felt right. So she let herself just be, to bask in the gold that threatened to swallow her whole, and looked down at what she could see of Gigi’s expression. It was more than she expected—Gigi was looking up at her already, craning her neck to keep her head on her shoulder but look at her all the same. 

With Gigi’s eyes on her, her gaze equal parts bright and perplexing, she couldn’t help the smile that crept onto her face. The answering smile was as expected as it was perfect, wrapping her in a joy that felt like it shared some of her light. She would give herself into that gold every day, if that’s what let her bask in the gentle rays of the sunset with Gigi.